Podcasts about in matthew

There is a fair amount of promotion of the need for body building and physical fitness these days. It is a pity there is not as much – indeed more – emphasis on being spiritually fit, it is far more needed – and vital for our own eternal well-being. Our thoughts were provoked along these lines as we read today the 25 verses of the short letter of Jude.He starts by telling us he is the brother of James, so it is usually accepted that he is another half-brother of Jesus. In Matthew 13 v.55, we see that Jesus had a (half) brother, Judas is well as one named James. We assume he is writing in his old age, he addresses ” those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” [v.1]. Jude sees much evidence of declining faith and writes “appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” [v.3]There is one true faith – a right way of believing and living, but some “pervert the grace of God into sensuality …” [v.4] and this in effect means they “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” We show we believe not only by our words but by how we live and Jude gives examples from history of so many who, although they made ‘offerings' to God “walked in the way of Cain” and of Balaam and Korah (son of Aaron) who all had intimate knowledge of things divine but who acted in evil ways. [v.11]Jude was obviously living in the last days of the Jewish nation, but his warnings of the approaching end are very applicable to today. “You must remember,” he writes, “the predictions of the apostles … they said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers … who cause divisions, worldly people. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith … keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” [v.18-21] Only by such building up will we gain eternal life.The result of genuinely doing this will be a real living relationship with our Lord “who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” [v.24] Let us build ourselves up to a genuine state of spiritual fitness, feeding on God's word every day is an essential part of our diet.

Does Hell have different levels or degrees of punishment? Yes. Jesus tells us there are different degrees of punishment for people in hell. This makes sense because even here on earth prison sentences vary based on the severity of the crime, a criminal's history, and the laws set forth by the authorities. The Creator of the Universe has prepared two locations where human beings will exist after they die. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus said, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” There is only Heaven or hell. Listen as Bill and Annette share the biblical evidence of varying degrees of punishment in hell. For more information about Bill Wiese and Soul Choice Ministries please visit us at: https://soulchoiceministries.org/  You can find more of Bill's teachings at: BillWieseTV-Y

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

Thursday, 19 June 2025   Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. Matthew 11:1   “And it was, when Jesus, He finished through-arranging His twelve disciples, He departed thence to teach and proclaim in their cities” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished up His words to the apostles concerning their commission to go forth and preach the gospel. Chapter 11 begins with, “And it was, when Jesus, He finished through-arranging His twelve disciples.” Of the words, “And it was, when Jesus, He finished...” The Pulpit Commentary notes –   The same formula recurs in Matthew 7:28; Matthew 13:53; Matthew 19:1; and Matthew 26:1. In all five cases, it marks the end of important speeches.   Because of this, we know that the direction of thought will make a change, and it does. In Matthew's note, a new word diatassó is used. It is from dia, through, and tassó, to arrange, assign, appoint, etc. Thus, it speaks of thoroughly arranging a matter. It thus gives the sense of Jesus having completely instructed His apostles, preparing them for what lay ahead. With them properly and thoroughly instructed, it next says that “He departed thence.”   Where “thence” is, cannot be defined. The last hint of any location they were at was as Chapter 9 was ending –   “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'” Matthew 9:35-38   Thus, this instruction probably came at some unrecorded point along their travels throughout the Galilee. With that noted, another difficult set of words arises, noting that He left there “to teach and proclaim in their cities.”   The words themselves are not complicated, but it begs the question, “Who is ‘their' referring to?” The nearest personal antecedent would be the twelve disciples. As such, one would think it would be either the towns where they had gone to or maybe the cities where they were from. However, it may be Matthew making a general statement about the cities of the Galilee. This is how Vincent's Word Studies and some others take the words.   Life application: Jesus carefully instructed those He was sending forth so that they would be prepared for what lay ahead. Some of His instructions apply to things that would happen in the distant future in relation to Israel, demonstrating that His words carry beyond the immediate disciples listening to His instruction.   However, they are words that apply to evangelizing Israel. The context needs to be maintained. If not, people will incorrectly insert themselves into the narrative, and faulty connections will be inevitable. Continue to remember this as Matthew and the other synoptic gospels are read.   There are various truths that Jesus will state at times that apply in any situation and to anybody. But the specific directions and prophesied events He speaks of apply to Israel, not the church. By keeping this in mind, His words will always fit harmoniously with the rest of the New Testament.   When the church is inappropriately inserted, there will be conflicts between what Jesus says and what is presented later in the epistles. Israel, as a nation, eventually rejected Jesus. They will be exiled and receive the curses of the law until a set time when they will be regathered. At some point, the church will be removed, and the attention of the Lord will predominantly be on Israel once again.   With Israel back in the land, we can assume that this change is coming sooner rather than later. Although the day is unknown and will come without any advanced notice (1 Thessalonians 5:1), it will come. Until then, remember that Israel is not the church nor has it been replaced by the church. With this understanding, there will be no contradictory thoughts between Jesus' words and those of the epistles.   Lord God, one step at a time, You are working through history to bring all things back to the state of perfection that was lost so long ago. Help us to see clearly how You are doing these things and to rightly divide Your word according to this marvelous plan. Yes, Lord, give us insights into these wonderful things. Amen.

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

Daily Dose of Hope June 18, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 13:24-58   Prayer:  Holy and Merciful God, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name.  It's amazing that you, the God of all, care about the minute details of our lives.  I mean, who are we?  But yet, you love us, you care, you died for us!  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Help us, as we move on throughout this day to remember your presence.  Guide our words, our actions, and our thoughts.  Help us hear your voice as we engage with your Word today.  We love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today is Wednesday and that means Recharge Day!  Hope we see you tonight, in the New Hope Garage, at 6:30pm for worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community.   For our Scripture, we are finishing up Matthew 13.  This portion of Scripture includes many more parables.  Let's start with the wheat and the weeds.  Y'all, this parable is powerful.  It has really been important in my own spiritual journey.  Here is where I have landed on it...   In the parable, the owner sows good seed but the enemy comes in the dark of night and sows weeds. The workers are understandably upset and ask the owner if he caused this. This is actually a theodicy question–how can a good God allow bad things to happen.  Basically, God, we thought you were good, why did you allow the “weeds” to grow in our lives? As believers, it is okay to question God and ask why the horrible occurred. This theology of protest doesn't demonstrate a lack of faith, but actually is an “expression of faith.” It's okay to be angry with God, question God, shake your fist so to speak, but stay in the conversation! This is, in itself, an act of faith.   Jesus also addresses the source of the weeds–the enemy has spread them. God is not the source of evil–God does not cause evil to occur so that we might grow spiritually or to perpetuate some grander divine plan. Rather, God's enemy is the source of all evil. Matthew 13:39 refers to the devil as God's enemy. Satan is real and there is real evil in our world, which both inhabits and transcends individuals, families, communities, nations, cultures, and economic structures. Why doesn't the owner in the parable want the workers to pull the weeds? Because in doing so, both the weeds and the wheat would be pulled out (Matthew 13:29). God can't just do away with all evil because, whether we like it or not, we are all are a complex and confusing mix of both good and evil. Furthermore, this isn't how God deals with the world. Although God has the power to eliminate evil using brute force (the way humans might deal with it), this goes against God's character. God instead acts through the loving and yet “weak” power of the cross. God's answer to evil was sending Jesus Christ, the one who truly understands what it means to suffer and also the only one through which true and complete healing can occur.   But the parable doesn't end there. In Matthew 13:41-43, Jesus explains how in the end, evil will be vanquished; it will not have the final word. Although I firmly believe this is true, it fails to offer much comfort in the midst of counseling someone who is grappling with the death of a baby or a sexual assault in the here and now. What is helpful, however, is to point out how God's work in the world is often difficult to understand (think about the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast). We might not always see God's power at work, but it's there in the smallest and most unusual ways, changing and transforming us, guiding us, and leading us closer to Jesus (power in the form of “loving weakness”). God is waging war on evil, just not necessarily in ways we see or understand.   It makes sense, then, that Jesus would follow up this parable with the mustard seed and yeast.  You see, in God's Kingdom, small things can yield really big results. A tiny seed can produce a big tree, so big that birds can nest in it. Seeds are really interesting things as well. They can reproduce themselves exponentially. It takes one seed to make that big mustard tree and from that tree, many, many more seeds are produced. A little bit of yeasty dough can be mixed with flour to make enough bread to feed hundreds of people.    God's economy is different.  In the world, our default setting, big things are valued–big money, big jobs, big cars, big houses, big, flashy, noticeable---these are all things that indicate power, prestige, control. In God's Kingdom, it's okay for things to be small. Small, seemingly insignificant things can make a huge difference. Mustard seeds, yeast, loaves & fishes, a random act of kindness, a kind or encouraging word, spending time with God in prayer, offering a prayer over someone else, the widow's mite, a humble life lived with integrity, sharing our faith story with someone, or our willingness to serve others. Small things that all can yield huge results for God's Kingdom. Our daily prayers can yield huge, miraculous results.   These parables, along with the others from this chapter, all give glimpses into God's Kingdom.  What is it like living under the reign of God?  We are getting snapshots.    But that doesn't mean people get it or appreciate it.  As we read at the end of the chapter, when he went to his hometown (which we know is Nazareth), the people were amazed at his teaching.  But they were also skeptical.  He was too familiar to them.  They saw this boy grow up.  They knew his parents and his siblings.  It created an obstacle to belief.  So there, he didn't do many miracles.  He moved on.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In Matthew 13:10-17, Jesus explains why he teaches in parables. The significance of his teaching deepens for us when we understand that Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 6. What keeps you from seeing, hearing and understanding these words  of Jesus that “come alongside” his teachings? If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

Tuesday, 17 June 2025   He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Matthew 10:41   “The ‘receiving a prophet' in a prophet's name, a prophet's reward he will receive. And the ‘receiving a righteous' in a righteous' name, a righteous' reward he will receive” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said, “The ‘receiving you,' Me receives. And the ‘Me receiving,' he receives the ‘having sent Me.'” In a similar manner, He now steps down the level of reception, saying, “The ‘receiving a prophet' in a prophet's name, a prophet's reward he will receive.”   This is obviously referring to a true prophet of the Lord. Although the reciprocal could still hold true. Someone receiving a false prophet, if taken in and accepting of his message, will eventually receive the false prophet's same fate. But that is not the intent here.   Of the prophet, in the Old Testament, he was the highest form of believer in God, having a word issued from God through Him. Although not necessarily an ambassador, he is one who speaks the word of the Lord. In Genesis 20:7, Abraham is specifically said to be a prophet of God. Moses notes he is a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18.   In receiving such a person, there is an acknowledgment that what the prophet receives, the person will also receive. Although Jesus is probably referring to the reception of rewards in the next life, it is a truth that accompanied some in their earthly lives.   In 1 Kings 17, the widow of Zarephath received Elijah. In turn, she received a supply of food during the drought that consumed the land. In Jeremiah 39, Ebed-Melech tended to Jeremiah the prophet, and the Lord promised to deliver him during the terrible siege upon the city.   Likewise, in Jeremiah 45, Baruch the scribe was given words of assurance from the Lord for his faithfulness to the word of the Lord through Jeremiah. As for a later prophet's reward, meaning at the resurrection, one is recorded in Daniel 12 –   “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13   Based on Jesus' words, it can be assumed that those who are saved and raised at the resurrection, and who received Daniel, would receive a similar inheritance. Next, Jesus says, “And the ‘receiving a righteous' in a righteous' name, a righteous' reward he will receive.”   This is another step down the ladder, going from the prophet to the righteous. The categories are set, just as they are in the list given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:28. This demonstrates the wisdom of God in apportioning out His gifts and His grace in various ways.   As for the righteous, the Bible, even during the times of the law, identifies them as those who are of faith. This is made explicit in Hebrews 11, where those of faith are spoken of as righteous. Rahab the harlot received the spies and received her reward because of that. As in the prophet, it can be assumed that this truth goes beyond this life, though.   Those who receive the righteous, holding to their standard themselves, will receive the resurrection of the righteous and what it entails. Jesus is making a point about rewards. This thought will continue in the next verse.   Life application: In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says –   “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”   One reason for Jesus' word is certainly that a person who has entered the kingdom of heaven, meaning that which is promised through the Messiah, has received all of what has been spoken of since the beginning, as outlined in the received word.   In receiving the word that speaks of God's plan, we have received the prophet through whom that word came. In receiving the words of the writings of the gospels, we have received those who authored those books. And in receiving the words of the apostles as written in the epistles, we have received those apostles who penned them.   But people receive the words at various levels of faith. There are those who say they believe Paul was an apostle, but they don't accept everything he says. For example, they may attend a church with a female pastor, something Paul's writings forbid.   This will not affect their salvation (assuming they are truly saved), but it will affect their rewards. They have not truly received Paul in the fullest sense. The judgment seat of Christ is something that lies ahead for all believers. Our eternal rewards and losses will be based on our faith and our deeds done in faith.   This must be inclusive of how we receive and apply the word of God to our lives. What level of understanding are you willing to attain concerning God's word? The church you select, the Bible studies you attend, the manner in which you accept the doctrines contained within the word, etc., are certainly all a part of how God is evaluating you.   Many in the world have never had a copy of the Bible. They lived by faith but without a fuller understanding of the word. Many today hunger for a copy of the word in their own language, waiting years to receive a translation to hold and cherish.   In Western countries, we have innumerable translations available at our fingertips. And yet, who among those who believe has read even a single translation from beginning to end?   The more you are willing to receive, the greater will be the return on your investment of time, doctrine, and closer fellowship. Be sure to make the word an integral and intimate part of your life.   Heavenly Father, help us to think clearly about how we tend to Your word. It is our connection to understanding You and what You have done in the stream of human existence, culminating in the coming of Christ Jesus. How can we ignore such a gift? May it not be so in our lives. Amen.  

In Matthew 13, Jesus uses Isaiah's words to hint at the idea that he teaches in parables to plant salvation seeds in our hearts. If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

https://newsongpeople.com/messages/church-the-communion-of-the-saintsWelcome to Week 8 of our Life Blood series!

In Matthew 23:13-39 we see that experiencing blessing rather than curse requires repentance and response to Jesus' invitation.

In Part 2 of Kings & Kingdoms, Pastor Benny takes us to one of the most powerful moments in the Gospels, Jesus walking on water. In Matthew 14:22-36, we learn that even when we're exactly where Jesus tells us to be, storms may still come. But the storm is no match for the One who walks on it. Whether you're in the middle of fear, doubt, or uncertainty, Jesus comes to you and speaks: "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." Watch, be encouraged, and share this word with someone who needs hope today.

This Sunday Pastor Jake continued our series "Heart Over Hype".  In this series we're diving deep into the powerful teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the world through His eyes—a perspective far richer and more transformative than our natural understanding. Join us next Sunday for the conclusion of the series!Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook:   / mannastafford  Instagram:   / manna.stafford  TikTok:   / manna.stafford

Submit Yourselves to God (Replay)James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”This is another one of those things that sounds much easier to do than it actually is.  Submit ourselves to God.  That doesn't sound too hard, right?  It doesn't sound hard, but have you tried it?  It is not easy to submit to God.  What does it even mean to submit ourselves to God?  Google's dictionary defines submission as "the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.”  I think there are two parts to this.  First, the action of accepting or yielding to a superior force.  This means that we would accept that God is in control.  We would do as He tells us to do because He is our superior force.  He created all things, and He gives us a set of rules to live by, so we must live by them.  The second part of this definition is accepting or yielding to the will or authority of another person.  Submitting to God would be accepting His will as our will.  It would mean that we accept His will for our lives.  There are times when this is very easy.  When we get the job we really want, it is easy to accept it as God's will.  When we meet the love of our life, we can accept that it is God's will for us to be with this person.  However, what about when things aren't going our way?  What about when God's will differs from our will?  What about if we don't get a job because He has something better in mind for us?  Can you think of a time when you really wanted something to happen and it didn't?  What about when you didn't want something to happen and it did?  How easy was it for you to submit to the Lord's will?  This verse tells us to submit ourselves to God.  If we want to do this, we need to figure out where we are struggling and then ask God for help.  We can ask Him to help us submit.  He will always help when we ask.  If we are struggling to see how God wants us to submit to Him, then we can always just ask Him.  My spiritual director told me one time to model St. Teresa of Lisieux and explain to God that I am just a little child and I need Him to show me the way.  I need Him to show me or tell me what He wants me to do.  I want to follow His will, I just need directions, just as a child would. This really spoke to me.  I sometimes, oftentimes, if I am being honest, I think I need to know what God wants from me.  I think I am just supposed to know.  It seems like everyone else knows, but why don't I know?  So, I try to guess, I try to listen, and I try to do all the things just in case that is what He was wanting.  However, what I try to do now is to ask the Lord to help me understand.  I ask Him to explain it to me as though I were a child.  I ask Him to make it clear to me and to give me the courage and strength for whatever He wants me to do.  We are all just little children in the eyes of the Lord.  In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” God wants us to become like children.  I think he wants us to be like children because there is something so pure about a child's faith.  Children don't get caught up in understanding every little detail.  They don't ask all the questions.  Miracles are miracles because there is no explanation.  If there were an explanation as to exactly how it happened, it wouldn't be a miracle.  Adults don't really like to believe in things that they can't see.  Children, on the other hand, love to play make-believe.  They have no problem believing in things they can't see.  If you are struggling to submit to God, ask Him to show you how.  He has assured us that if we ask, He will answer, so let's ask.  The next part of this verse says to resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Again, something that sounds so easy and yet is so difficult.  I would love to say I resist the devil.  The problem is, the devil is always disguised as something else.  For instance, he will be disguised as temptation.  You know that you should spend time in prayer or in silence, and suddenly your favorite TV show is having a marathon and showing episodes all day.  You decide to give up sweets for Lent, and someone drops cookies off at your house.  You decide you are going to start running, and it rains for a week straight.  Do you see how it is hard to resist the devil in these circumstances because you don't know it is the enemy attacking you?  Another way the enemy might show up is through distractions.  You decide you want to spend more time with your children, and suddenly everyone in the family has something else to do, or your work suddenly gets really busy.  You may want to spend more time with your parents, but something comes up to prevent you from spending more time with them.  We find it hard to resist the other things that are getting in our way, and so family time gets put off or pushed aside.  The enemy might also show up as anger.  We want to be peaceful and to not get upset over little things.  Then the enemy comes along and presents one little thing after another until you can't take it anymore and get angry and you lose it.  The enemy doesn't want us to grow in holiness.  He will do whatever it takes to prevent this from happening.  He certainly does not want to flee.  If we want the devil to flee, we have to figure out a way to resist him, all his temptations and lies.  How do we resist something that we don't know is there?  One way we can resist the devil is to keep turning our eyes to the Lord.  We can keep asking Him what He wants us to do and asking Him to help us do it.  We can ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the devil and all his tricks.  We can try to be on the lookout for different ways the enemy may be interfering in our lives.  If things are not going well and you are not acting like you want to, the devil is probably involved.  If you feel you are growing further from the Lord, the devil is probably involved.Another way to resist the devil is to do what the verse above says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  In my prayer group every week, the Lord calls us closer to Him.  He is calling all of us closer to Him.  If we come closer to God, He will come closer to you.  Then the verse says, Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  I wasn't sure what double-minded in this verse meant.  When I looked it up, it meant that our heart is split between God and the things of this world.  This is the devil's way in.  This is his back door.  If we love the things of this world as much or even more than we love God, then that is all the devil needs to attack us.  The more we release our attachment to the things of this world, the less of a hold the devil has over us.  If we want to resist the devil, we can ask God to help us, we can turn to Him and grow closer to Him, and we can try to release our attachment to the things of this world.  Releasing our attachment to things of this world is not easy.  We all have our favorite TV shows or our favorite foods we like to eat, and that is ok.  I am not saying that you can't like anything that is of this world.  I am saying that our priorities should be God first and then everything else.  If anything is getting in the way of us doing the things we know we need to do, then that is the devil at work, and we need to resist.  I have been attacked by the spirit of distraction lately.  I will have time to write this book I am writing, or work on my podcast, and the spirit of distraction will come and show me all these other more fun things to do.  I must resist.  Did you know, in a weird way, when the devil attacks you, it is sort of a compliment.  It is confirmation that you are walking on the right path.  The reason I say this is because the devil doesn't mess around with the lukewarm; he doesn't mess around with those who are already headed to see him.  He only concerns himself with those who are headed to see the Lord, those who are favored and are trying to walk the right path.  If you are feeling like the devil is attacking you, take comfort in the fact that you are doing something right, or he wouldn't bother with you.  Then turn to the Lord and keep trying to do the next right thing.  God is on your side, and He will be your refuge and your shield if you ask Him to.  Come in close to the Lord, and He will come in close to you.  He will put his arm around you and protect you from all harm.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we want to resist the devil, and we want him to flee. Please help us.  Please protect us, Lord, and shield us from all harm.  Help open our eyes to see the devil and all of his tricks in our lives.  Lord, we want to put you first, help us to see what is getting in our way.  Open our eyes to anything that is preventing us from growing closer to you.  Help us to know what you want us to do and help us to become like children.  Lord, you are amazing, and we love you so very much.  We are grateful that you are our God and that you take such good care of us.  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen.Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to spending time with you again tomorrow.  Have a blessed day! www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Audio reading: Num 10:1-15, 1 Kings 15:25-17:24, Acts 10:24-48, Psalm 134;1-3, Prov 17:9-11Join me in this journey reading through the entire bible inone year!  In Matthew 4:4, Yeshua said these words: “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Taking in the word of God every day is LIFE to our spirit and health to our bones!Visit us at: ⁠⁠dailyaudiotorah.com⁠⁠Go to ⁠Israel Connect⁠: Your bridge to the land and peopleof Israel!

We have four different stories of Jesus' life contained in these four books to offer different, holy & sacred perspectives of that same story. We and yet we each need Jesus and strive to follow him. Throughout this series we will be encountering these stories in these four gospels by thinking through who this particular book was written to reach; what we might learn; and how we might be transformed into action by becoming more Jesus-like in our lives.In Matthew's narrative, Jesus is presented with undeniable authority as the promised Messiah—the Son of God—and the ultimate teacher and King. He is depicted as profoundly compassionate toward those who suffer, yet also fiercely challenging towards religious hypocrisy. Matthew's original audience consisted mostly of Jewish Christians. And we might label this part of Matthew's audience as ‘insiders'.

Identity and purpose are sought after by all people, yet how many find them? In Matthew 5-7 Jesus lays out the vision for the kingdom of God. As we look at His vision, we’ll zoom in on the first five verses of chapter 5 that gives us the foundation of Intimately walking with God and being used by Him. Sara and I are excited to be back and connecting with the church! - Luke Worden Key Passage - Matthew 5:1-5 For Scripture, notes, upcoming events, & more: http://bible.com/events/49441078

Introduction: Watch Out... (Matthew 6:1–4) Because your MOTIVES MATTER. (Matt 6:1a) Wrong Motive – TO GLORIFY YOURSELF. Right Motive – TO GLORIFY GOD. Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Because your REWARD IS AT RISK. (Matt 6:1b–4) Worldly Reward – THE RECOGNITION OF OTHERS. James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction… James 2:15–16 – If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 – The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart... Eternal Reward – THE RECOGNITION OF GOD. Matthew 25:23 – “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 6:1-4What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why do your motives matter so much to the Lord?In what ways do you see yourself struggling with self-glorification? How can you fight against this sinful trend?Why isn't the worldly reward of human praise worth pursuing after?Why does the Lord want you to be motivated by eternal rewards? Explain why this motivation isn't legalistic or self-centered.BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6 verses 1 through 4. Matthew chapter 6verses 1 through 4. You know 12 years ago my friends and I took a road trip downto the middle of nowhere Tennessee. My one friend promised us a free stay in aspacious cabin that his dad built right next to a scenic lake. Only one of thoseguarantees end up being true. This day was free but it was free for a reason. Itwas not a spacious cabin it was a glorified shack. It turns out we weren'teven allowed to sleep in the beds we had to sleep on the floor because his daddidn't want us to mess up the beds. We were also not right next to the lake itwas a mile walk through hilly woods and once you got to the beach this is thesite that greeted you. Warning dangerous water because nothing says come on in thewater is fine like a do not swim here sign in the foreground and a nuclearpower plant in the background. You can't really see it but there was a fenced offarea where dozens and dozens of people were swimming and splish plashingaround without a care in the world. I kept thinking to myself what are youpeople doing don't you see the sign I mean can you even miss this sign is thateven possible? It is unmissable. I guess people saw this sign but they justdidn't care. They thought it was a harmless joke and not a serious warning.You know how you respond to warnings says a lot about who you are as a person.The waitress brings you your food and says hey be careful the plate is hot. Whatdo you do in that moment? Do you believe your nice waitress or do you touch it tosee if she's telling the truth? I don't know what's in it for her to lie to youabout the hot plate or you pass by a wet paint sign and you think to yourself isthis actually wet? You decide to touch it right? Or here's a new one I learnedthis week. Did you know in bold letters on the Q-tip box it says do not insertinto ear canal. I was blown away. I've been doing it wrong for all these years.Now that you know are you gonna keep exploring your ear like it's a cave orare you gonna stop doing it? Or you come to a red light at the top of the redlight says no turn on red. But you look both ways and there's no one coming soyou go anyway. Let's move beyond these somewhat funny examples of somethingmuch more important. God's Word is filled with hundreds and hundreds ofwarnings that you can either ignore or take very seriously. This is the firstweek in a new section of our study of the Sermon on the Mount, the heart ofreligion. In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus gives a three-part warning of how youshould and should not approach the spiritual disciplines of giving, praying,and fasting. According to Jesus these disciplines are not just external thingsthat you can check off your to-do list. They are internal indicators of who youreally are and who you are really worshiping. Because Jesus cares how yougive. Jesus cares how you pray. Jesus cares how you fast. The how of thesedisciplines reveal if you are a religious phony or a religious follower ofChrist who is faithful from the heart. This morning we're gonna dig intoMatthew chapter 6 verses 1 through 4 and focus on the warning of our Lord whenit comes to giving of our time, talents, and treasures. Before we get started Iwant to plead with you to not ignore this warning from Christ. Take it veryseriously. Be on guard. Watch out for what he is cautioning you against. Do notclose your eyes to your own sin. Do not think you have it all figured outbecause Jesus has a not-so-secret secret to share with you this morning that youoften lose sight of. The secret to giving is giving in secret. So before wecontinue any further let's go to the Lord and ask for His help. Please pray for meand I will pray for you.Father we come to once again a very challenging and convicting passage inyour word. We're once again we are being exposed not just on the outside but onthe inside. I pray for every single person in this room including myself Lord maywe truly listen to what your word has to say and take this warning with the utmostseriousness. We thank you in advance what you are going to do and we ask allthese things in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. Alright so watch outnumber one because your motives matter. Watch out because your motives matter.Let's read the first half of chapter 6 verse 1. Jesus says beware watch out ofpracticing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.It's important to note that Jesus doesn't say it's bad for other people tonotice you practicing your righteousness or doing the right thing in public. Whatdoes he say? Watch out for practicing your righteousness and doing the rightthing in public in order to be seen by others. In the original Greek that phrasein order to be seen it comes from the word for theater. You're putting on ashow. You're pretending to be someone that you are not. You are putting on aninsincere performance. So once again Jesus zeros in on the on the internal. Hefocuses on your heart's greatest desire. It's all about your motive. So let's checkout the wrong motive first. So what is the wrong motive? To glorify yourself. Toglorify yourself. I'm not proud of this but in the past I've done chores aroundthe house in the hopes that my wife will notice my hard work. Is anyone elseguilty of this kind of behavior? Jonathan Trent thank you so much. I am soappreciative. It's just you and me buddy. To be fair all the guys should have theirhands raised as high as humanly possible whenever asked that kind of question.This is so lame to admit but I've done the dishes. Taken out the garbage. Laydown mulch. Cut the grass. Done long past due house projects hoping that mywife will see it and award me husband points. And husband points are a formof currency in marriage that aren't worth as much as you would hope and go asbad as quickly as unrefrigerated fish. All the husbands in the room knowexactly what I'm talking about. In those moments my motive was not to honor mywife but to glorify myself. To show off how great of a husband I am. And whenKate didn't notice what I had done I began to pout and feel disappointed.I only felt that way because I had a bad motive. I wouldn't have felt that way ifI had the right motive which is to be a loving husband who tookresponsibility for his own home. And this proves an important principle.Self-interest and self-glory always lead to self-deception and self-defeat. Withoutfail the most miserable person in every room is the most selfish person in thatroom. The more you make life about you the more unhappy you will find yourself.Maybe that is why you feel so depressed this morning. Maybe that's why you feelso empty right now. You want to be the son at the center of your solar systembut the problem is nobody else cares about your desired position. No one wantsto orbit around your preferences. And you may be wondering how can I tell if I amthis kind of self-glorifying person or not. Well first of all you are this kindof person to some degree and so am I. This problem does exist within your heartat some level. You have to figure out how serious and far-reaching the problemactually is. Here are some things to be on watch for. Do you check out what otherpeople share about their problems? Do you have a hard time being happy for someoneelse when they achieve a goal that you've always wanted to accomplish? When theyreceive a blessing that you've always wanted? Do you always try to one uppeople and have a better story than someone else? Do you always bring thetopic of conversation back to you? What you've done in the past? What you're doingright now? And what you plan to do in the future? Do you get annoyed and evensulky when you don't get your way? Do you push away opportunities to serve andhelp if you don't see what's in it for you? Even though there are tell-talesigns it can be extremely difficult to spot your own narcissism because you areoften blind to it. But other people around you are not. It would be a goodexercise to check in with your family and your friends after church today to askif they see any of these tendencies and how you speak and how you talk and howyou act. And if you ask that question please shut your mouth and open yourears. Stop inserting your opinion. Stop justifying yourself. You will not grow ifyou are more interested in defending yourself than dying to yourself. Startdealing with your problem because I guarantee you that you do have a problem.Stop glorifying yourself because you are not worthy of this act of self-worship.So that's the wrong motive. To glorify yourself. What's the right motive? Toglorify God. To glorify God. So Jesus provides the right motive for doing theright thing earlier in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to what he has to say inMatthew 5.16. "Let your light shine before others that they may see your good worksand give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Compare that to chapter 6 verse1. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen bythem." Do you see the difference? Instead of shining the spotlight onto yourselfyou shine on to the only one who is actually worthy of it, the Lord and Himalone. Because this is the reason for which you were created. You exist tohonor God and show a watching world how awesome He truly is. This must be the goalof your marriage. This must be the goal of your parenting. This must be the goal ofyour job. This must be the goal of everything that you do. In 1 Corinthians1031 Paul says this, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to theglory of God. Because any worldly glory that you collect for yourself will besnuffed out when you pass on from this life. But the glory of God is an unendingfire that can never ever be put out." In 100 to 200 years from now you're gonna belong forgotten. No one is gonna be thinking about you. But the name of JesusChrist will stand the test of time. His name will be forever high and lifted up.I'm not a betting man but I can guarantee you with a hundred percentcertainty that you will be rewarded for throwing your chips in with the victoryof God's name and reputation. That is the only motivation that will truly fuelyou. That is the only motivation that will get you across the finish line oflife. So watch out because your motives matter. Secondly, watch out because yourreward is at risk. Because your reward is at risk.Jesus lays out the consequence for doing the right thing for the wrong reasonat the end of verse 1. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before otherpeople in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from yourFather who is in heaven." If you were dominated by the desire to rob God ofhis glory as you do good deeds, you will receive a loud and clear message fromGod. It is the same message that Willy Wonka gave the Charlie and his grandpa atthe end of the Chocolate Factory tour. You get nothing. You lose. Good day, sir.That may seem extreme, but that's what the text says. That may seem harsh, but it'seven better than what you deserve. With that in mind, Jesus continues on with hiswarning in verse 2, "By revealing the emptiness of the worldly reward that youoften settle for. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you,as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praisedby others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. The worldly rewardthat is most tempting to seek after is the recognition of others. Therecognition of others. And notice that Jesus doesn't say, "If you give to theneedy," he says, "when you give the needy." And he says that again in verse 3,"which means that you are expected to help those in need with your time, withyour talents, and your treasures. You are expected by God to care for the orphanand the widow." James 1.27, "A religion that is pure and undefiled before God isthis, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. You are expected by Godto not ignore the poor, especially those within the body of Christ." Once again,let's read what James has to say. James 2.15 through 16, "If a brother or sisteris poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go inpeace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body,what good is that? It is worthless.'" You're expected by God to be generous withthe money in your account, and not hoard it for yourself. 2nd Corinthians 9 verses 6through 7, the point is this, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, andwhoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he hasdecided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves acheerful giver." Harvest, you are expected to make these kinds of sacrifices. But asyou make these expected sacrifices, you are also expected to not sound a trumpetbefore you, like the scribes and Pharisees did 2,000 years ago. Now, theydidn't literally sound a physical trumpet. They didn't pull a Miles Davis andblast a physical trumpet whenever they did a nice thing or made a donation.Jesus is using an over-the-top and funny illustration to prove a simple point. Donot be an obnoxious jerk who draws attention to himself or herself wheneveryou do the right thing. You know, while you were doing whatever you were doingover the past week, I was racking my brain to think of a modern-day example ofsounding a trumpet before you. And I came up short. So I'm going to ask you guys tosilently brainstorm, because I actually have something I need to do in the meantime,okay? So just be using your brains to think about an example.Alright, don't mind me guys.[laughter]You know what? I don't want to interrupt your brainstorming time, but you know what?This sermon is going really well. And you guys are all just laughing at mystories. I guess really tell that you're dialed into my spot on teaching. I reallythink Facebook needs to know about this. Oh, by the way, have you guys had any luckwith your brainstorming? Wait a minute. Maybe I did stumble upon the 21st centuryversion of sounding a trumpet before you. What do you guys think? Alright, I guessI'll put this away then. You know, seeking after the affirmation and praise ofothers is the heartbeat of the virtual world. People put on a manufacturedversion of themselves. They put their best foot forward. You can post about yourbest day to accumulate the affirmation and adulation of others. Maybe you post astatus on Facebook, a picture on Instagram or real on the TikToks as Pastor Jeffcalls it, that highlights a mission strip, a service project or a charitableevent that you took part in. Now, you can certainly do this in a godly way withgodly intentions, but you can also do it in an ungodly way with ungodlyintentions. You just bask in the glory of the likes and the comments and the heartemojis as human praise begins to pour in. You make a sizable contribution to aGoFundMe page. And instead of remaining anonymous, you put your name right nextto the amount that you donated. And you don't do that to show support. You do itto show off. You want others to be amazed by your big hearted generosity. Some ofyou are feeling pretty safe and sound right now because you don't leave muchof a digital footprint. You don't post anything anywhere. Well, let's movebeyond the bounds of social media because I don't want to leave you out of all thefun. Maybe you can seal a prideful remark of something kind you did as a praiseat a prayer service or at small group. Maybe you accidentally slip in orreference something nice you did while in conversation with someone else. Andyou inwardly hope that they'll take the bait. They'll ask a follow-up question soyou can get the at a boy or at a girl that you are so desperate for. Maybe youlike to brag about your family's accomplishments in the yearly Christmasletter. That's right. I went there. Because some of you may do that. You say that youwant to keep everyone informed about your life, but you actually want to keepeveryone impressed with your life. All of these examples are sounding a trumpet,pulling out the selfie stick so that everyone will notice you because youwant to be the recipient of admiration. You know, whenever I was a full-timeyouth pastor for eight years, I went to a countless number of musicals, trackmeets, games, graduation ceremonies, graduation parties, and before, during, orafter the event, I would track down my student and their parents to let themknow that I was there. Because how could I bless them with my presence if theywere totally unaware of my presence? It's kind of weird to admit, but if Ididn't make myself known or receive credit, it didn't really seem to count.Does that make sense? Does that seem reasonable? But you often feel a verysimilar way when it comes to your acts of good works. To your acts of service. Ifothers don't recognize what you did, it doesn't really seem to count, right? Itmay even seem like a complete waste of time if you do not receive immediatepraise. Jesus says you can blow that trumpet, you can pull out that selfiestick if you want to, knock yourself out. If you do, you will receive the reward ofhuman praise, but that's all you'll get and nothing more. You will get nothingfrom your Father in heaven because you know what? You don't really care aboutwhat He has to give you. What other mere human beings have to offer seems muchmore appealing. But that is so short-sighted because compliments, thank-yous, and awardsfeel good for about 15 minutes. And then you're just jones in for the next dose,right? Praise leaves almost as quickly as it arrives. And you so quickly forgethow little it satisfies you the next time you desire it. In verses 3 through 4,Jesus warns you to long for that which truly lasts. He cautions you to walk thepath of delayed gratification so that you can receive the eternal reward of therecognition of God Himself. So that is the eternal reward, the recognition of God.Let's read verses 3 through 4. "But when you give to the needy," there it is again,"not if, when, when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know whatyour right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Fatherwho sees you in secret will reward you." As I said earlier, the secret to givingis giving in secret. Jesus says, "not even let your left hand know what your righthand is doing." I just want to give a warning up front. I don't want to offendall the left-handed people in the room with this explanation of theillustration. I love all of you just as much as the normal people in the room.Okay, so don't be offended.Moving on, about 90% of Americans are right-handed, not left-handed. Again, don'thate me, it's just the facts, which means that the majority of people use theirright hand way more than their left hand. So just go with this over-the-top funnyillustration from Jesus. Imagine that your hands can actually speak to eachother. In that scenario, your right hand shouldn't constantly brag about all thethings that it was used to do over the course of the day to the left hand.Instead, it should be quiet. It should be satisfied that it was used instead ofbroadcasting how it was used. Jesus is calling us to a very serious type ofself-denial here. He is saying, "serve me, serve others, and then do your best toforget all about it." Don't keep track. Don't keep score. Don't manage your ownpersonal scoreboard. Don't comb through your mental file of successes and think,"Yeah, I'm doing pretty good compared to most people at church, compared to mostpeople in my small group." That is a complete waste of time and energy. It isnot your job to keep score because you cannot accurately evaluate yourself.Only God can do that. But this kind of self-forgetfulness is so counterintuitiveto us because we all live in a culture that tries to ram self-worth down ourthroats every single chance that it gets. Oh, your self-esteem matters more thananything else. If you don't put yourself first, other people will put you last.Don't forget to love yourself. Give yourself pep talks and tell yourselfhow awesome you are. Is any of that biblical? Why do we often fall for it? TheBible doesn't teach you to have high self-esteem. The Bible also doesn'tteach you to have low self-esteem either. The Bible says to have noesteem, which means that you're not focused on your self-image. You're notobsessed with what other people think and say about you. Instead, you focus onwhat God thinks and says about you because his authoritative opinion mattersthe most. Listen, it does not matter if other people recognize and acknowledgeyour faithfulness. Let me say that again because I really need to hear it. It doesnot matter if other people recognize and acknowledge your faithfulness. Whatmatters is you hear these words from the Lord when you stand before Him one day.Well done, good, and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master. That isthe reward you should long and live for. Jesus says that if you give in secret,your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Jesus isn't saying that youcan earn right standing before God or work your way to heaven. That's notpossible. Salvation is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ andnowhere else. Forgiveness of sin and eternal life are gifts to be receivedby faith, not earned by works. Scripture is so clear on that. But scripture isequally clear that rewards in heaven are diligently earned, not automaticallyreceived. If you honor God in this life, He will honor you in eternity. If youreject temporary rewards that you cannot take out of this world, you will be giveneternal rewards that can never be stolen away from you in heaven. What a promise.That is a heavenly check that will never bounce and it will clear every singletime. So let God keep score because He will reward you. What are these heavenlyrewards? I wish I could tell you but the Bible doesn't give us specificdetails. But I can tell you this, God has never given you a lame gift in the pastand He will not give you a lame gift in the future. If God promises it,trust me, you want it and you will love it. Right now you may be thinking, okay,what do I do when someone else does praise me? This is going to happen at somepoint. Do you just shut them down and say, whoa, whoa, I didn't do this to bepraised by you. You're going to make me lose my eternal reward. Is that what youshould do? That'd be super weird and awkward for the other person. So pleasedon't do that. You should humbly accept this person's compliment and thenredirect their praise to the source and supply of your good works. The love ofChrist and the power of the Holy Spirit. Point the complimenter to God Himself.And this kind of redirect will not lead to a forfeiture of heavenly reward. Ifanything, it will lead to even greater reward because you have rightly handledpraise and you have put it in the place where it truly belongs, which is thehands of Almighty God. You know, compared to some of the weighty topics we'vecovered during the Sermon on the Mount, this passage may seem kind of light andinconsequential to you. But I can assure you that it's not because you're givingand serving in public speaks volumes of who you are in private. This is seriousbusiness. You have received a personal warning from Jesus Himself. He has warnedyou to watch out for the motive of glorifying yourself. To watch out forthe worldly desire to receive worldly rewards. And there are only two responsesto this kind of warning. Indifference or humility. Maybe you don't see any problemwith your motives right now. You don't see any issue for the reward you're livingfor. So you just want to move on with your day. Well, you're free to make thatchoice if you want to, but it is the wrong choice. Because until the day you dieand are in the presence of Christ, your motives will always be tinged withselfishness. Even as I stand before you to preach this sermon, there is selfishnessin my heart. Your motives will never be 100% pure. And you will desire the wrongreward. So please do not choose ignorance because too much is at stake. And maybe youdo see major problems with your motives and the reward you are living for. Youknow that you have to make a change, but you don't know how to make that change.Well, I have good news and bad news for you. Let's start with the bad news. Youcannot change your motives and desires. Are you ready for the good news? God canchange your motives and desires, but this will only happen if you humbleyourself before Him. Admit that you need His help. Submit to the master motivatorand the richest rewarder in the entire universe. Go to the Lord in prayer and dothat right now. Spend some time in prayer.Father, we come to you to lay our motives before you. To lay down the worldlyrewards that we are living for. What help us to remember the only thing that willtruly last is your glory and your name. What help us to live for these rewardsthat last forever and not these worldly rewards that fade away so quickly. AndLord, there's anyone in this room who is not a follower of you and is just stuckin this cycle of glorifying themselves and living for themselves. May they forthe first time submit to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That they canfulfill the purpose for which you've given them, which is to make much of you.And for the rest of us Lord, help us to remember that biblical goal. To rememberwho we are living for. To remember why we exist. And we ask all these things inJesus' name. Amen.

Today Ps Sean starts a new series about Miracles, still within the overall framework of our theme of Multiplication. He begins by speaking about 'lack' and the varying forms of lack we can experience in our lives. Sometimes this is through comparing ourselves to others around us, sometimes through genuine lack of resources, food, shelter, clothing etc. The story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17 is well known.....he asks her to make him a small peice of food from the remains of her flour which she was going to use just before she and her son died of hunger. But, this never happened, the jar of oil and the flour never ran out, just as the Lord had spoken thtough Elijah. In Matthew 14, Jesus feeds over 5000 people with fives loaves and two fish. But, he had given thanks to God before the miracle began. From a position seeming to be of lack, a supernatural God turned a natural situation into a miracle of supernatural provision and abundance. Ps Sean makes the point that this can be the case in each of our lives, but we need to surrender our lives, posture oursleves into submission before God, and act with obedience and thanksgiving. Leaning on our own understanding will never work (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are to acknowledge Him, then He'll make straight our paths. This means our relationships need to acknowledge Him, living God's way. Our finances have to live God's way. My eyes must honour Him, my ears must honour Him. My language must honour Him, every part of who I am acknowledges you to be, God, of all creator of the Heaven and the Earth. Therefore my body honours you, my desires honour you, my thoughts and intent honour you.... every aspect of every part of my life honours you. When we do this, we start to get more than enough breaking out of the depletion, the lack, around us. This is when we start to get Mana falling down from heaven into our lives, where we start to see supernatural provision in dry places.Surender, Submit, Give Thanks to God....then Miracles come......

Audio reading: Num 9:1-23, 1 Kings 14:1-15:24, Acts 10:1-23, Psalm133:1-3, Prov 17:7-8Join me in this journey reading through the entire bible inone year!  In Matthew 4:4, Yeshua said these words: “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Taking in the word of God every day is LIFE to our spirit and health to our bones!Visit us at: ⁠⁠dailyaudiotorah.com⁠⁠Go to ⁠Israel Connect⁠: Your bridge to the land and peopleof Israel!

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells three parables as the cross is looming in his consciousness. Each one demonstrates the primary ethos of the Kingdom of Heaven is mercy. We discover there is a very close relationship between the oil referred to in the parable of the ten girls and mercy. Then in the three servants we discover that one of them saw his master as being without mercy which illustrated that we react to God in the way we see him. The last story is of the sheep and goats who either lived a life of mercy or apathy toward the marginalized of society. We discover that mercy is the foundation of the final judgement. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #ReDiscovering God#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

We've spent this week diving into how we invest what God has given to us. In Matthew 25, we've already looked at four principles to live by. The last principle is compensation: If I use it wisely, I will be rewarded. Talent is cheap, but dedication is costly. When you use whatever talent God has given you for Him, God rewards you in three specific ways.What gifts are you going to give to God this summer?

In Matthew chapters 8-9 as Jesus demonstrates His authority with miracles, He models what it looks like to labor in His Kingdom harvest field. Then in Matthew 9:37-38 He calls his disciples to “ask the Lord of the harvest” to send out more laborers. This sets up chapter 10 where Jesus sends 12 of His disciples out into ministry on their own.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In Matthew 5, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Not only did Jesus teach about mercy and compassion, he modeled it as well. We are compassionate whenever we fill the pain in the suffering of those around us.

As we grow and step into all God has for us, we're called to live with authenticity and faith—rooted in knowing God, understanding our identity, and sharing what we've been given. We weren't created to chase perfection or live in duplicity. Somewhere along the way, the Christian walk became more about appearances than substance. But Jesus calls us simply to be—to shine our light and reflect Him with simplicity, purity, and authenticity.Let's remember who we are and live from the truth of Scripture:Children of God (John 1:12)A new creation (Galatians 4:5–7)Members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:27)Salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16)The Church (Ephesians 1:22)In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us salt and light—both essential for life. Light brings clarity, vision, energy, and well-being. Salt preserves, purifies, and enhances. We carry something powerful within us—let's live with that awareness.Matthew 5:13–16 (NIV) “You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”Let's shine brightly, live with kindness, and boldly share the gospel with those around us.Join us for our Summer of Kindness activations!For more info, you can go to our website, check us out on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. If you would like to support STUDIO financially, you can do so here.Have a great week!

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to worry—a command we all find challenging at times. In this message, Pastor Jared draws from Jesus' words to encourage us, reminding us that just as the creatures of this world live without worry, we too are called to trust in God's provision. Take a moment to listen and be encouraged.

Today,we will be looking at Luke 21:20-24. In this passage, Jesus gives His greatprophecy concerning future events to His disciples from the Mount of Olives asthey overlook the city of Jerusalem. He's answering their question: what willthe signs be of the end of the age, and when will that happen? Here, Jesusdescribes what we've already discussed as the great tribulation period, theseven years between the time of the church age, the rapture of the church, andthe millennial reign of Jesus Christ on earth.  Nowin verses 20-24, Jesus describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Thispassage is peculiar to Luke; there is no parallel description found in Matthewor Mark, in spite of the similar language in Matthew 24:16-21 and Mark13:14-17. However, it is clear that both Matthew and Mark were referring toevents in the middle of the Tribulation when "the abomination ofdesolation" would be set up in the Jewish temple and the Antichrist (theworld ruler) would begin to persecute Israel (Dan. 9:24-27; Rev. 13). That iswhere Jesus warned the Jewish people, to flee and go into hiding, for"great tribulation" was about to fall. Luke'saccount here in verses 20-24 refers not to a distant event to occur during theTribulation but to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the Roman army in 70A.D., just forty years from that time that Jesus is explaining these events toHis disciples (see Luke 19:41-44). This terrible event was in many respects a"dress rehearsal" for what will happen when Satan vents his anger onIsrael and the believing Gentiles during the last half of the Tribulation (Rev.12:7-17).  Whenthis event in verses 20-24 historically took place in 70 A.D., the Jewishhistorian Josephus claimed that nearly a million people were killed by theRomans, and over 100,000 taken captive, when Titus captured the city. And theJewish people and nation was scattered throughout the world. Butthis was not the first time Jerusalem would be "trampled by theGentiles," for the Babylonians had destroyed the city in 586 B.C. andtaken the people captive to Babylon. This is basically when, what is called "thetimes of the Gentiles" began. The Jewish people went back into their homelandin 1948 at the end of War World 2, and in 1967 recaptured and occupiedJerusalem in the Six Day War.  Butwe believe that this significant time period of the Gentiles did not end then. Becausein the middle of the Tribulation the Antichrist will break his peace treatywith Israel and again take over Jerusalem after he kills to two witnesses in Revelation11. In God's plan, the “times of the Gentiles” will end when Jesus Christreturns to the earth, destroys all Gentile power, and sets up His own righteouskingdom (Daniel 2:34-36, 44-45; Revelation 19).  TheApostle Paul also spoke of this time of the Gentiles ending in Romans 11:25-27.He called it the “fulness of the Gentiles”, speaking of the time at the end ofthe Tribulation when Jesus comes again and there is a national spiritual salvationfor the Jewish people.  Todaywe need to remember that believers are looking for their Lord's return shouldnot apply Luke 21:20-24 to their own situation. Jesus was talking aboutJerusalem in 70 A.D.. In Matthew 24:15-28 and Mark 13:14-23, He was speakingabout Israel's situation at the middle of the Tribulation. Since our Lord'scoming for the church will take place "in the twinkling of an eye" (1Cor. 15:52), no one will have time to go back home for a coat; nor will we haveto worry about traveling on the Sabbath or caring for nursing babies. Myfriend, we are getting closer every day to the return of Jesus Christ! Makesure you are ready!

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In Matthew 5, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Not only did Jesus teach about mercy and compassion, he modeled it as well. We are compassionate whenever we fill the pain in the suffering of those around us.

In today's reflective journey through 2 Kings 6:1-7, you will discover the incredible significance of spiritual families and the power of community within the prophetic calling. You'll find inspiration in God's desire for you to be part of a nurturing, faith-filled community.Have you ever felt a longing for connection, for a deeper relationship with spiritual mentors? Just like the prophets, you are invited to leave behind what holds you back and embrace the call to live together with those who share a kingdom mindset. In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus teaches us that our true family extends beyond blood ties; it encompasses those who do the will of God. This is your invitation to step into that family.As we dive deeper into Scriptures like Ephesians 2:19, you'll see that you are not only part of God's household but a vital member of His divine family—half on earth and half in heaven (Ephesians 3:14-15). Just like the sons of the prophets who lived in a small place, you have the opportunity to increase your spiritual impact. When they noticed limitations, Elisha encouraged them: “Go and make!” This is a call to action for you too.Reflect with us on the blessings of productivity, multiplication, and increase as mentioned in Genesis 1:28 and encouraged by Psalms 35:27—God takes pleasure in your prosperity! Isaiah 60:22 reminds us that even the smallest among us can become a great force. Deuteronomy 1:11 shares the promise of becoming a thousand times more numerous. Do you believe you have God's life within you, a life meant to multiply? In this video, we'll talk about how your efforts and hard work, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:17 and Colossians 1:29, will not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58)—God honors your labor.No matter where you are on your journey, know this: God is with you, as promised in Hebrews 13:5. As we read through the latter part of 2 Kings 6:4-7, be assured that whatever you feel you've lost, God is ready to restore it (Joel 2:25). Join us as we encourage one another to seek spiritual parents, to embrace community, and to expect restoration and growth in our lives. You are not alone.The Importance of Spiritual Parents | Prophet Ezekiah FrancisWatch in English https://youtube.com/live/DS2bBY5V8acWatch in Tamil (தமிழ்) https://youtube.com/live/g-VCGDXkQ_8Watch in Hindi (हिंदी) https://youtube.com/live/s4HJswe1K_AWatch in Telugu (తెలుగు) https://youtube.com/live/7jNbc0p_rmsWatch in Malayalam (മലയാളം) https://youtube.com/live/M8lRMd8_EOAWatch in Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) https://youtube.com/live/xw48-JBUzmI

What does Jesus really think of you? You may know He died for you—but have you ever wondered how He feels about people like us? In Matthew 11, Jesus reveals His heart: gentle, lowly, full of love and compassion. No matter who you are or what you're facing, He invites you to find rest in Him. If you're weary or overwhelmed, listen today and discover the rest your soul is longing for. Today's Resource:  Gentle and Lowly Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support.  To donate now, click here. This month's featured resource: Still Standing

While we focus a lot on God's incredible gifts to us through the good news of Jesus, we should also consider our gifts to God. In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable showing how to make your life count regardless of how limited your abilities and gifts appear to be. We'll review five principles for investing your life this week. Today we'll talk about ownership. God made it all, and since God made it all, He owns it all.

In Matthew 23:1-12 we see that self-exaltation leads to ruin, but humility is the pathway to receiving God's grace.

This Sunday Pastor Jake continued our series “Heart Over Hype”. This week he addressed the problem of anxiety. In this series we're diving deep into the powerful teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the world through His eyes—a perspective far richer and more transformative than our natural understanding. Join us next Sunday for week 8 of the series!Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook:   / mannastafford  Instagram:   / manna.stafford  TikTok:   / manna.stafford

In Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a series of sharp rebukes—woes—against the scribes and Pharisees, condemning their hypocrisy and the spiritual harm they cause by leading others astray.In this message, we explore Christ's warning and consider how it speaks to us today, urging us to guard against false religion and ensure we are eager to draw others to the truth.This sermon was preached at Legacy Reformed Baptist Church in East Grand Forks, MN. For more information, visit LegacyRBC.org.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In Matthew 5, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Not only did Jesus teach about mercy and compassion, he modeled it as well. We are compassionate whenever we fill the pain in the suffering of those around us.

Malpractice is the improper treatment of a case, client, or situation by a professional that results in someone's harm. It occurs when someone in a given profession does something that causes injury, injustice, or damage. And unfortunately, malpractice doesn't just happen in the medical or legal fields. In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus addresses a different kind of malpractice —biblical malpractice—the misuse, misinterpretation, and misapplication of Scripture in ways that hurt rather than heal. Jesus' six-part message on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love reveals the dangerous consequences of interpreting God's Word through the lens of tradition, bias, and personal agenda. In this message, we're going to dive into Jesus' teaching so we can learn how to protect the church from the danger of biblical malpractice.

In this series, we'll discover what it means for us to be disciples of Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives the Great Commission, which all believers are a part of. This command shouldn't come with a lot of pressure, because discipleship happens one step at a time. As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we will begin to experience all God has for us because every time we take a next step on our discipleship journey, we, by design, experience more of God!

In Matthew 16:21–24, Peter thought he was helping Jesus—trying to protect Him from suffering. But instead of supporting His mission, Peter became a distraction from it. In this message, we explore how even well-meaning people and good intentions can unintentionally pull us off course from God's calling. Sometimes the most dangerous distractions aren't evil—they're just misaligned. Learn how to recognize when love, comfort, or fear are disguising themselves as wisdom, and how to stay focused on what God is really calling you to do.

In Matthew 27:45-54 we learned that the death of Jesus is the death of death.

In Matthew 18:21–35, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant to show the staggering grace we've received—and the grace we must extend to others. When we truly grasp the depth of God's forgiveness toward us, it transforms how we handle the wrongs of others. Forgiveness is not optional for the follower of Christ; it is a necessary outflow of a heart changed by mercy. This week, we'll explore how the gospel empowers us to release bitterness, embrace forgiveness, and reflect our gracious King.

8 And He said:"Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name,saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go afterthem. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified;for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not comeimmediately." Todaywe're looking at Luke chapter 21. Jesus has been asked by His disciples inverse 7, "When will these things be, and what will the sign be when thesethings are about to take place?" In Matthew 24:3, they also asked,"When will be the end of the age?" As they were looking over at thetemple, Jesus had said, "This temple will be destroyed. Not one stone willbe left upon another." This took place in 70 AD, when Titus, the Romangeneral, moved into Jerusalem, slaughtered the Jews, tore down the temple, andscattered them. Only in 1948 did the Jews return to the land of Palestine. Jesuscontinues to answer their question, but we must remember that the signs andevents He talks about here in Luke 21, Mark 13, and Matthew 24-25, are notprimarily about the rapture but the return of Christ seven years after therapture. Most of these signs and events relate to the events that take place inthe Tribulation that we read about in the book of Revelation, starting inchapter 6.  Therewe find out that the Tribulation is divided into three parts: the first threeand a half years, the middle of the Tribulation (read about that in Danielchapters 9 and 10), and the last half of the Tribulation, which Jesus calledthe Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:21; “For then there will be Great Tribulation,such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, norever shall be”. Which also last three and a half years, a total of sevenyears. These signs point to His return when He comes in great glory, judges theearth, and sets up His millennial kingdom. Too many of us are looking for signswhen we should be looking up for the Savior, living for Him, and reachingothers. InLuke 21:8-19, Jesus gives three main messages in response to the disciples'questions. In verse 8, He said, "Take heed that you do not bedeceived, for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The timehas drawn near.' Therefore, do not go after them. When you hear of wars andcommotions, do not be terrified, for these things must first come topass, but the end will not come immediately." Two key points here: donot be deceived, and do not be terrified.  Mostof us are very interested in end-time events, and as these signs intensify, itindicates the end of the tribulation is near. Since the rapture happens seven yearsbefore then, Jesus says, "Lift up your head; your redemption drawsnigh." We need to be living, working, and serving, not deceived, becausethere have always been false Christs, persecution, and wars. Inverses 12-13, Jesus also talks about persecution. In verse 14, He says, "Thereforesettle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you willanswer." Jesus is encouraging those who are true believers during thistime that as they see these things happen, “don't be deceived, terrified,afraid, or fearful, but also don't worry”. I love what He says: "Not ahair on your head will be lost." This doesn't mean people won't die.In the tribulation, believers may die by the hundreds of thousands, perhapsmillions, under the persecution of the Antichrist.  But,my friend, when you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you donot die—you simply change places. He takes care of you, and not a hair of yourhead will perish. In your patience, possess your souls.Weall need this message today! Don't be deceived, terrified, or worried. Keeplooking up; Jesus is coming soon, and we look forward to that day.

For Jesus Followers, Who Would Follow Him – “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” MESSAGE SUMMARY: You need to submit our life preferences to the God. By submitting your life preferences to the Lord, He can help you to understand the life path that your preferences will lead. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:24, tells us that our Life Preferences need an overarching focus: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.". Life preferences are not, necessarily, sins; but they can close doors in your life. In Matthew 10:37-39, Jesus provides a context from which we can assess life preference choices: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, My citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 10:37-39; 1 Corinthians 9:12-27; James 3:13-18; Psalms 135:12-21. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Are You Filled with the Holy Spirit?”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Tuesday, 3 June 2025   “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. Matthew 10:27   “What I tell you in the darkness, you speak in the light, and what to the ear you hear, proclaim upon the roofs!” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus assured his apostles that there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be known. Next, He says to them, “What I tell you in the darkness, you speak in the light.”   The word skotia, darkness, is introduced. It can refer to literal darkness or be applied figuratively to spiritual darkness. In that case, it would be a brand of moral obscurity that is missing when a lack of faith obscures the light of God.   Jesus instructs them that the words He speaks in private should not be withheld in public. In Matthew 13, it says –   “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.'” Matthew 13:34, 35   Later, in Mark 4:34, it notes that when they were alone, He explained these parables to them. When the apostles spoke about what Jesus cryptically passed on to the people, it meant that the people had to be willing to listen to their message. It is not unlike the Bible today.   The word of the Lord came to people. It was then recorded. Now, we must decide to read it, accepting that it is the word of the Lord. Jesus' instruction to His apostles is telling them that they are a part of the process of transmitting what He has set forth for them to know what God is doing. As such, He continues with a parallel thought, “and what to the ear you hear, proclaim upon the roofs!”   Two more new words are seen here. The first is ous, a primary word signifying the ear. It is the faculty of perception which speaks not just of the physical process of hearing, but also the assimilation of what is heard by processing it and understanding it. This is reflected in the thought, “He who has ears, let him hear.”   One can hear without assimilating, or he can hear and also assimilate and process the information he has heard. The second new word is dóma, a roof. In the Middle East, even to this day, the roof is a flat area, often used for sitting outside, sleeping, and even having parties. It is also a suitable place to make a proclamation, being elevated above others.   Jesus is probably speaking to these men quietly, giving them their instructions to go out into the field. Likewise, they would sit around a house or some other area and discuss things. This was what they would hear in their ear. They were to then take what they heard and make it public, symbolized by proclaiming it from the roofs.   Life application: Jesus is instructing his apostles on the importance of His message. It may or may not be that the apostles actually went up on the housetops to speak. The point isn't that they or we must do so.   In other words, we use the same type of thought when we say, “Shout it from the mountaintops.” Nobody really expects us to go up on a mountaintop and start shouting whatever message we are told to shout out.   Instead, it is a way of saying that something is to be made public and not held back. The apostles will later speak in open areas. This is recorded throughout Acts. Likewise, we have a message that the world needs to hear. We shouldn't timidly withhold it, but be willing to proclaim it as if we were on the rooftops.   If the Beatles can do a concert from the rooftops to share music that few listen to anymore today, why can't we be willing to proclaim the word of God openly and publicly? It is an eternal word from the Creator concerning our damaged relationship with Him and how it can be repaired. Let us not hold back this wonderful message of hope.   Glorious God, help us to be responsible with our time as we interact with others. There is coming a time when we will not see those around us again. People move, get new jobs, and die. Once the separation is permanent, our last chance to tell them about Jesus will be gone. May we speak while there is time. Yes, help motivate us to do so, O God. Amen.

It's not about appearances—it's about fruit. In Matthew 7, Jesus challenges us to evaluate our lives by the impact we make. Pastor Barry explores what it looks like to live out a faith that actually bears fruit. Keywords: Matthew 7 sermon, fruit of the Spirit, spiritual growth sermon, how to follow Jesus, tree and its fruit meaning

In Matthew 22:34-46 we see that love for God and love for others flow from truly understanding who Jesus is and what He has done for you.

This Sunday Pastor Jake continued our series "Heart Over Hype". This week he addressed the problem of seeking attention and reminded us the right thing, done for the wrong reason, forfeits the reward.  In this series we're diving deep into the powerful teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the world through His eyes—a perspective far richer and more transformative than our natural understanding. Join us next Sunday for week 7 of the series!Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook:   / mannastafford  Instagram:   / manna.stafford  TikTok:   / manna.stafford

In Matthew 9:35-10:15, we see that Jesus' response to the lost was compassion, and he wants compassion for the lost to move us to earnest prayer and gospel proclamation. In this message, Pastor Spencer encourages each of us to ask, "Who is one person close to me and far from God that I can take a gospel risk to bring Christ to?"

Today’s devotional takes us deep into the compassionate heart of Jesus. In a world loud with noise and performance, Christ shows us a love that is deeply personal, quietly powerful, and beautifully intentional. Jennifer Slattery unpacks the healing of a deaf man in Mark 7 to reveal how Jesus doesn’t just care for the crowd—He cherishes the individual. This story is a powerful reminder that God sees you, values you, and offers healing not as a show, but as an intimate act of love. What You'll Learn: Why Jesus may have taken the deaf man aside before healing him How Christ’s actions protect dignity and demonstrate personal compassion The difference between public miracles and private moments of grace What this tells us about how God views you—not as a project, but as a person

So far, Jesus has given reinterpretations of the Law by addressing the heart connections of anger to murder, lust to adultery, and clear teaching on marriage and divorce. In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus goes on to address truthfulness. The people of Jesus' time had created all kinds of ways to talk around the truth, subtleties and passive ways to dodge saying what they really meant to say – a lot like we do today. In Jesus' Kingdom, there is no room for playing with truth. After all, He is the source of all truth and Jesus promised that knowing Him means we know what truth is, and the truth sets us free. We will take time to look at the consequences of manipulating truth, and why it is so important to God that we tell the truth.------------------------------------------- Connect with us on Social Media ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠------------------------------------------- Download our App⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

In Matthew 16, Jesus explained what it means to be one of his followers. However, thanks to our media-driven culture, the term has morphed into being little more than a "fan" of someone.