Podcast appearances and mentions of jesus does

 The Grave Doesn't Get The Final Word, Jesus Does. And When He Speaks, Even Dead Things Come Back To LifeSupport the show

Today, we watched a video on discipleship and then had a time of sharing our stories of what God has done in our lives. Today's Music: Angels We Have Heard On High, What A Beautiful Name, Jesus Does, and Only A Holy God

Andy Minch explores God’s goodness and kindness and how it is revealed in the Sermon on the Mount. God is love, and love is kind. And as God’s people, His loving kindness should flow out of us. Today’s Music: Wide Open Space, Jesus Does, Ever Be, and 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Today Trent talked about applying God's redemption to our lives. Then, we broke into table discussions and shared our thoughts. Today's music : Glorious Day, Jesus Changed My Life, Jesus Does, O Praise the Name 

Many thanks to Kelsey Miller and the members of the WCMC Worship band for the open song, "Jesus Does" by We the Kingdom. A sermon by Pastor Charlie Grimes, Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, OH. If you have a comment or question, please feel free to share it: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/encouragers-united/message Encouragement Positive mental attitude Enthusiasm, Dreamer, Coach, Mentor, Friend Charlesrgrimes@gmail.com charlesrgrimes.com Twitter: @charlesrgrimes https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-grimes-2b78444b/ https://www.instagram.com/encouragers_united/ https://www.facebook.com/EncouragersUnited/?modal=admin_todo_tour https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-40nUSl9SCekbbhk3FzYw?view_as=subscriber www.wcmenn.org The Encouragers United Podcast is a joint ministry effort by Charlie Grimes and Walnut Creek Mennonite Church. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/encouragers-united/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/encouragers-united/support

Beginning Oct. 1, 2023, Redemption Christian Church will be singing a new song together called “Jesus Does.” Utilize this song teaching audio/video from Redemption worship minister Ryan Lynton to learn how the song is arranged and get ready to sing together once we gather again.VERSE 1Who tells the sun to rise every morningColors the sky with the shades of His gloryWakes us with mercy and loveJesus doesVERSE 2Who holds the orphan comforts the widowCries for injustice feels every sorrowCarries the pain of His childrenJesus doesCHORUSSo we singPraise to the Father who gave us the SonPraise to the Spirit who's living in usWhen I was a sinner He saved me from who I was('Cause) that's what Jesus doesVERSE 3Who understands the heart of the sinnerShowers His grace over all our mistakesWashes us clean with His bloodJesus doesVERSE 4Who sings the song of sweet forgivenessWho stole the keys to hell and the graveWho has the power to saveJesus doesBRIDGEOh what a FriendOh what a SaviorHe's always been goodHe's always been faithfulHe came to my rescueWhen I needed Him mostAnd saved my soul"Jesus Does" CCLI Song # 7205247. Written by Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Kyle Briskin, Martin Cash, Scott Cash. © 2022 Angie Feel Good Songs; Bay19; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Franni Cash Designee; Martin Cash Designee; Neon District Music; Scott Cash Publishing Designee; We The Kingdom Music. All rights reserved. CCLI License # 2226886.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2023, Redemption Christian Church will be singing a new song together called “Jesus Does.” Utilize this song teaching audio/video from Redemption worship minister Ryan Lynton to learn how the song is arranged and get ready to sing together once we gather again.VERSE 1Who tells the sun to rise every morningColors the sky with the shades of His gloryWakes us with mercy and loveJesus doesVERSE 2Who holds the orphan comforts the widowCries for injustice feels every sorrowCarries the pain of His childrenJesus doesCHORUSSo we singPraise to the Father who gave us the SonPraise to the Spirit who's living in usWhen I was a sinner He saved me from who I was('Cause) that's what Jesus doesVERSE 3Who understands the heart of the sinnerShowers His grace over all our mistakesWashes us clean with His bloodJesus doesVERSE 4Who sings the song of sweet forgivenessWho stole the keys to hell and the graveWho has the power to saveJesus doesBRIDGEOh what a FriendOh what a SaviorHe's always been goodHe's always been faithfulHe came to my rescueWhen I needed Him mostAnd saved my soul"Jesus Does" CCLI Song # 7205247. Written by Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Kyle Briskin, Martin Cash, Scott Cash. © 2022 Angie Feel Good Songs; Bay19; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Franni Cash Designee; Martin Cash Designee; Neon District Music; Scott Cash Publishing Designee; We The Kingdom Music. All rights reserved. CCLI License # 2226886.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2023, Redemption Christian Church will be singing a new song together called “Jesus Does.” Utilize this song teaching audio/video from Redemption worship minister Ryan Lynton to learn how the song is arranged and get ready to sing together once we gather again.VERSE 1Who tells the sun to rise every morningColors the sky with the shades of His gloryWakes us with mercy and loveJesus doesVERSE 2Who holds the orphan comforts the widowCries for injustice feels every sorrowCarries the pain of His childrenJesus doesCHORUSSo we singPraise to the Father who gave us the SonPraise to the Spirit who's living in usWhen I was a sinner He saved me from who I was('Cause) that's what Jesus doesVERSE 3Who understands the heart of the sinnerShowers His grace over all our mistakesWashes us clean with His bloodJesus doesVERSE 4Who sings the song of sweet forgivenessWho stole the keys to hell and the graveWho has the power to saveJesus doesBRIDGEOh what a FriendOh what a SaviorHe's always been goodHe's always been faithfulHe came to my rescueWhen I needed Him mostAnd saved my soul"Jesus Does" CCLI Song # 7205247. Written by Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Kyle Briskin, Martin Cash, Scott Cash. © 2022 Angie Feel Good Songs; Bay19; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Franni Cash Designee; Martin Cash Designee; Neon District Music; Scott Cash Publishing Designee; We The Kingdom Music. All rights reserved. CCLI License # 2226886.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2023, Redemption Christian Church will be singing a new song together called “Jesus Does.” Utilize this song teaching audio/video from Redemption worship minister Ryan Lynton to learn how the song is arranged and get ready to sing together once we gather again.VERSE 1Who tells the sun to rise every morningColors the sky with the shades of His gloryWakes us with mercy and loveJesus doesVERSE 2Who holds the orphan comforts the widowCries for injustice feels every sorrowCarries the pain of His childrenJesus doesCHORUSSo we singPraise to the Father who gave us the SonPraise to the Spirit who's living in usWhen I was a sinner He saved me from who I was('Cause) that's what Jesus doesVERSE 3Who understands the heart of the sinnerShowers His grace over all our mistakesWashes us clean with His bloodJesus doesVERSE 4Who sings the song of sweet forgivenessWho stole the keys to hell and the graveWho has the power to saveJesus doesBRIDGEOh what a FriendOh what a SaviorHe's always been goodHe's always been faithfulHe came to my rescueWhen I needed Him mostAnd saved my soul"Jesus Does" CCLI Song # 7205247. Written by Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Kyle Briskin, Martin Cash, Scott Cash. © 2022 Angie Feel Good Songs; Bay19; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Franni Cash Designee; Martin Cash Designee; Neon District Music; Scott Cash Publishing Designee; We The Kingdom Music. All rights reserved. CCLI License # 2226886.

Download the free Episode Guide for THIS EPISODE now! Do you have a favorite singer? Can you recognize their voice even if you're not familiar with the song? I have a friend who is a photographer. I can spot her work right away on social media. Her photos have something about them that acts as a type of signature on her work. When we examine the works of Jesus and get to know them really well, it will be easier to spot Him in places like the Old Testament Scriptures or even daily life. We The Kingdom's song "Jesus Does" inspired me to study the works of Jesus.   Join me as we study what Jesus did, does, and will do in the book of Hebrews.   In this episode, I discuss the following: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Context Read and keep on reading Repetition Listen to an audio version of the text Read various translations Make a list Meditation Follow the cross-references Define words Complete a word study Episode Guide Download Reading the first five books of the Bible using the reader's Bible - Immerse: Beginnings - Amazon Paid Link Learning how to look for Jesus in the Old Testament - Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament by Michael Barrett - Amazon Paid Link Jesus himself says that the law and the prophets point to him - Luke 24:25-27 Studying the works of Jesus enables us to see him in other areas of Scripture Reading through Hebrews, looking for what Jesus does Seeing the Old Testament quoted in Hebrews as evidence of Christ "The Old Testament must be read in light of its fulfillment in Christ" - Exalting Jesus in Hebrews Commentary - Amazon Paid Link ‌Completing a word study on the word "propitiation" - Hebrews 2:17 A warning from Hebrews 3 and a call to action from Hebrews 10   My goal is to study the works of Christ in order to be so familiar with Him that I can spot Him anywhere.     Additional Resources Lyrics to "Jesus Does" by We The Kingdom - NewReleaseToday.com The story behind the song "Jesus Does" by We The Kingdom - New Release Today Article My favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link This Week's Challenge Read the book of Hebrews from beginning to end. Read it several times over several days if you can. When you sit down to interact with the Scripture, look for what Jesus does in the text. You're looking for action words — past, present, and future — to help you get to know Jesus through his works. Then, like a signature, He will be easier to spot in the Old Testament and in life.

Have you ever felt like you were not good enough for God. Perhaps you have thought that maybe that Jesus only cares for important people. This is a must listen to episode for you as we learn about how Jesus DOES care for people we might call "no-bodies."Year B Quarter 3 Week 31All Bible verses are from the NKJVFind the Lessons Here: https://mybiblefirst.org/?module=products&func=product&id2=25Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesus

Have you ever felt like you were not good enough for God. Perhaps you have thought that maybe that Jesus only cares for important people. This is a must listen to episode for you as we learn about how Jesus DOES care for people we might call "no-bodies."Year B Quarter 3 Week 31All Bible verses are from the NKJVFind the Lessons Here: https://mybiblefirst.org/?module=products&func=product&id2=25Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesus

Have you ever felt like you were not good enough for God. Perhaps you have thought that maybe that Jesus only cares for important people. This is a must listen to episode for you as we learn about how Jesus DOES care for people we might call "no-bodies."Year B Quarter 3 Week 31All Bible verses are from the NKJVFind the Lessons Here: https://mybiblefirst.org/?module=products&func=product&id2=25Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesus

Have you ever felt like you were not good enough for God. Perhaps you have thought that maybe that Jesus only cares for important people. This is a must listen to episode for you as we learn about how Jesus DOES care for people we might call "no-bodies."Year B Quarter 3 Week 31All Bible verses are from the NKJVFind the Lessons Here: https://mybiblefirst.org/?module=products&func=product&id2=25Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesus

Have you ever felt like you were not good enough for God. Perhaps you have thought that maybe that Jesus only cares for important people. This is a must listen to episode for you as we learn about how Jesus DOES care for people we might call "no-bodies."Year B Quarter 3 Week 31All Bible verses are from the NKJVFind the Lessons Here: https://mybiblefirst.org/?module=products&func=product&id2=25Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesus

Have you ever felt like you were not good enough for God. Perhaps you have thought that maybe that Jesus only cares for important people. This is a must listen to episode for you as we learn about how Jesus DOES care for people we might call "no-bodies."Year B Quarter 3 Week 31All Bible verses are from the NKJVFind the Lessons Here: https://mybiblefirst.org/?module=products&func=product&id2=25Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesus

On this week's episode of the Mess it Up Podcast the Bow Tie Guy and Bev talk about CR Summit 2023. Listen to recollections from past Summits and a look forward to what might be in store for this year. Our Song of the Week is "Jesus Does" from We the Kingdom. To financially support the show text the word "MuM" to 760-WALLS-CA

Glory be to God! Welcome everyone to Episode #642, Season 7. **

The door into God's Kingdom is narrow – you must choose to walk through it if you want to celebrate with God for eternity. Will you intentionally step through the door and leave the world behind? Listen to Jesus' teaching in today's scripture to gain the strength to follow His voice. (Luke 13:22-30) *** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins, and it is my honor to walk with you as we open scripture each week and ask God to show us what He wants us to know. Women World Leaders was started with a vision to reach out to the world with the love and message of Jesus Christ. It is our goal to share God's love with you and empower you to walk in your God-given purpose. We do that by offering Bible teaching, fellowship with other Christians, and by providing avenues for leadership growth. If you are new to the ministry, we would love you to join us from wherever you are! We offer several monthly zooms that are educational, informative, and fun – and they are open to women from around the world. Through Women World Leaders, I have friendships with women from all over whom I have come to know, love, pray for, and depend on as sisters. Two of our regular meetings are on the third Monday of each month when we join together for our Leadership Connect, which includes fellowship and teaching, and the 4th Monday of each month, when we join together for prayer. But we also offer monthly seminars on zoom, of course our Voice of Truth magazine, and opportunities to grow and serve in your gifting. To get started, visit our website www.womenworldleaders.com and fill out the contact form to get on our email list. That way, you can stay informed about all that is happening in the ministry and jump in as the Holy Spirit leads you. On this, the Wednesday edition of our podcast, we are continuing to walk through the gospels together chronologically. Today's scripture comes from the book of Luke, chapter 13, verses 22-30. Before we begin, let's pray. Dear Most Holy God – thank you for sharing your Word with us so that we might know you better. We come to you in awe of who you are and how you have sustained your written Word for so many years just so we can open it today. Father, we open the Bible with confidence today, knowing that you will meet us and guide us as we read. Help us each walk away from out time together knowing exactly what you want us to and having a better understanding of who you are and what you call us to today. We give you this time and trust your presence. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   When we left Jesus last week, we were in the book of John, at the end of chapter 10. Jesus had been teaching and clearly shared that He and the Father were One. This resulted in the authorities attempting to seize Him, but Jesus escaped their grasp and went across the Jordan to stay and rest in the place where John the Baptist had baptized many. In that time and place, scripture tells us, many more came to a life-saving belief in Jesus as the Messiah. We can imagine that this was a mountain-top experience for Jesus. Though many had come against Him, God graciously provided Jesus both rest and a shot of adrenaline as He allowed Him to see the difference He was making in so many lives. If you have ever stood up for Jesus – whether it be by praying before your meal at a restaurant or ministering to an individual – you know that standing for Jesus includes both highs and lows. Ministry, in any form, is hard work. You'd better believe that the devil does not want us to stand for Jesus, and when we do, he will come against us, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. But when you serve on God's behalf, you can also know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you are making a difference in the world. That what you are doing matters. And you can trust that God WILL provide you with rest and encouragement at just the right time—IF you stay connected to Him in prayer and are obedient to His calling. As a leader, God does not want you to burn out. You do not have to be the end-all-be-all for those you have been called to serve. That is God's job. Even Jesus left when the crowds came against Him. And when He did, God gave Him the rest and provision He needed to step out again—exactly where He was called.   As we join back up with Jesus today, let's begin with Luke 13:22 from the New Living Translation… 22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” This was no doubt one of MANY questions Jesus received along the way. The Jewish people believed that all Israelites would be saved, except those who did egregious acts such as denying the Law or speaking the name YHWH. They believed THEIR salvation was a given simply because of who they were as God's chosen people. And yet, they were also taught, “Many have been created, but only a few shall be saved.” So this person was likely asking for clarification. Would only a few be saved? Jesus doesn't answer directly. Because although Jesus DOES care about the masses, His gaze on the masses is always intently focused on each individual. God sees EACH of us. He loves, attends to, and cherishes YOU as an individual. And He felt the same way about this person asking the question. So the more important question that Jesus wanted this person to answer was, Will YOU be saved? From Jesus' answer flows a fountain of information that centers around one specific point — EACH person must intentionally give themselves to Jesus in order to be saved. In Verse 24, John records Jesus' response… 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.  The word translated as “work hard” means to strive, to intentionally make every effort to enter God's kingdom. Receiving the gift of salvation from Jesus is not like standing in a spring shower. I live on the coast in Florida, where it can be a beautifully sunny day when I walk out the door, and within 10 minutes, I can be drenched by a sudden and unexpected shower. I actually walk quite often and we have taken to leaving towels by the front door for just such an occasion. When the rain comes, you get wet, and there isn't anything you can do about it. But that isn't how salvation works. God IS ALWAYS raining down His love and His offer of salvation, but no matter WHO you are, WHAT church you go to, or WHO your parents are – to receive God's salvation – to secure your place in His kingdom – YOU have to intentionally walk INTO His blessings. Jesus, in this parable, describes the entry into God's Kingdom as a narrow door. Nobody steps through a narrow door without meaning to. And it is impossible to go through any door without leaving a different place behind. Have you ever hit a crossroads? Have you ever had to walk through a figurative door, knowing you are entering a new location or phase but are also leaving something behind? This happens so often in our lives. As a graduate, you leave behind being a student and step into a world full of new possibilities. When you walk down the aisle to be married, you are leaving behind single life and entering into a life of communion with your spouse. And when you have a child, you gain a new title – mom or dad – and your world will never be the same. The same is true when we enter into a relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When we say yes to walking through that narrow door, we must leave behind our old selves. No longer are we tied to the world and solely responsible for ourselves. Instead, we choose to humbly submit to God's direction, we ask Him to forgive our sins, and we step across that threshold of salvation into His Kingdom. And suddenly, we are never alone again. Suddenly, we have God fighting for us at every turn. Suddenly, we have an army of believers who hold us up in difficult times and rejoice with us in good times. But this miracle, though a free gift, doesn't just happen. We must each CHOOSE to look for the door and then walk through it. But there is a catch…and this is the hard part for us to understand…that door to the kingdom won't remain open forever. Jesus continues… 25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, ‘I don't know you or where you come from.' 26 Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.' I can't imagine how this information struck the Jewish listeners…they always ASSUMED that as God's chosen people, they would be with God forever. Was it true that they could be left behind? Then Jesus continues to paint the picture for those who did not choose the narrow path to the kingdom before it was too late… 28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.  The Jews listening must have recoiled at this. Their own forefathers, the very people they looked up to and longed to follow, would be there, in God's Kingdom. Yet, it was now likely beginning to sink in. They were starting to understand that those who do not choose to follow JESUS will be left out of the celebration. And, they will be doing the opposite of celebrating – they will be weeping and gnashing their teeth. Weeping and gnashing their teeth was a way of describing being in extreme anguish, torment, and even experiencing extreme anger. This is understandable, because those who did not follow and submit to Jesus, before the door closed, will be judged and, ultimately, rejected by the God of love – who had offered them EVERYTHING. And, speaking to the Jews, Jesus makes it even more clear that salvation is not based on heredity. And as He does, Jesus reveals what is a glorious revelation for those who are not Jewish – EVERYONE has the opportunity to intentionally follow Jesus and walk through that narrow door, leaving the world behind and entering God's kingdom… Verse 29… 29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.[a]” WE are each given the gift to enter the kingdom of God through the narrow door by submitting to the doorkeeper Himself, Jesus Christ. But to walk through that door, we must intentionally leave behind our self-sufficiency and pride. We must walk away from the false sense of security that the world offers. We must deny what we THINK we want and trust that when we follow Jesus, He will give us more than we can truly IMAGINE we need and want. The way is not easy and we cannot do it alone. But we don't have to do it alone, because Jesus is there, holding out His hand to help you step over the threshold. Can you hear the voices calling you on the other side? Focus on them. Listen to them. Ask God for the strength to follow Him in obedience. And let me encourage you to act now. Quickly. We have no idea when that door will close. It will happen unexpectedly – and when it does, the sound will be deafening. Will you pray with me? Dear Most Holy God – we know you have so much for us! We hear your call and we want to answer. Today, I vow to follow you, to lean into knowing you, to walk in your way and follow your will for my life. Jesus, I am sorry for the times I have gone my own way. Claim me as your own! I give you my life! I give you my eternity! And I hold out my hand to you – lead me over the threshold into your kingdom today. Thank you for leading me and loving me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.  

Glory be to God! **

All I an really say is Jesus DOES love us all! No matter who u are If u accepted him or have not. HES THERE! just a reminder! There's HOPE IN JESUS! THAT WAS A ENCOURAGER BUT HE CAN TAKE AWAY ALL THAT WHAT YOU FEELING!!! .I LOVE YOU. TRY HIM FA YASELF --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/felicia-davis42/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/felicia-davis42/support

Jesus' love and power have no borders. And we, His disciples, are called to serve in God's power to every nation and tongue. As we study Matthew 15:21-39 and Mark 7:24-8:10, we will uncover the lessons that underlie Jesus' miracles of healing and provision to both the Jew and the Gentile. ******* Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders' podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins. I have the privilege of being the Teaching Leader for Women World Leaders. I've spent years studying the Bible – diving into God's Word, seeking to know Him better and to hear His voice more clearly. Shortly after I graduated from college I had a conversation with a friend, lamenting to her that I was feeling far from Jesus. Her advice was to spend time reading the Bible, to which I responded, I don't know how to read the Bible. That began my journey of attempting to quench my thirst for knowing Jesus…and after many classes, studies, and even a obtaining a masters degree in Biblical Exposition, I've come to the realization that the more I know Jesus, the more I want to know Him deeper. So I keep studying, and I keep growing. It is my honor and joy to share with you what I have learned along the way, and to keep learning even as I prepare these podcasts. I am thrilled you have come alongside me in this quest, and I hope you will join us on Saturday, June 4th from 9:30-12:30 et as we host our first Women World Leaders gathering since the onset of covid! This free event, appropriately titled Renew, will be held in South Florida, but will also be broadcast on Facebook Live. We will have teaching, worship, and will be blessed by DeAnn Alaine, a hysterical comedian, who you can learn more about at deannalaine.com (d e a n n a l a i n e .com). You can register for the event and find out more information on our website, womenworldleaders.com. And if you can't attend in person, find us on Facebook under the name Women World Leaders. On this, the Wednesday edition of the Women World Leaders podcast, we are currently walking through the gospels chronologically as we study the life of Jesus. Today, we will focus on Matthew 15:21-39 and Mark 7:24-8:10. Before we begin, let's pray. Dear Most Holy God, we come to you today seeking your presence and yearning to know you more. Guide our minds and our hearts as we study. We invite you to not only teach and bless us, but to convict and refine us. Sharpen our rough edges, help our unbelief, and heighten our understanding of who you are. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   As we walk with Jesus, we learn from both His actions and His teaching to the crowds, His disciples, and individuals. This isn't different from what we have been studying, but what IS different in today's reading, is that Jesus has moved away from Jewish territory, and is ministering among the Gentiles, in their land. In fact, the people we encounter today have a reputation for being godless and controlled by a desire for wealth and power. The renown Jewish historian Josephus, called the people from this area ‘bitter enemies' of the Jews. And yet, Jesus led His disciples there, and by looking at Jesus in these unique surroundings, we realize that His love and power have no borders – that He indeed came for the salvation of all. In this passage, we see a trio of events unfold – the freeing of a Gentile girl from demon control, physical healing of Gentile individuals, and a miracle of provision as Jesus feeds well over 4000 Gentile people. Let's begin in Matthew, chapter 15, verse 21 from the New Living Translation. 21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” The Gentile woman approaches Jesus, full of faith in Jesus, whom she calls Lord, Son of David – clearly a tribute to the fact that He is the Jewish Messiah – far outside of her own race and her culture's beliefs. Strikingly, Verse 23 says… 23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Maybe you've been there. I bet you can remember a time in your life when you sought out Jesus and cried out to Him – “Have mercy on me Lord, I need you.” And then you heard…nothing. Silence. It's tempting to think all sorts of things in those moments of silence – whether they be mere seconds or if they stretch into years. Is God there? Did He hear me? Does He care? Is God even real? But Jesus' silence didn't sway the Gentile woman… Finally, Jesus DOES reply…but it surely isn't what we would expect… “I was sent only to help God's lost sheep—the people of Israel.” Wow. Still, this faithful non-Jew doesn't give up, because she knows what Jesus can do. So she chose to worship Him. When we are at our lowest, and God seems silent, the best thing we can do is hold onto our faith, and worship God! Proclaim Him as our Lord out loud, letting the devil and the world know exactly where we stand and exactly who we belong to! Verse 25… 25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” 26 Jesus responded, (again, NOT how we would expect) “It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” That's harsh! Was Jesus calling this woman a dog? The Jewish people DID call their Gentile neighbors dogs, in a very derogatory way. They considered them low-life, scroungers, wild, and unrefined. But for Jesus to say this? Upon looking at the structure of word usage in the original text, many theologians believe that Jesus was creatively playing off this customary derogatory name-calling. But, rather than use the word for mangy stray dog, as was the norm, Jesus used the word for beloved family pet. And the woman caught on, responding… “That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters' table.” A very funny aside: I was studying these particular verses this morning when my sweet puppy jumped up on me and curled up in my lap. As I pet my Marlo and thought about how much I loved him, I laughed at God's real-time illustration to me of this passage! Oh…how I love my puppy! And to think, my love for him doesn't even BEGIN to compare with how much God loves me. And how much He loves you. You see, Jesus DID come for the Israelites. We've seen that. The Old Testament tells their story, and here, in the New Testament, we see Jesus as the obvious fulfillment of the Jewish law and the prophets. But the deeper reality is that Jesus didn't come JUST for the Jewish people. He's just too big to be a God of only one nation. He is God of all the nations – every tribe and tongue, throughout all of history. In this passage we see that it was time for the world…and the disciples…to recognize that Jesus is a God for all people for all time. This Gentile woman may not have understood the depth of Jesus' reign, but she KNEW that Jesus was there FOR her and her daughter. And Jesus put HER faith on display for the world – and the disciples – to learn from. Verse 28.. 28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. Mark 7:30 says…  30 And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. Jesus' love and power have no borders! Matthew continues… 29 Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30 A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn't speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. As if to emphasize that Jesus is the God of the many AND the God of the one, Mark's version focuses in on the healing of one individual deaf man…Mark 7:33… 33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man's tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” ( eh FAH thah) which means, “Be opened!” 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly! Jesus' power and love have no borders. Next we read a story that sounds oh-so-familiar. Remember when Jesus fed the crowd of 5000 Jews with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? Well, here He is again, in the midst of another crowd. This one a little smaller – there were only 4000 Gentile men along with women and children in this crowd. And instead of being there for a day listening to Jesus teach, these non-Jews had been in this remote area learning from the best for three days! Matthew 15:32… 32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.” 33 The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?” 34 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” 35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. 37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 38 There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 39 Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan. (MEAH gah dan) Several things we can learn from feeding of the 2nd crowd: First, when we remember what God has done, our faith will grow. Jesus used this opportunity to remind the disciples of what He was capable of. I can recall as a young Christian remembering that I could pray about something. I don't know why, but I was stressed, up against something that felt impossible. And the Holy Spirit reminded me to pray. It was so freeing, to remember how amazing our God is! God isn't like lightning – He can strike twice in the same spot! When we remember His miracles in our lives, our faith will grow. Second, Jesus cares and will always provide what we need. I love that Jesus recognized that these Gentiles were so hungry that they were in danger of fainting on the way home. And after all, He knew they had stories to share about what they had seen! Jesus recognized their need and gave them nourishment to share what they had learned with others. Jesus cares and will always provide what we need. And the third thing we can learn…you can probably guess…Jesus' love and power have no borders.. Jesus may have been come to earth as the Son of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the Jewish forefathers. And He certainly fulfilled what the Jewish prophets foretold of their Messiah. But Jesus came for every person – and He gave His life for every person – and He lives for every person. Jesus performed miracles and taught among the Jews. And THEN He performed miracles and taught among the Gentiles. Jesus blessed the bread and fish, and give it to the disciples to feed the hungry crowd of Jewish men, women and children. The disciples then gathered 12 baskets of leftovers. As you study the Bible, you will begin to recognize that 12 is a significant number that occurs often, leading us back to the 12 tribes of Israel. And then Jesus blessed some bread and fish AGAIN, giving it to the disciples for them to feed the crowd of Gentiles. This time, they collected 7 baskets of leftovers. Seven is the number of completion in the Bible. God's is gathering His complete family. He began with the Jewish people, but He has welcomed in every tribe and tongue and nation. Jesus multiplied the bread and fish as the disciples passed it out to both the Jews and the Gentiles. But Jesus had far more for the disciples to give to the world on His behalf. Jesus taught and cared for the disciples that they might teach and care for the world. If you have given your life to Christ, you, too, are a disciple – tasked with teaching and caring for God's people. Those from every nation. God has provided for you, and through His blessing and the work of your hands, His following will continue to grow on this earth. We all have a calling. And it is only when we each do what we are called to do that every nation will be reached. Let's pray… Dear Jesus…thank you for coming for the crowd and for the one. Thank you for coming for the Jew and the Gentile. Thank you for your provision that we all might be here today, leaning into your teaching. Thank you for the opportunity you give each of us to share your blessings with a world in need. God, help us to remember that your power has no borders, and that you call each of us to harness that power to spread your name throughout this earth. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.      

Pastor Tim brings a message, the final message in our "This is what Jesus Does" Series.

Week 6 of our sermon series Jesus Does.

Week 5 of our sermon series Jesus Does.

Week 4 of our sermon series Jesus Does.

Week 3 of our sermon series Jesus Does.

Week 2 of our sermon series Jesus Does.

Week 1 of our sermon series Jesus Does.

There are multiple places in the Bible where we read that nothing is impossible for God. This truth may be at its peak fullness in the birth and death of Jesus. Paul tells us in Romans 1:3-4 that Jesus picked his parents and that Jesus was raised from the dead. We stand in awe. These truths are the biggest game-changers in history. And our response should be complete devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Devotionables #280: Jesus Does the Impossible Romans 1:3-4 The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Story-Bible-16-Verses/dp/143354282X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10QYNR1UR5MOA&keywords=the+whole+bible+in+16+verses&qid=1642372624&sprefix=the+whole+Bible+in+%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1

Arguably, the most well-known sermon in the world is the Sermon on the Mount, delivered by Jesus over 2,000 years ago on a mountainside near the Lake of Gennesaret and Capernaum. It was his longest recorded sermon, covering important topics like loving your enemies, anger and murder, adultery and divorce, how to fast and laying up treasures in heaven. His audience was his disciples plus a curious crowd, attracted by his ability to perform wondrous miracles. The sermon began with several deceptively simple “blessed” statements called the Beatitudes. These statements are actually a profound foundation for all of Jesus' teachings. They show us not only how to frame our view of life, they also show us how we are to treat those around us with godly grace. Just who was Jesus talking to? One of the key factors in understanding the Sermon on the Mount and its introductory Beatitudes is knowing who Jesus' audience was. When we look at the scenario, we see Jesus sitting on a hillside surrounded by countless people who came to hear what he had to say. While it seems obvious that Jesus was talking directly to those masses, it is not the correct conclusion. The context before and after the Beatitudes were spoken clearly indicates that he was, in fact, directly addressing only his disciples. This fact raises several relevant questions: Does this mean the Beatitudes don't apply to the average person? Why speak these things with so many people around if you aren't intending them to benefit? To answer these, we make several observations: Jesus was wise. He always knew who was listening. He knew who he was specifically addressing and why. Throughout his ministry, he frequently focused on one segment of a group while intentionally allowing others to listen in. Why? He knew the principles of godly righteousness he always taught should be heard by all, even if they would not fully understand them. The Beatitudes fit beautifully into this explanation. Jesus DOES want all people to recognize, love and honor God. He wisely knows the vast majority who may listen are likely mere curiosity seekers. For them to be able to simply hear, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is a positive thing. It points to the all-important basis of personal humility as a way for God to deal with us and for us to be true disciples of Christ. While the full depth and meaning of these words escapes the casual listener, it does impact and change those who would truly follow Jesus. Check out our January 17,2022 podcast, “Is God Happy with My Attitude?" (Part I) for more. We begin with defining the profound meaning of being “blessed” and then carefully examine each of the first three Beatitudes. We find so much more than a list of inspirational sayings. The seven teachings of Jesus are actually a lynchpin for a successful Christin life. Join us for Part I as we begin this journey into the mind and life of Jesus. This will help us to understand what our lives should look like. Part II picks up right where we left off, so don't miss this important 2-part series.  

It only takes a few minutes to begin to understand why John deserves our attention. If you've been looking to understand WHO Jesus is, John will tell you. If you've been looking for confirmation that Jesus DOES care and is NOT distant, John will tell...

*Disclaimer: please don't take my passionate speaking for anger or hatred -- I love you all and so does Jesus* Does the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 have anything to do with homosexuality? Does the Bible condemn or condone homosexuals? Or does it do neither?

In this podcast, I will be talking about the Three Powerful Things the Cross of Jesus Does for you as a Christian.

ParablesThe Rich FoolLuke 12:13-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool.Jesus is inspired to tell this story because of a self-centered demand for justice.  Jesus does not entertain the man's request, but Jesus DOES deal with the heart of the man's request:  Greed.The story is A GREAT picture of our American culture.  The man only speaks to himself (not his community or God), he does not think of his neighbor, and he becomes satisfied with HIS stuff.  Only thing is, NONE of this man's life is his own... it's simply on loan from God.  And when God calls for the man, the man is faced with just how wasted and empty his life has really been.Jesus then closes with such a simple statement... "A person is a fool to store up earthly treasure but not have a rich relationship with God."Fool is a harsh word - but it's meant to stir us to look inward and ask the tough question: "Am I living foolishly?"  If we answer "yes" to the question, Jesus is changing our minds and pointing us to a way of living that doesn't compile MORE STUFF, but a life that is made WHOLE.Becoming RICH (in this life or in relationship with God) takes investment.  What we invest in has lasting effects.  Jesus tells us that our investments in this life will either trap us or free us.  Jesus also makes sure we understand that there is no separation between our physical and spiritual worlds.  Everything we do, everything, has implications on our souls.

A new MP3 sermon from Heritage Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Everything God Does, Jesus Does Subtitle: The Book of John Speaker: Joe Morecraft III Broadcaster: Heritage Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 12/20/2020 Bible: John 5:19-30 Length: 62 min.

(00:00-09:21): Well, it is election day and Brian and Ian discuss 4 Questions Before Election Day in The Gospel Coalition. Jason Seville brings up convicting and thought-provoking points to consider despite the results from today. (09:21-27:31): Jim Denison is the founder of Denison Forum. He also serves as Resident Scholar for Ethics with Baylor Scott & White Health. He gave us perspective and encouragement on the election and discussed what the Bible says about politics. (27:31-36:59): Tim Adams interviewed John Gray: ‘What can we learn from cats? Don't live in an imagined future'. The philosopher’s new book attacks the idea that any ideology has the answers to life’s questions – but advice from cats might be his exception. (36:59-47:04): Andy Stanley writes, “What Christians Should Do If Their Candidate Loses the 2020 Election” in Time Magazine. (47:04-57:22): Scott Sauls writes “Loving as Jesus Does in a Hate-Filled Time” on his website. (57:22-1:06:58): SPRINGSTEEN REJOIN - David Brooks writes “Bruce Springsteen and the Art of Aging Well” in the Atlantic. Brian and Ian discuss what the happiest Springsteen album in decades can teach us about Joe Biden, the wisdom of maturity, and the meaning of life. (1:06:58-1:15:30): This piece reminded us how we are supposed to treat our neighbors who think and believe differently than us. Clare Ansberry writes “How Next-Door Neighbors With Opposing Political Views Stayed Friends”. Troubled by the national discourse, the Gateses and Mitchells use signs to ‘send a message’ of civilitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You'd think that a man who ALWAYS prays with joy EVERY time he thinks about EVERY person in a specific church - you'd think that that church would be practically perfect in every way, right? What if I told you that was the same place where Paul was thrown into prison for saving a demon-possessed slave girl and then later run out of town for fear of his life just because he was preaching about Jesus? Does that sound "practically perfect in every way"? And yet, Paul can pray that way not because of the people or the circumstance, but because of what God does for and through people in any and every circumstance. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Dakota-Montana District, we share Paul's thankfulness for what God has done for us in the past and pray with confidence in what he will continue to do through us in the future.

Here's a true and sure statement that you can rest your future and your life on, Christ came into the world to save sinners. And among those, I am the worst.    Can you imagine Paul saying that? Would you say it? Does your life back it up. Do you spend your time trying to prove that you're the worst of sinners, or do you focus on the fact that Jesus came into this world to save us? Think for a moment about What Christ laid aside. In Philippians 2 we get some prompting. He laid aside his rights and his power as God and came to be a common human, even a baby to a poor family. Consider the sacrifice he made for a minute just to enter our world.    Then, he put up with us for over 30 years. He let his parents and the Jewish leaders teach him. He submitted to them even to the authorities, the very people who put him to death. His entire effort was either a terrible tragedy or an exquisite plan.   What does your life say about the life of Jesus? Does your life say that you believe it was a divine plan, brilliantly conceived and executed? Or does your life say you think it was a terrible tragedy? I can't have simply been an accident. Either Jesus is who he claimed to be, and this is all part of a magnificent plan, or his life and death was a tremendous failure, and the saddest story of all time.    If we believe in the divine plan, let's live accordingly. Check out the Marketplace Mission Trip. This is our 2-week boot-camp to practice living like we know Jesus' life and death was part of a divine plan. Let's remember we're just as bad a sinner as the worst of them, but then we can live in the freedom and responsibility purchased for us by the Son of God. Check out MarketplaceMissionTrip.com to learn more and sign up.  

Why should we share our faith in Jesus? Does it matter?How do we share our faith? Do we all need to be preaching on the street corners?God calls us to share our faith every moment, but it doesn’t always look like preaching. Actually, most of the time, sharing our faith doesn’t include preaching at all!Join us this week as Pastor Bri Johns shows us how to share our faith and how it can be so powerful! Support the show (https://www.centralaz.com/Give)

Why should we share our faith in Jesus? Does it matter?How do we share our faith? Do we all need to be preaching on the street corners?God calls us to share our faith every moment, but it doesn’t always look like preaching. Actually, most of the time, sharing our faith doesn’t include preaching at all!Join us this week as Pastor Bri Johns shows us how to share our faith and how it can be so powerful! Support the show (https://www.centralaz.com/Give)

Why should we share our faith in Jesus? Does it matter?How do we share our faith? Do we all need to be preaching on the street corners?God calls us to share our faith every moment, but it doesn’t always look like preaching. Actually, most of the time, sharing our faith doesn’t include preaching at all!Join us this week as Pastor Bri Johns shows us how to share our faith and how it can be so powerful! Support the show (https://www.centralaz.com/Give)

Why should we share our faith in Jesus? Does it matter?How do we share our faith? Do we all need to be preaching on the street corners?God calls us to share our faith every moment, but it doesn’t always look like preaching. Actually, most of the time, sharing our faith doesn’t include preaching at all!Join us this week as Pastor Bri Johns shows us how to share our faith and how it can be so powerful! Support the show (https://www.centralaz.com/Give)

Ben Finney discusses how each of us as believers have both the responsibility and privilege to be the Church to those around us. Ben pulls out points that each of us can apply for those who are in our "Front Row". Is there room in your “front row” for anyone who doesn’t know Jesus? Does your “front row” include anyone in the next generation? Does your “front row” see you intentionally growing? How have you blessed your “front row”? How would your “front row” describe your faith? Please Like and Share. We love worshiping together online and in person! The Journey Church's mission is to help people progress along their spiritual journey. Website -- journeyelkgrove.com Facebook -- www.facebook.com/journeyelkgrove Instagram -- www.instagram.com/journey_church_elk_grove Give -- pushpay.com/g/journeyelkgrove Phone -- (916) 542-2505 Email -- egjourney@gmail.com Address -- 9645 Elk Grove Florin Rd Elk Grove, CA 95624 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/journeychurchelkgrove/message

Politics and Jesus... Do they go together at all? I mean, what would Jesus be, a Republican, a Democrat, a non-voter, etc. Who should I vote for if I want to follow Jesus? Does grace mean we won't be judged? If we are saved by grace, isn't that all that matters? Give us a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast! https://forms.gle/9zaPtSSQM8PRMtq4A

In this episode we explore the big message Jesus came to tell us in Mark Chapter 1, plus we discuss his baptism. What was different about the baptism of Jesus? Does it look anything like baptism today? And what was the important message he wanted people to know? Check it out in this recap of our Week 7 discussion at Church In A Brewery! Monday nights at 7:30 PM inside Augustino Brewing. Wichita, KS.

A new MP3 sermon from Beaumont Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Money Doesn't Make You Rich. Jesus Does! Subtitle: James Speaker: Nate Utley Broadcaster: Beaumont Baptist Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 7/19/2020 Bible: James 1:9-11 Length: 33 min.

Pastor Andrew Damazio– The voice of god will never contradict the word of god Does it make me more like Jesus Does godly counsel agree Do I have peace He will speak to prepared place   Series: “Forgotten God” ——— The ROSE CHURCH Every Sunday: 11AM and 5PM Bossanova Ballroom 722 E Burnside St. Portland,[...]

Faith Doesn’t Work; Jesus Does.

Sunday January 19thMatthew 1:1-17The gospel of Matthew has been described as “a book written by a Jewish man to his Jewish countrymen about the Jewish Messiah”, and that fact is established from the very first verse:“The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:”To our modern minds, a genealogy, or list of someone's ancestors, can seem pointless or boring, and we might even be tempted to skip over it so that we can get to the more interesting parts of the story. But we need to understand the importance of lineage to the Jewish people, and especially the lineage of the promised Messiah.If a man came along who did great miracles and taught wonderful truths and raised the dead and controlled the wind and the waves with his voice, but he WASN'T descended from Abraham, through Isaac, and then from David, then there was still NO WAY he could be the Messiah, based upon everything that God had already spoken prophetically.In his opening verse, Matthew is clearly establishing that Jesus DOES have the credentials to qualify as the Messiah because he IS a descendant of Abraham and David. Then Matthew spells it all out in more detail to drive home his point:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king.Just in case you missed this in the onslaught of names, this list of ancestors isn't exactly a who's who of perfect people! One commentary put it this way: “Jesus' genealogy reminds us that God often does the unexpected and chooses the unlikely.”For starters, Jewish genealogies hardly EVER mentioned the women in someone's lineage, only the men. Matthew will list a total of five women, and the three mentioned so far have quite interesting backgrounds. Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law. Her story is found Genesis 38.Her husband Er, Jacob's son, was so evil that God killed him. Judah asked his second son to raise a family with Tamar, but he refused, so Judah promised Tamar that she could marry his youngest son after he got old enough. Then time went by and Judah never kept his promise, so Tamar disguised herself and Jacob, thinking she was a prostitute, got her pregnant with twin boys. One of them, Perez, is in the lineage of Jesus.Then we have Rahab. Tamar might have been mistaken for a prostitute, but Rahab WAS a prostitute! In Joshua Chapter 2 she helps two Israelite spies escape from Jericho and as a reward they spare her life when the city is conquered. Her son Boaz ends up marrying Ruth.Now Ruth was a lovely, virtuous woman (she even has a book in the bible named after her) but she had one little strike against her. Ruth was a Moabite, and Moabites were subject to a special curse in Deuteronomy 23:3–5 “No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord, 4 because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.”So Ruth technically wasn't allowed to enter the tabernacle, but she WAS allowed to be David's grandmother! And now Matthew will continue listing Jesus' ancestors, from David on down:David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.So let's look at this next batch of family members:1.    David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. That's AFTER David had an affair with Bathsheba and then had Uriah killed to cover up his adultery!2.    Rehoboam was Solomon's son. He was such a terrible ruler that the nation of Israel ended up splitting into two separate kingdoms.3.    Rehoboam's son Abijah, according to 1 Kings 15, “walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord.”4.    The same was true of Ahaz. “Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done. 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from before the sons of Israel.” (2 Kings 16:2-3)5.    And again, here is what 2 kings 21:1-3 says about Manasseh: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.”6.    By the time Jeconiah because king, God was pretty fed up with the disobedience of the nation of Judah, so He removed his protection from them and allowed the Babylonians to take them into captivity. But of course God is rich in mercy, and his plan to send a savior continued even during the time of captivity:12 After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.So it was a pretty bumpy road, with quite a few odd characters, but God accomplished His ultimate plan to bring forth the promised Messiah through the line of Abraham, Isaac, Judah, and David. To show that God knew exactly what He was doing, despite man's unfaithfulness, Matthew points out the mathematical precision of the genealogy:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.Remember that Matthew is establishing for Jewish readers that Jesus is truly the promised Messiah. “Messiah” is the Hebrew word for “anointed” The Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of the righteous Servant of the Lord (Is. 42:1–9), who will be a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:18, 19), a priest like Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4), and a king like David, who was anointed by Samuel to be Israel's king. The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, which also means “anointed.” Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one!Luke 3:23–38 has a similar but slightly different genealogy because Luke traces Jesus' ancestors all the way back to Adam rather than just to Abraham. Luke also mentions only the men, not the women. But both Matthew and Luke emphasize that Jesus was a direct descendent of Abraham, through David.Personally, I think that Matthew's genealogy is a more encouraging list as far acknowledging and showing the sins, faults, and failures that were part of the lives of so many people who were used by God to accomplish His salvation plan.Why does that matter?Look at what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are.”You see, it doesn't matter if you, or your parents, or your grandparents, or your great-grandparents had flaws, even BIG flaws! God can still use you!In fact, Paul is saying that it's actually MORE LIKELY that God will use you if you come from a messed-up broken background!Who is God choosing to accomplish His purposes:The foolish things of the world and the weak things of the world and the base things of the world and the despised, the things that are not!Let me ask you a question, “the things that are not WHAT?”The things that are not wise, the things that are not strong, the things that are not mighty, the things that are not noble, the things that are considered worthless and incapable and unattractive by the world's standards; THESE are the ones that God has chosen!WE are the ones that God has chosen! Because when the wise and the strong and the mighty and the noble ones succeed in life, THEY get the recognition, THEY get the credit, THEY get the glory.But when the weak are MADE strong, when the foolish are MADE wise, when the unrighteous are MADE righteous, GOD gets the recognition, GOD gets the credit, and GOD gets the glory, because there was NO WAY we could have possibly turned around our lives without HIS help!THAT, my friends is what we mean by a TESTIMONY!I once was lost but now I'm found. And I didn't find myself, someone FOUND me!I once was blind but now I see. And I couldn't cure my blindness by myself, someone had to open my eyes!I once was weak, but now I'm strong,I once was bound up, powerless in my addictions, but now I've been SET FREE!What I used to think was my own wisdom was nothing more than the world's foolishness! But now I know TRUE wisdom, which is only found through faith in Christ, my Messiah, my anointed one, my savior.And if you see ANYTHING good in me today, give Him ALL the glory, because it was not by might or power of my own that these changes have come, but only by the power of the Spirit, the grace of God, and the blood of the lamb!