Podcasts about jesus not

Over the years our son-in-law's made no secret of his basketball loyalties. Even when he was living in the heart of New York Knicks, he was boldly and passionately a Chicago Bulls fan. Like many Bulls fans, my son-in-law was wrapped up in Michael Jordan when he was at the top of his career in the 1990s. He read his biography, he taped his championship games, and of course he had to go see him play, and he bought the sports memorabilia associated with a superstar player. At Christmas, we would all fall into his trap and we'd feed his Jordan thing with Jordan presents. He was a walking encyclopedia of facts about Michael Jordan. But if he were to give him a call, I'm afraid Mr. Jordan would just say, "Who is this?" Even though our son-in-law knew almost everything about him, he didn't know him. That's the big difference isn't it? I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Knowing The Facts, Missing The Relationship." The gap between knowing about someone and knowing someone is huge, especially when it comes to whether or not you know the God who made you. When you read our word for today from the Word of God, it appears that a lot of people are living with a false sense of spiritual security thinking they're okay because they know a lot about Jesus. Matthew 7:21-23 are some of the most disturbing verses in the Bible. Listen to Jesus: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me.'" What awful words to hear Jesus say on Judgment Day "I never knew you." And He'll say it to people who knew all the right words, who had all the right beliefs, and they did all the right things, they were at all the right meetings. Apparently, it's possible to have a lot of Christianity and miss Christ; to know a lot about Jesus but not to know Him. Jesus said the one He knows and who knows Him is "he who does the will of My Father." Well, what is that? John 6:40 says "My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life." So the difference between eternal life and eternal judgment is "looking to the Son" and "believing in Him." That "believe" word means to totally trust, to commit yourself to. And it's possible to know all the verses, to have been around Jesus your whole life, to be in a religion that's all about Jesus, and miss the step of actually making Him your own Savior from your own sin. To miss that moment of telling Jesus, "I'm putting all my trust in you, Jesus, and what you did on the cross when you died for the sins I've done." For some people, the distance between heaven and hell is 18 inches - the distance from their head to their heart. Could it be you've got Jesus in your head, but you've never invited Him into your heart? That you agree with everything about Him, but you've never actually committed yourself to Him? If you have done that, it's settled. But if you don't know you have, you probably haven't. But that could change in these next few moments if you'd just finally admit that for all you know about Jesus, you don't know Him. And tell Him right where you are that you're moving Him from your head to your heart; that you're trusting Him as your own Savior from your own sin. Do you know you've done that? Are you sure? Get it done today. Our website is there as an anchor place for you to find the information that will help you be sure you belong to Him. Please go there. It's ANewStory.com. "I never knew you." Those are words I don't ever want you to hear from Jesus. They're words He doesn't want you to hear. Get to His cross today, where you can finally know the One that you know so much about. And have Him in your heart, not just your head.

Date: July 14, 2024 Scripture: John 4 Teacher: Nathan Tomes We don't typically think of this as a miracle story, but when Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, He showed an impossible, miraculous knowledge of the details of her life. Not only does Jesus NOT use those details to condemn her, He causes her to feel known, seen, and loved - as He means to for all of us.

For the past 30 years, she has tried everything to try and connect with her husband. It left her feeling lonely inside her own marriage. Tanya is a woman who feels deeply. She is wired to feel the world and those around her in a deep, empathetic way. But this is not the way her husband was wired. Since the beginning of their marriage, Tanya has felt a disconnect and a dismissal of her emotions.  Her husband went looking for marriage help and found the Delight Your Marriage podcast. Through the podcast, he was inspired to join the men's program and that is when their marriage really began to change. She was shocked when she noticed he started listening more intently, he became more tender, and they would go on walks in the park holding hands together- something that had been missing since their dating days. This inspired Tanya to do the women's program and "jump in with both feet", willing to let this program change her the way it had changed her husband. Now, their marriage has flourished. Tanya never thought it would be possible, but here they are, more connected than ever before. She said she feels "let out of prison". The depression has lifted and she has hope for the future for the first time in so long. We believe Tanya's story will encourage you and inspires hope in you for your journey! Love,  Belah & Team  PS - If this story resonates with you and you want to see a change in your marriage as well, we would love to talk with you. Contact us at delightyourmarriage.com/cc for a completely free Clarity Call. (A call Tanya says is still impacting her even now.)   PSS - Here is a quote from a (different) recent graduate: Before the Delighted Wife Program: "We were planning on how to keep a family together while breaking our family up - We were at the end of ourselves and decided it was time to give up and go our separate ways." After: "WHERE DO I BEGIN!!! I have grown in patience, perspective, my faith and connection with God, my understanding of my husband, and peace.  I have learned how to build my marriage.  Building it is now a journey and no longer an intense, overwhelming mission impossible...  Biggest take away from this whole course is the GOD FACTOR.  Belah always pointed us to Jesus NOT to a strategy or an idea or concept.  It was directly and purely to JESUS.  He was the main focus, and everything else just fell  into place.  It helped me to re-center everything in my life."

In this week's episode, AJ and Brandon take a closer look at Jesus as the New Adam. Jesus Not only undoes the damage from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but offers to elevate all of humanity to a truly perfect paradise in Heaven.

Maybe you've done something wrong... Maybe there's a deep discomfort that you keep trying to avoid... Maybe you feel if you let yourself be with yourself quietly, the shame will swallow you whole...   The guilt and shame you feel may be justified.   And that is exactly why we need a sacrifice that allows us to live in confidence and freedom, peace and joy in life.   As followers of Jesus, we don't have confidence that "we're good enough" because of some baseless affirmation.  We have a strong foundation of reason as to why we have confidence.   The truth is, on our own... We aren't good enough.  We don't deserve the goodness God gives us every day. And we don't deserve His sacrifice.    But what we are as Jesus followers are receive-ers.  We are trust-ers.  We are people who say THE event that altered the human race 2000 years ago is WHY I can have freedom from shame.    If you have felt like you've been "paying for" the sin you've committed, it's time to receive the payment from God and start walking in your freedom as His son and daughter.   His payment actually means something in your day to day life.    You can never earn your way into being worthy of His love and goodness, peace and freedom. You get to believe and receive it. He is that good and loving and merciful and kind.   I invite you to let the gift of Jesus' sacrifice move you today. Spend time in the story today and this weekend. Remember and receive His sacrifice for every part of your life and heart.   Love,  Belah   PS - We'd love to walk with you in this journey of living free in Christ, connected with your spouse in passion, purpose, playfulness and doing God's will as man or woman of God. We're here for you, find out the details at: delightyourmarriage.com/cc   PPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate: DW Before: We were planning on how to keep a family together while breaking our family up - We were at the end of ourselves and decided it was time to give up and go our separate ways. DW After: WHERE DO I BEGIN!!! I have grown in patience, perspective, my faith and connection with God, my understanding of my husband, and peace. I have learned how to build my marriage. ​​ Change starts with me - God can only save my marriage if I am humble enough to surrender and let Him start with ME!!!! ​​Belah always pointed us to Jesus NOT to a strategy or an idea or concept. It was directly and purely to JESUS. He was the main focus, and everything else just fell into place. It helped me to re-center everything in my life.

Jesus is known to be the wisest and most highly regarded teacher in all of humanity. More study has been devoted to His words than any other person. We are going to take some time to concentrate on all the things He didn't say.  What words did Jesus NOT use when the media of his day shouted out a controversial question that would trap him no matter how He answered? What did He NOT say in personal conversations ? When Jesus had all the authority, all the knowledge, all the right, what did he NOT say? Come sit at the feet and listen to Jesus. His silence speaks as loud as His words.Social Media: @Generationscc⛪️ Visit Generations Christian Church: 1540 Little Rd Trinity, Fl 34655Pastor Johnny's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-johnny-scott/id1470172952Join A Small Group: https://generationscc.com/small-groups

Jesus is known to be the wisest and most highly regarded teacher in all of humanity. More study has been devoted to His words than any other person. We are going to take some time to concentrate on all the things He didn't say.  What words did Jesus NOT use when the media of his day shouted out a controversial question that would trap him no matter how He answered? What did He NOT say in personal conversations ? When Jesus had all the authority, all the knowledge, all the right, what did he NOT say? Come sit at the feet and listen to Jesus. His silence speaks as loud as His words.Social Media: @Generationscc⛪️ Visit Generations Christian Church: 1540 Little Rd Trinity, Fl 34655Pastor Johnny's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-johnny-scott/id1470172952Join A Small Group: https://generationscc.com/small-groups

Jesus is known to be the wisest and most highly regarded teacher in all of humanity. More study has been devoted to His words than any other person. We are going to take some time to concentrate on all the things He didn't say.  What words did Jesus NOT use when the media of his day shouted out a controversial question that would trap him no matter how He answered? What did He NOT say in personal conversations ? When Jesus had all the authority, all the knowledge, all the right, what did he NOT say? Come sit at the feet and listen to Jesus. His silence speaks as loud as His words.Social Media: @Generationscc⛪️ Visit Generations Christian Church: 1540 Little Rd Trinity, Fl 34655Pastor Johnny's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-johnny-scott/id1470172952Join A Small Group: https://generationscc.com/small-groups

Book of Romans: Eager and Unashamed | January 21, 2024Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor “In our generation, the primary problem with evangelism isn’t that we’re doing it with bullhorns and low-grade bigotry; it’s that we’re not doing it at all.”— John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way (pg. 151) Romans 1:14-17 (NIV) I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” OBLIGATED: Romans 1:14 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NIV)All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. EAGER: Romans 1:15 (NIV) UNASHAMED: Romans 1:16 (NIV) Romans 1:1-4 (NIV)Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Reflection Questions:Was there something that stuck out to you from the sermon? Share a time when you were able to share the good news about Jesus with someone. Was it a positive or negative experience, or somewhere in between? What was their response? What did you learn from that experience? Read Romans 1:14 and 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. Paul felt an obligation and a responsibility to share the gospel with the world. Do you feel that same obligation and responsibility? Why or why not? Read Romans 1:15. Why can a follower of Jesus NOT feel eager to share the gospel? What can be our fears? Our apprehensions? Read Romans 1:16. What can cause us to be ashamed of the gospel? What makes the gospel offensive to our culture? Why is it important to focus on Jesus and not peripheral issues?Peripheral issues are “good advice”, not the “good news”.Who Jesus is?Why Jesus came?What Jesus accomplished with his life, death, and resurrection?What Jesus invites us to do in following Him?What Jesus wants for us?Why Jesus wants that for us? What peripheral issues can misrepresent the gospel message and muddy the waters of the message of Jesus? Why is it important to learn to be curious and listen to people in order to be effective at sharing the gospel? What are some good questions you could ask to learn where people are at on their spiritual journey?Who could you begin to pray for and ask questions of this week in order to understand where they are on their spiritual journey? What are a couple questions you could ask to start that conversation?What was God saying to you from this sermon? What are you going to do about it? Next step? Next Steps: Complete the Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any question: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcardWant to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church:

Matthew 6:24 (Jesus: Not a side Hustle) - Nate Crew by CityLight Church

Weekly SummaryThis week in Battle Drill devotionals, we are focusing on encountering Jesus in the storms of life. SummaryYou need to focus on Jesus not the storm, and trust the one who controls the storms of life and ensure they do not overwhelm you. Have You Been Blown Off Course?Some of us have been blown off course over recent years, particularly by the Coronavirus storm of 2020-2021 and its aftermath. We feel out of control. Our health, our finances, our jobs, even our spiritual lives are nowhere near where we intended. We just want to feel safe again! That's why so many of us were so keen for things to “go back to normal.” Then the cost-of-living crisis hit! Focus on Jesus Not the StormWhere is Jesus in all of this? He shows up! He doesn't ask us to come to him. In fact, John records the boat had gone three or four miles from the shore. So, Jesus walks a long way on the water to come to us in our storms. He doesn't stand on the side lines shouting instructions at us. What we need most in the storms of life is his presence. So that's what Jesus does. He shows up. We can focus on Jesus not the storm. Trust the One Who Controls the StormsYou may feel abandoned and lonely just now. As if no one cares what you're really going through. All is well, despite your storms. Jesus comes to you with his peace-making presence. Focus on Jesus not the storm. You can trust the one who controls the storms of life and ensure they do not overwhelm you. Think It OverThink about the following: How does Jesus try to calm your fears? There's a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday. Click on the link - https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources - to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast. This Week's Battle Drill DevotionalsMonday 14 August - You Need to Focus on Jesus not the Storm Tuesday 15 August - When Jesus Stills The Storm You'll Immediately Feel Secure Wednesday 16 August - How to Walk on Water? Get Out of the Boat! Thursday 17 August - Don't Panic - Fix Your Eyes On Jesus For Your Survival Friday 18 August - Tested by the Storms Of Life? Jesus Intercedes For Us Related LinksPlease Consider Leaving Your FeedbackDid you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating? I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey. All you have to do is click on the star rating below. Thank you!

- This is to be a constant, regular reminder. Some things are so important the Holy Spirit inspired that the instruction should be repeated.-- Be so focused on the return of Christ that it changes your outlook and perspective on life.-- We have a responsibility to live the gospel in a certain way, even in the context of a corrupt society.-- Show off the gospel as you relate to government- - Rulers and authorities- using both terms makes this all-inclusive, every level of government authority- - Show deference because God placed them in that position- - Subject- a posture or attitude of being arranged under their authority- - There is an escalation- SUBJECT to the authority - OBEY the laws - actively Look for ways to benefit the community with GOOD DEEDS-- Show off the gospel as you relate to other people, even enemies- - Don't attack the person or speak disrespectfully of them, even when you disagree with their position on something- - We can't claim to love God while we throw darts at His image- - Be gentle- not insisting on your rights- - Our Savior never insisted on His rights as He went to the cross- - Show courtesy to everyone else, even when you disagree- - Treat others as more important than yourself-- Because you don't want to know us without Jesus- - Not a single one of us earns anything with God by our own merit- - Remember what you once were and would still be without the saving grace of Christ- - The gospel offers genuine freedom and rest-- Can people see a contrast in how you respond to people and those in authority- - More than just not treating others badly, be proactive in finding ways to do them good

Depending on who you ask, the Tarot can be a pleasant, unserious distraction to the uninitiated or the work of the Devil for those who hold rigidly to their religious beliefs without question.For the knowledgeable and skilled, however, the Tarot can be a great source of knowledge and human insight if they are willing to listen and learn.Meet Russell Sturgess, author of The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot: The Cathar Code Hidden in the Cards, who shares how his life's calling was transformed by a voice in a gift store at Christmas and describes the globe-spanning journey he's taken to document then share what he's learned in this historical Living 4D conversation.Learn more about Russell's work on his website and the Western Mindfulness website and YouTube.For Living 4D listeners: Russell is offering special discounts on his CHASM/Pathways to Mindfulness mentoring programs at his online store. Use the promo code CHEK1 (CHASM 8 session course) or CHEK2 (CHASM 28 session course) when you register to receive your discount.TimestampsHow religion fits into the bigger truths. (8:55)Vivid dreams of snakes. (17:21)The objective psyche. (25:23)Origins of the Tarot. (33:19)Connecting the Cathars with the Tarot. (46:46)Who were the Cathars? (56:40)Jesus: Not a true savior based on what the Cathars believed. (1:09:06)An Abrahamic test question Russell asks at every workshop. (1:21:40)“We live in the existence of illusion.” (1:32:01)Becoming the observer. (1:40:28)The real meaning of righteousness. (1:46:08)Do you have free will? (1:52:07)“Hold the intention but stay an observer.” (2:01:42)No judgement. (2:11:34)What is mindfulness? (2:23:03)The CHASM acronym. (2:30:13)ResourcesGet Out of Jail Card: A journey of self-worth by Russell Sturgess Teach Only Love: The Twelve Principles of Attitudinal Healing by Dr. Gerald JampolskyTarot and the Archetypal Journey: The Jungian Path from Darkness Into Light by Sallie Nichols and Mary GreerMandorlasThe Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore by Deepak ChopraJesus, Buddha, Krishna and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings by Richard HooperMetaphysical Bible Dictionary by Charles FillmorePaul's Living 4D conversation with Wayland Myers Thanks to our awesome sponsors: CHEK Institute/PT3.0 Paleovalley chek15 BiOptimizers PAUL10 Cymbiotika L4D15 Organifi CHEK20We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.

We live in a culture where we are easily swayed by pseudo leaders, blinded by false prophets, and a society that adheres to shortcuts. Let's bring in the New Year with Jesus-NOT false prophecy, fake healing methods or witchcraft! In a world filled with constant warnings, evil, pressure, and trickery... God is screaming for His children to "wake-up" and follow him wholeheartedly. Stop murmuring and complaining and instead start living the life God meant for you to live since the beginning of creation-with JESUS. Blessings xo- Need a Fresh Start? -> Free Videos & Audio Christian Counseling & Coaching -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Academy -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy Partnership->https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-ministries

Where do we go when sickness and death knock at our door- In this passage from Mark's Gospel, we see that Jesus does not brush away His people when they come to Him in need, no matter how high or how lowly they may be. --The woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment in the crowd on the way to Jairus' house was desparate for Him. She had been separated and isolated for 12 long years, but now she was healed - physically, spiritually, and relationally - and told to go in peace. --Before Jesus arrived at Jairus' home, his daughter was dead. But Jesus told him to not be afraid, and only believe. Despite the words of the professional mourners who were already assembled at the house, Jesus went in and raised the little girl back to life. --It is to Jesus that we are to turn in our situations of sorrow- Suffering in this life is often a lonely road, but our suffering is not purposeless- When we are in such seasons of sorrow, how do we get the same hope that Jairus and this woman had- --First of all, we need to know Who our God is- It is He Who created all things, including us- and it is He Who gives us all good gifts. We need to realize that it is sin that has robbed us of our health and life- decay and death are sad realities. But we need to sink ourselves in God's Word and promises so that when trials come, we have those promises ready at hand- We may freely go to Jesus in prayer, for He is always ready and willing to hear and help us. It also helps to share our burden with our brothers and sisters in Christ. But be amazed at the sovereign love of Jesus- Not even death can separate us from His love. And every day we wake up is one day closer to spending eternity with Him-

Paul went around pointing people to Jesus. He did not come to the people with the wisdom and knowledge of man. He came with manifestation of the Spirit of God with power so that people looked to Jesus NOT to Paul. This should be our same mindset. Let the Spirit of God lead and guide you. Let people see the Christ in You and glorify God in heaven and NOT you. ======== Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave a review! If the Lord has put it on your heart to support the ministry, you can do so here.

All of us prefer to avoid tests in life, because these are moments of accountability when we're exposed for who we really are. The danger of tests is that we'll come to realize we're not all that we ought to be, that we're frail and faltering beings.   In this sermon, we explore the phrase in the Lord's Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” and learn how Jesus shows us teaching us to prepare for life's tests.   When it comes to the tests of life, this prayer helps us in four ways:   Calibrate Reality: Jesus is giving this prayer to his disciples as a kind of template to teach them how to pray. This pray for protection from and preservation through life's tests is the grace we all need on a daily basis. Life is full of tests that we cannot avoid, so we must expect them. By giving us this prayer, Jesus is preparing us to face life's test as an ordinary part of what it means to follow Him. This prayer helps us calibrate reality so that the tests of life don't catch us off guard. Define the Enemy: Our greatest enemy is not pain, it's evil. Notice in the prayer that Jesus says deliver us from evil, not from pain. And so, this prayer helps us define the enemy, which is evil within us and all around us. To face such evil within and without, we need God's preserving grace. Run to our Father: When the tests of life come, and evil rears its head, we should run to the Father. If we are children of God, these tests of life are not punitive, they're purifying. This distinction is vital for us to understand. God is 100% for us, not against us. His goal is to conform us to the image of Christ, making us grow in resemblance of our Father. And so, this prayer helps us to depend on His grace, to yield to His delivering power and presence as we follow Him. Look unto Jesus: Not only is Jesus giving us an example in this prayer, but He's also giving us an example with His own life. If our Heavenly Father brought Jesus through the ultimate test, delivering Him from evil through the cross into resurrection glory, then He can bring us, His adopted sons and daughters, through our tests into glory as well. Because Jesus is victorious, we can follow Him with confidence.   Jesus says, “come follow me.” He invites us to walk with Him through the fire, through the cross, through the tests of life, because there's glory on the other side.   There is no greater source of courage during the tests of life than to look unto Jesus. If He walked through the fire for us, then we can walk into the fire for Him. Jesus took up the cross for us, so we can take up our cross for Him.   Matthew 6:13

The Silhouette of Redemption Exodus 7:3-5 (ESV)“…I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring My hosts, My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” 1. Nile turned to blood2. Frogs3. Gnats4. Flies5. Death of livestock6. Boils7. Hail8. Locust9. Darkness Exodus 10:23 (ESV)“They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”Colossians 2:15 (NIV)“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”Exodus 11:1 (ESV) “The Lord said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.” Exodus 11:4-6 (ESV)“So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.” Exodus 11:9-10 (ESV) “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land." Hebrews 3:15 (CSB)“…if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” Exodus 12:1-2 (ESV)“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.”  Lamb: “without defect” vs 5Jesus: “Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:19 2.  Lamb: “slaughter at twilight” vs 6     Jesus: “as evening approached” Christ died Mark 15:42 3.  Lamb: “blood was to be shed” vs 7     Jesus: “a sudden flow of blood” John 19:34 4.  Lamb: “Blood to be applied” to save you vs 22     Jesus: “atonement (Salvation), through faith in his blood” Romans 3:25      5.   Lamb: “No bones of the lamb were to be broken” vs 46      Jesus: ““Not one of his bones will be broken.” John 19:36           6.   Lamb: “Those redeemed by the blood were God's possession” Exodus 13:2      Jesus: “You are not your own, you were bought with a price” 1 Corinthians 6:19,20        7.   Lamb: “Eat it with your traveling clothes on” vs 11      Jesus: “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Exodus 12:21-24 (ESV) “Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever." 

Often times in this world we have been brainwashed to drink from the wrong well. To turn to the wrong coping mechanisms such as adultery or drinking alcohol. Or doing drugs. Even watching movies or tv shows. These are all sources that will only dehydrate you further. You can only quench your thirst through God, the Bible, the Holy Spirit. Through Salvation. Turn to Jesus Not the bottle. Turn to the Bible not The bottle! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jerry-almodoval/support

Today we begin a new series about how wonderful christmas is!It's a wonderful time of year for most. But in this message Pastor Jeff talks about how things would be different had Jesus NOT come.For more information and content from Pastor Jeff, visit http://www.oneandall.media (www.oneandall.media)Messages Written and spoken by Pastor Jeff VinesToday with Jeff Vine Podcast is a production of One&All Media© ℗ 2022

Today we continue a new series about how wonderful christmas is!It's a wonderful time of year for most. But in this message Pastor Jeff talks about how things would be different had Jesus NOT come.For more information and content from Pastor Jeff, visit http://www.oneandall.media (www.oneandall.media)Messages Written and spoken by Pastor Jeff VinesToday with Jeff Vine Podcast is a production of One&All Media© ℗ 2022

Plain and simple...It is all about Jesus- Not just the Christmas season, but the entirety of the Christian life- Can you say that about your Christian life-

In Luke 14:26 Jesus said, “If anyone comes after me and does not…” and then he listed things that make it seem like He tried to discourage people from following Him. In this sermon we looked at a few other examples of this happening. Because if Jesus said these things in His day and they're recorded for us, then we should hear the same thing in our day so that we know what is involved in following Him. Table of ContentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesJesus said, “If anyone comes after me,” they must (lesson one) sacrifice.Jesus said, “If anyone comes after me,” they must (lesson two) repent.Jesus said, “If anyone comes after me,” they must (lesson three) spiritually understand.Jesus said, “If anyone comes after me,” they must (lesson four) take the hard way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I-0ZGkjO_4 In Luke 14:26 Jesus said, “If anyone comes after me and does not…” and then listed things that seem like He didn't want people following Him. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke 14:25-27—How is Jesus NOT like military recruiters? How might you expect Jesus to address large crowds? How does it seem like Jesus did address large crowds? What are the different reasons people followed Jesus? Why should people follow Jesus? Describe some of the sacrifices we are expected to make to follow Christ.Day 2: Mark 10:17-23—Describe the rich young ruler's attitude toward Jesus. Why did Jesus say that nobody is good except God? Why did Jesus share the 10 Commandments with the rich young ruler? Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions? Do we have to sell all our possessions? Why or why not? Why do you think Jesus didn't go after him?Day 3: John 6:2-66, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Matthew 7:14—Why was such a large crowd following Jesus? What did Jesus mean when he said that people didn't see the sign? Why did Jesus say he was the bread that came down from heaven? Why didn't the people understand what Jesus was talking about? Why do you think Jesus didn't try to clarify things for everyone? Why do you think Jesus so graphically described eating his flesh and drinking his blood WITHOUT saying that he was speaking spiritually? Why did Jesus say, “The way is hard that leads to life”? Sermon Notes The title of this morning's sermon is, “If Anyone Comes After Me.” On Sunday mornings we're working our way through Luke's gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at chapter 14, verse 25. Please stand with me for the reading of God's Word. Luke 14:25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. You may be seated. Let's pray. In college I went through Army ROTC, and after graduation I served as an officer. My military experience allowed me to have some familiarity with recruiters. Used car salesmen have the reputation for being dishonest and saying whatever's necessary to make a sale. SOME military recruiters are a close second. Please notice I said some because I do think there are also some honest recruiters. Military recruiters must satisfy what's known as “commission mission.” Their performance is determined by the number of people they're able to recruit. As a result, they strive to make the military sound as attractive as possible, which creates a strong temptation for them to lie. After looking at a few articles, here are the top lies I could find that military recruiters tell people: There's a great chance you'll be stationed wherever you want.There's almost no chance of you being sent to a combat zone.You'll receive a large signing bonus.They don't yell at you in boot camp anymore.You can quit any time if you don't like it.

Let me tell you a true story…. I went down, down, down, into what felt like falling into a dark and narrow well. I couldn't stop myself and the walls were beyond my reach. It was like plunging into a void with no bottom. The longer I fell, the hotter it got. Suddenly, the fall into the well turned into a cavern that spread into an unending distance in every direction. I descended even further into the deep darkness and suffocating heat. I saw the gates of hell. It was an entranceway, but it was more sinister than anything I ever imagined. The gates looked so hideous that no one would ever dare to touch it. The creatures portrayed on the gates seemed to move with my approach. Guarding the gate were dreadful demon creatures with many heads and tails. They were there to forbid anyone from getting too close to the gates or from leaving them once someone entered them. As I approached the gateway, I could see on the other side the masses of human beings in a place of fire like a volcano of molten rock. The wails and screams coming from the people were overpowering. I felt all strength leave my limbs as I approached the excruciating heat. The people kept screaming out my name and telling me not to enter the gates, but I couldn't stop myself. An unseen evil power forced me forward through the barrier. People were burning up without dying. Fiery worms were crawling in and out of their never-dying bodies, and the stench of rotten burning flesh was nauseating! I kept vomiting, I didn't know what the ghoulish goo coming out of me was, but each time I threw up I writhed in excruciating pain, and then I hurled again. It never stopped. Ominous words above the gate were etched in hideous stones that glowed darkly with the reflection of hellish fire. The words leaped in giant relief, and a strange and utterly offensive substance oozed from each letter to the ground. I just glanced without reading, but the words read themselves to me and seared my mind like a branding iron. ALL WHO ENTER HERE WILL SUFFER THE FIRES OF HADES AND A FURTHER SECOND DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER AND EVER. YOU ARE ENTERING THE GARBAGE HEAP OF ALL REALMS, THE PLACE OF THE DEAD, THOSE DEAD TO GOD AND TO HIS SON. YOU ARE ABANDONED. NO PRAYERS ARE HEARD, AND THERE IS NO ESCAPE. I looked closer at the people as I passed through the pernicious gates. My eyesight was failing, and it got so black before me that I could no longer see my extremities. The only light I could see was a momentary glance as the fire burned me and the ghoulish worms ate me up. I could see people in the distance in suffering and torment that was unfathomable. I could hear their blood curdling screams of pain. Oh, the horrors! I could not communicate with them even as I screamed in pain. I felt the horrendous pain shoot through me over and over in never ending crescendos of hate, loneliness, and hopelessness. In all my life upon the earth, I never felt a chill darken my soul like this place of torment. I never felt the utter despair of eternal torment like I felt at that moment. All hope was gone. I would never see my family or friends, and I was hopelessly lost forever with no way out! Oh God, if only I could warn my family. If only I could tell my friends that there is heaven to gain and a very real hell to shun! Momentarily, I glanced up and saw the wretched beggar Lazarus that used to sit by my gate and beg for my help. I had so much in life, but I squandered my chance for deliverance by denying God and His commandments. Yet, what is this I see? Lazarus is seated next to somebody up there. Who is that? Suddenly, I knew! It is father Abraham! Maybe he will have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue! I am tormented in these flames! I called desperately with all the strength I had, but no one answered. I could see them, and they looked happy. They were not in torment! Lazarus had on the most beautiful clothes I ever saw. “Father Abraham, please send Lazarus to me! Please send Lazarus to me!” I cried and screamed. No help came…. But then, there was a small window opened to me to where Abraham and Lazarus were… 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31 NKJV) That was not a parable. Parables were always stated in generalities and personal names were not used when telling them. Lazarus and that rich man were real people. The story was about two men in the area where Jesus was preaching. Jesus saw what happened to them after death in the unseen realm. Yes, I took creative license with the story and retold it with my own descriptions. Notice that it is still based on the Scriptural teaching about Hades, and then the final resting place of hell and death, the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, the place of eternal punishment. (See Revelation 20:10-15, 21:8.) Hades is a temporary holding cell until the final judgment, and the lake of fire is the eternal abode of the damned. Make no mistake about it, those in Hades will receive their final judgment and be thrown into the lake of fire. Once in Hades, it's bye-bye for eternity. Eternity has no end, just like it has no beginning. It is a horror beyond all horrors. Nothing can be compared on earth, regardless of the tragedy, to eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. I hear people all the time talk about the hell they went through. Others say they are going through hell. It's NOTHING compared to eternal separation in the place of eternal torment. Waiting until you die and are in hell's flames and torment for eternity are not the place to try to get out of hell! It would be too late to get out! There is no redo! Once a person dies it is judgement time! (Hebrews 9:27) Let me say it again in a slightly different way. There is an immediate judgment for each person that dies, and they are ushered into heaven in God's presence, or they are incarcerated in Hades. Hades is not the end for them. Something worse is coming that is called the Second Death or the eternal lake of fire and brimstone. People will be finally judged for their lives upon the earth and the records will reveal what they did against God and show that they rejected God's gift in Jesus. The way to get out of going to a devil's hell is by repentance if you are backslid or if you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior. It all begins with repentance. Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NKJV) Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19 NKJV) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:30, 31 NKJV) Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22 NKJV) As a side note, this was addressed to Simon (Bar Jesus) who had already converted to the Lord. Acts 8:22 was addressed to a “born-again” and water-baptized Christian believer. Simon had allowed wickedness back into his heart and he needed to repent. Let's get it correctly in our thinking. Initial repentance of sin is a part of believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing Him as Lord (Romans 10:9). After that, if a Christian sins, we still have access to the eternal blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (See 1 John 1:7-10, 2:1, 2.) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30 NKJV) …But declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20 Yes, there is a heaven to gain by receiving what Jesus did for us through His sacrifice and by living for Him according to His Word and His moral guidelines. There is also a hell to shun. You do not want to perish and go there! God wants all people to repent so they don't perish! (2nd Peter 3:9, Luke 13:3, 5) Choose life (Jesus) so that you and your seed may live! Don't choose the curse, darkness, and eternal death brought on by rebellion to the Lord and His Word! (Deuteronomy 30:19,20; John 3:16) That is the ONLY way you get out of going to a devil's hell! Some may be thinking, “Oh but that is narrow thinking and way too exclusive. Don't you think that in God's mercy He provided many ways to get to Him?” Absolutely not! Jesus stated about Himself that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to God except through Him! (John 14:6) Read it and adjust your thinking to the truth. There are not hundreds of ways but ONLY one way to the Father, and His name is Jesus. Yes, it's a very narrow way. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NKJV) It is so narrow that few there are that find it when you compare the broad way of the world of sin and darkness. Sadly, most human beings on the planet will go to hell, but you can be very happy and full of joy with the good news I am sharing with you today. You can avoid hell and gain God and all He provided through Jesus. Then, you can tell others about it if you are still alive on this earth. That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9, 10 NKJV) After you do that, then there are everyday matters to live the Christian life. You must become obedient to God's Word and His MORAL commandments in Scripture. Making Jesus your Lord means that you submit to His Word and obey His moral commandments. Too many miss that part about living in obedience to the Word. 7 Those who keep on doing good and are looking for His greatness and honor will receive life that lasts forever. 8 Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them. (Romans 2:7, 8 NLV) The same verses in another translation: He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness... NLT And one more for the road: …praise, honor, and immortality to those who continue in doing good and seek eternal life; but to those who are rebellious, and reject the truth, and follow iniquity, will come indignation and wrath… NMB That is not Paul's teaching on salvation by works, but it is teaching about good works (obedience to God's commandments) and doing what is right according to God's truth- His Word (not YOUR truth) AFTER you receive Jesus as your Lord. That is probably one of the most misunderstood New Testament teachings. No, you didn't receive Jesus via good works. We received God's gift in Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, but there is more to it than that concerning eternal life. We must lay hold of eternal life so that it doesn't get away from us. (1st Timothy 6:12) Here's the issue. You stay saved by doing what is right according to the covenant AFTER your first encounter with Jesus as Lord and Savior. You don't receive Jesus and then live like a sinner every day. That would nullify in your life your initial reception of His salvation. It is a devilish idea that if you practice sin as a Christian that grace will cover your sin and you will still go to heaven WITHOUT repentance. Practicing sin without repentance and cleansing from that sin by the blood of Jesus will keep a person from inheriting the kingdom of God. Now the deeds of the flesh are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, just as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit God's kingdom. (Galatians 5:19-21 TLV) The New English Translation (NET) states the last sentence like this: “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” I found at least 12 other translations that use the word practice besides the NET, and some use the words indulge, continue, and live that way. That is the correct way that last sentence should be translated. If you have fallen for any of these things as a Christian, IF you repent, then you can still go to heaven or inherit the kingdom of God. These verses warn Christians that practicing or making a lifestyle out of any of these sins will cause a person to be left out of the kingdom of God. There will be no welcoming committee in heaven for the Christian that practices sin without repentance. Paul taught that, but it is not the only place he mentions that truth. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1st Corinthians 6:9-10 NET) I've heard the Biblically ignorant state, “That was speaking to the unrighteous, and in Christ Jesus I am righteous. So, that refers to the world and not to me.” Wrong! The context of these verses is Paul correcting Christians for defrauding fellow believers, and then it is followed by an exhortation commanding believers to flee from sexual immorality. The unrighteous in 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 is referring to the unrepentant Christian that has yielded to sin and continues to practice it. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1st John 1:9 NET) John is speaking to fellow believers and what to do if we sin. After we confess our sins to the Lord, He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all UNRIGHTOEUSNESS. Wait, but I thought that we were the righteousness of God in Christ! Why be cleansed from all UN-righteousness? It's really simple. The righteousness that a Christian has in Christ, that righteousness they received upon their salvation, is conditional and not automatic. Our right standing with God is always conditional. The Christian's position in that righteousness will be negatively impacted by unrighteous behavior, lawlessness, or sin. The person that sins must receive forgiveness and cleansing from that which is against righteousness. It is a dangerous place to remain in sin because it connects a person with the unrighteous. Paul warns that if a person stays there and continues to practice that sin, whatever it may be, they are going to be rejected from the kingdom (rule and reign) of God. That means that the practitioner of lawlessness (not subject and obedient to God's law or commandments of a moral nature) will hear the terrible words of rejection from the lips of the Lord in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” In case you have any question about what practicing lawlessness means: Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. (1st John 3:4) Get straightened out with the following verses from any heretical mindset. It will work IF you will receive the Word of God on the subject. And because lawlessness (sin is lawlessness – 1st John 3:4) will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12, 13 NKJV) Only those that serve the Lord and obey His Word to the end will be saved. Note the condition. He who endures to the end shall be saved. Salvation is conditional. Enduring to the end means that when the end comes, you will not be practicing sin or lawlessness. That should be clear enough, but there are many more verses, so I will give you a few more. But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end… For we have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end… (Hebrews 3:6, 14 NKJV) We are His house IF (it's conditional) we hold fast to the end! Wishy-washy Christians that die in their sins are left out of this equation. The unrepentant Christian is left out. The other conditional statement in verse 14 about salvation is as clear as the first one in verse 6. We are partakers of Christ IF we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. In other words, and so that there are no mistakes in interpretation, it is not only how we began our life in Christ when we first believed, but it is how we wind up at the end of our lives (“to the end”). That is the moment of judgment, either to an eternal separation from God, or to an eternal bliss in the presence of the Lord. Again, note the conditional statements concerning our salvation.  Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1st Corinthians 15:1, 2 NIV) You are saved by the gospel only IF you hold firmly to that Word. If you don't, then your believing is in vain! I feel sorry for those that continue to espouse a damnable once-saved-always-saved heretical theology! Salvation in Christ is conditional! It always has been conditional and always will be. The next few verses will overturn the devilish thinking that that one can practice sin without responsibility or consequences. Let me set up the next verse by asking the question, “Is Jesus the author of eternal salvation for everybody?” …He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV) Nobody gets eternal salvation except those that obey Jesus! Here is another statement on the subject from the lips of Jesus: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV) You can't practice lawlessness and expect to hear, “Welcome to heaven and have a glorious eternity!” Be very cautious with these verses. They are no-nonsense. Even if you confessed His Lordship, and even had a part in supernatural ministry, but then reneged on your faith and practiced wickedness without repentance, you will hear the terrible words from the Master, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!” Do we see an immediate example of that in the Gospels? Yes, we see that happening to Judas Iscariot. He was sent and anointed by Jesus as an apostle, ministered supernaturally (Matthew 10:1-8), but he betrayed Jesus and was lost for eternity because he never repented and turned from his wickedness and committed suicide. (See Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-5) Matthew 27:3 says that when Judas saw what he had done and realized he was condemned that he was remorseful for his sin. Being remorseful or feeling bad over your sin may be a part of repentance, but real repentance turns away from wickedness, turns back to God, and seeks His forgiveness and cleansing from it. I wrote that last part of the sentence in bold and italics to emphasize what real repentance does.  Look at the awful things king David did in the Bathsheba incident (Second Samuel chapters 11 and 12). He committed premeditated murder, theft, adultery, treachery, covetousness, lying, and probably a host of other sins. Talk about being guilty, David messed up in ways that many have never done, and yet he was forgiven and restored. See Psalms 51 for David's prayer of repentance and petitioning God for forgiveness and cleansing. It reminds us of 1 John 1:8-10! Most likely John had Psalms 51 in mind when writing 1 John 1:9. David's restoration and forgiveness were so complete that he married Bathsheba. God blessed the union because Bathsheba was the mother of king Solomon, the very blood line from where Messiah came! Wow! No matter what sins you committed, there can be complete and total forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. David and Bathsheba are great examples of that truth. They are a demonstration of the great love, compassion, and grace of God! Now, compare that to king Saul and how he was confronted on a few occasions for his sins (ex. 1st Samuel 26). There was no real repentance. He only had remorse and the sorrow as the world feels when they do something wrong. He wound up visiting a medium (1st Samuel 28), never repenting of sins, and he died by falling on his own sword (1st Samuel 31).  Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2nd Corinthians 7:9-10 NKJV) Feelings of sorrow like the world has only leads to death. That is what happened to Saul and Judas Iscariot. Godly sorrow that leads to a real repentance is what works. That is what David had! Here is an important instruction about those that truly know the Lord. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (1st John 2:3-5 NKJV) Keeping or obeying His commandments is at the center of knowing the Lord when you are a Christian. A Christian that lives in a consistent breaking or violation of God's commandments does not know the Lord. I am speaking about those commandments in Scripture that reveal living moral or righteous life before God. I am not referring to any commandment in Scripture exclusively given to Israel or commanded concerning the Levitical priesthood, Temple worship, animal sacrifice, feasts and festivals, and other ceremonial type commandments. Do you know what I am referring to? If you have not been taught about the clear distinction in the Bible between moral and ceremonial commandments, you must be taught it correctly. Here is my Scriptural contribution on this important subject. It's a free 62-page PDF document. Get it here: Did the Grace of God Cancel Biblical Commandments? Paul, when writing to the Corinthian church, stated it like this: Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything. (1st Corinthians 7:19 ISV) The true follower of Jesus is described in Revelation 14:12 (NET) in this way: This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God's commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus. There you also have the true definition of a “saint”. It's not one canonized by the Catholic church. A saint is the one that is steadfast and enduring in their obedience to God's commandments and holds to their faith in Jesus. No canonization is needed! Once you make up your mind to be a follower of Jesus for the rest of your life, the next thing is to be baptized in water as evidence of your glorious decision for the Lord. (Acts 2:38; 1st Peter 3:21 NET) Then, you MUST find a church that never closed their doors for the Covid tyrannical nonsense and refused to open the door to the spirit of antichrist. If possible, you should be a part of a church that NEVER caved to the Covid mess. (Hebrews 10:26) The only way I would ever go to a church that bowed their knee to the Covid mess would be IF the pastor publicly repents for yielding to the devil!  Here are my non-sanctioned advertisements for two churches in my immediate surroundings that I truly admire and love for their stand on the Word. In about 5 counties in Southwest Florida, only two churches (out of over 400) never closed, masked, gelled, social distanced, and have completely refused the death jabs (so called vaccines). You can watch these powerful ministries every week online. These are hero churches. All the rest that closed their doors are weak, cowardly, capitulating churches that you can learn NOTHING from them except caving to evil government demands. Unless they repent, avoid them like the plague because they will cave again! Don't be fooled because many are online speaking naturally without the power of the Holy Spirit. Many were closed for months and have reopened to find out that their congregations are a fraction of what they were. Get involved with powerful non-caving and non-compromising churches here: The River Church International https://www.revival.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/rodneyhowardbrowne/videos Note: This church closed for 8 weeks at the very beginning of the Covid lockdowns in 2020, not because of fearing a 99.9% survivable disease, but because the pastor refused to cave to local authorities when ordered to close the church, and he was arrested. The lying news media smeared the pastor and the church mercilessly. The church phone lines, email, Facebook page, etc., received about 100 thousand death threats from crazed idiots. The church opened back up eight weeks later with a solid plan to protect its members from the demon-possessed crazies. The church began to grow exponentially, and it has not stopped! The Foundation Church https://www.foundationchurchfl.com/ The pastor of the foundation church has 2 Sunday services, and three Bible-based/facts-based/political podcasts weekly. You can get straightened out with the pastor's well documented programs: The Tom Laipply Podcasts. I watch them on Rumble, but you can also get them through his podcast website here: https://tomlaipply.com/ https://rumble.com/c/tomlaipply Other ways to connect: https://tv.gab.com/channel/tomlaipply/ We are at a very big crossroad in America. We must form our own parallel society, band together, and refuse to comply with the totalitarian and communist government mandates at every level. Christians and true conservatives (no RINO's need apply) that feel led to do so must run for local government offices and get elected. That is one powerful way to remove demon inspired nut jobs in government that believe its OK to murder the unborn in a mother's womb, believe in open borders, a weak military, vaccine mandates and masking, woke-ness, LGBTQ agendas, and have surrendered to totalitarianism and communism! It is time to rise in defense of America and to fight for our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our constitutional republic has been sidelined under the Biden regime, and we must take it back! We must defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic! Leave all social, oligarchy-controlled, and demonic media TODAY! Get on Gab, Frank Speech, Rumble, and on other conservative social media. Stop listening to the lying communist news media (including all alphabet news media: ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, CBS, etc.) and hook into many non-traditional and conservative news sources. Frankly, with the exception of Tucker Carlson and a few other true conservatives, FOX has also become unwatchable.  Get out of big, woke, ungodly mobile carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc. and get into Patriot Mobile which supports, according to their website, “First Amendment Religious Freedom and Freedom of Speech, Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms, Sanctity of Life and the needs of our Veterans and First Responders”. Quit buying from businesses that support the lying Biden regime, CDC, the garden gnome with family ties to Gollum-"Antonio Fauccino", CRT, Antifa, Liberal, Communist, BLM, and LBGTQ (etc.) agendas. Buy American and buy local as much as possible. Support your local farmers by buying their products. Don't give a single penny to those that hate Christians and conservative agendas and concerns. You may not be able to do all that overnight, but you can start right now and have much accomplished within the next few days! Don't be fooled by the liars in government, big pharma, the CDC, fake news MSM and take their death jab! Get well informed here: nojabforme.info! I used to give my own investigation and sources but this website has over 400 links to source material. No need to reinvent the wheel! Go to that website. When you see all the vaccine mandates and passports around the world, the restriction on travel, buying, selling, working, etc., does it not shake you up that we are seeing the very beginnings of a system of antichrist global control being pushed upon the world's population? 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. (Revelation 13:16-18 NASB) I am not saying that it is the mark of the beast. I am saying that at least it is a preparation stage for the future mark to be revealed. If we take a stand against this tyranny, Satan will be exposed and have to back off the full global control through his mark preparation strategy. The so-called pandemic is really a planned global false medical emergency to control the masses and bring them under a globalist-elitist control and subservience. The good news is the world is beginning to resist very strongly and boldly, and Satan's plan is being restrained. It is not his time yet for global control. It was a test, and the world (including most Christians and churches) bowed to a lie, proving that the planet is almost ready for the antichrist and his mark. The church, with the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, and the rest of the planet's population that refuses the tyranny being unleashed in the name of a false pandemic, are the earth's last line of defense. The Church by the power of God is standing in the way of Satan's antichrist agenda, unless we cave! (See 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12 New International Version- NIV.) If we yield our ground to the enemy, it is all over for the world. The church can advance and take back territory lost by yielding to the enemy when they closed their doors in 2020 and 2021. If we stand as the Body of Christ, we can turn this globalist mess around and restore freedom around us. That is, UNTIL we are done with our mission on planet earth. Once the Lord says the mission is over, a great resurrection of the godly dead and a physical transformation of those alive will occur, and all the ones separated unto the Lord Jesus (saints) will be caught up to meet Him in the air and be with Him forever! (See 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV, 1st Corinthians 15:50-53.) By "our mission", I mean that we fulfill the words of Jesus in Mark 16:15-19, Matthew 28:18-20, and also in the following verses of Scripture. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:12-14 NASB) Listen to the following podcast about the connection between faith and forgiveness taught by Jesus in Mark 11:22-26. Often, people have stuff in the way of receiving from the Lord, and unforgiveness is one BIG hindrance that must be removed for faith to work! Be mightily blessed with the teaching of God's Word!

Are we willing to see Jesus for who he is? Matthew 20 is about blind people and people who see, but they are not who you expect. From the beginning of Chapter 20 no one understands Jesus. People don't see Jesus for who he is. The parable about God's kingdom is misunderstood. The prediction about the death of the messiah goes in one ear and out the other. The request from James and John misplaced. Luke 18:34 tells us "the disciples understood none of these things..." In other words: they were blind What then is so special about Bartimaeus?  He is blind man who hears that Jesus was on His way and he could see Jesus for who He was even before his sight was restored  Mark 10:46–52 (Luke 18:35-43 Matthew 20) What is it then that allows Bartimaeus to see Jesus when everyone else was blind?  Even when he doesn't look like we want? When life is not what we would expect?  -Beggar - outcast from society, living on the fringes, not welcome in -Blind - thought to be under a curse.  John. 9:2-3 (this statement is loaded with theological weight, but tuck it away for now).  -Unnamed - Mark and Luke tell us one of the blind men is Bartimaeus (Matthew does not) either his parents or society did not see fit to name this person. His name is “Son of Timaeus”  Bartimaeus is desperate and he see's Jesus for who He is (even though he is blind)   Job 42:1-5 1 John 3:2 seeing Jesus is transformational  there is a reason the invitation to become a disciple is “come and see” John 1:39, 45 Paul: Phil 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory If you hear this message, if you can see what Jesus is up to then you will be unique in this world, where everyone is seeking happiness but no one finds it apart from Jesus  Matthew 5:3 Back to Bartimaeus  What was it that allows him to see Jesus? He was a desperate person, he was desperate to see Jesus Not as a philosopher, a holy man, a religious figure, but at the Messiah of God the deliverer  What is it that you want? I want to see 

Sermon text for "Jesus: Not the Baker but the Bread" with the Rev. David Griswold

Episode 314 -  Show Notes:We are on a journey of faith. We have a clear destination ahead. We know the way.  Along the way there are unexpected difficulties and setbacks. There are hindrances and things that slow us down. These are tests of our faith.If God says no to your dreams and your hopes, will you still trust Him? If he says no to your plans for the future, will you still serve Him?  Can we say like Jesus… “Not my will, but your will be done”?Without a doubt your faith in God will be tested. May we have the courage of these young Hebrew men who stood strong for God in the face of adversity. God is worthy of our allegiance.“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)5MinuteDiscipleship.comThe 5 Minute Discipleship JournalThe 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

A forgotten Christian document of 130 AD with a lot to say about Jesus. But what it says is that this Jesus was not a living man in the recent past who robbed a fish, boiled a fish, or forced his unpaid workers to catch 153 fish. He is a gnostic savior deity who descended to earth to "manifest in flesh," a figure of mystical speculation, not of oral tradition or historical memory. How can a Christian writer believe this, nearly 100 years after the alleged crucifixion?Anyone who listens to this episode can learn about the non-historical Jesus of the epistle of Barnabas, as well as how to calculate the date of this apocryphal letter. Unlike the theologians and the apologists, host Chris Palmero also describes some possible weaknesses of his theory - a standard of integrity that will always be upheld by BORN IN THE SECOND CENTURY. Opening reading: Tertullian, in Against Marcion, does a tight five mocking the idea of a flying Jesus.Patreon: www.patreon.com/borninthesecondcenturyWebsite: facebook.com/BornInTheSecondCenturyE-mail: secondcenturypodcast@gmail.comMusic: Pompeii Gray on Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud00:47 - Reading: TERTULLIAN, Against Marcion.03:19 - OPENING Remarks.12:38 - AGAINST the Minimum Jesus.25:30 - Barnabas on Jesus: Manifested in FLESH.32:26 - Barnabas on Jesus: Lord of the WORLD.36:59 - Barnabas on Jesus: He is PRE-EXISTENT.44:07 - Barnabas on the CROSS.51:22 - Barnabas on Jesus: Not the Davidic MESSIAH.56:04 - Potential CONFLICTS with the Special Paradigm.1:12:06 - Dating of Barnabas by THEOLOGIANS.1:23:14 - My own DATE for Barnabas.1:26:48 - The APOCALYPTIC Section.1:32:02 - LITERARY Evidence for Barnabas.1:35:49 - CLOSING Remarks.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/borninthesecondcentury)

www.longviewbaptistchurch.org Psalm 69:5-6 1) Hiding from God only hurts us, HE knows EVERYTHING! 2) Don't let unrepentant sin be a stumbling block to others! 3) Teach others to follow Jesus NOT you!....

Pastor Daniel preaches from Martin Luther King Jr. Park out of Luke 7:1-10. Please excuse the poor audio quality as this was recorded in a park. When Jesus Marvels Luke 7:1-10 Exegetical Main Point: Jesus finds greater faith in a Gentile centurion than in all of Israel and heals his dying servant. Main Point of the Sermon: Your faith is what matters most about you to Jesus. Intro ME: It’s easy to assume that God is most pleased with us when we’ve got everything together. Isn’t that true? There have been times in my life where days and weeks have gone by that I wore shame on my head like a blanket, whether for blowing it in some way or just feeling like a failure for not doing enough. This has been a major struggle in life and one that I think many Christians struggle with. This week’s text surprised me. I was reminded that God is not looking first and foremost for what we expect him to look for. In trials, in my sin, in plenty, and in want, there’s one thing in particular that makes him marvel at us, one thing that especially pleases him. WE: What do you believe that is? What do you believe is most important about you to God? Let’s see. GOD: Here in Luke 7 the action picks back up and we see Jesus again moving towards the poor, the captive, and the oppressed, the same people he said he was sent to in Luke chapter 4. 1-5 Is anyone worthy of God’s salvation? And the scene Luke paints for us today is in Capernaum, a bustling business town in Galilee, not too far from Jesus hometown. And it’s there that we are introduced to a certain centurion who had a servant who was deathly ill. Now, historically, a soldier of this rank would have had charge of about one hundred soldiers. In this time he would have been the overseer of that region keeping order ultimately under the command of Herod Antipas. So, he was a man of great authority. He was also a caring and compassionate man. We’re told that his sick servant was “highly valued” by him. This person meant a great deal to the centurion. Perhaps some of you have been or are in a similar circumstance. Someone close to you is sick and dying and apart from a miracle, you will not have them much longer. There are not many things in life more difficult. This man was experiencing the same sort of desperation for his servant and friend, the kind of desperation that leads you to do anything or go anywhere. He was even willing to go outside of his own faith tradition to get help. I want to quickly remind you. Death is not original to God’s created world. God created man and woman and put them in paradise in his presence. But they disobeyed God, they sinned against him, which brought death to them and ultimately to the whole world, who would live and die outside of the presence of God, the source of life. Ever since that day, the world has been looking for a solution to this great problem of death and evil. This reality is the why(?) behind all of the world’s religions, our medicine, even down to our politics. People are looking for someone, something to hope in, something to relieve the pain. Pause Look at verse 3. “When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant.” He heard about Jesus. There’s something so powerful about these words. How sweet it was when we heard about Jesus, this man who had power to heal. Oh that every man and women in this city could have a story like this written about them. When he heard about this man who could heal he moved to action to get him to come. Apparently he had a relationship with the elders of the town. In fact, this centurion was also held in high esteem for his generosity towards the Jews. This is highly unusual. Remember, these soldiers were not friends of the Jews; they represented the oppressor and the evil empire. We don’t know his ethnicity or that he was a covert to the Jews, but from what we do know it’s clear that he was a Gentile who “loved” Israel and had even personally funded the building of their local synagogue. From human standards, this was a good man. The elders thought so too. Listen to how they talk about him with Jesus. Verse 4: “When they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.’ Now, we need to focus in on these words because they let us in on the way many Jews thought. Let’s read them again: “He is worthy to have you do this for him…” Why? 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.’ Do you see that? The Jewish leaders measure the worthiness of the Centurion for Jesus’s healing based on what? His works. They say, essentially, “look at the kind of man he is. Look at what he’s done for us. He is worthy of your attention.” I need you to see this because of the sharp contrast that is set up in the centurion’s response to Jesus. In fact, there’s a word play on this word “worthy”, which will show up two more times in the text. And I need you to know that this is common thinking of a religious person and sadly, we easily fall into the same thinking. You see, Religious people believe that God owes them for their good works or behavior. If I do this, then God must bless me. Many in that time believed that if they were flawless before God, if the leaders kept everybody in check just right, then God had to bless them and destroy their enemies. But something is severely off in this understanding of God. We know this because these same people would ultimately reject Jesus, their Messiah. In fact, in Matthew 11, Jesus is recorded pronouncing a judgment on Capernaum worse than Sodom’s. He said, “For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day” (Mt. 11:23-24). Friends, there’s a problem with our understanding of God if we think that he will accept us or save us on account of how well we are doing. Perhaps you feel like after you read your bible, or shared the Gospel or overcame a temptation that God owes you blessing. But when things still go poorly for you, you shake your fist at God saying “didn’t you see what I did for you?!” Don’t you see how ugly this is to God. This thinking ignores the pervasive reality of our sin and its offensiveness before God? It ultimately removes the need for a Savior because it puts trust in me, myself, and I rather than Father, Son, and Spirit. If Jesus is just a prophet who can help worthy people, if God is just a genie who can give us what we want when we say the magic word or jump through just the right hoops, than we are all in serious trouble because no one is truly worthy. That’s why God sent a Messiah. But if Jesus is the King, the ultimate healer, the one and only Savior sent from the Father to deal with the sin that is killing us then we must cling to him on his terms. We must cry out “Have mercy”, not “You owe me.” Do you see? Nonetheless, verse 6 tells us that Jesus went with them. And why does Jesus ever go the hurting? Why does he ever save the lost? Do you think Jesus came to this man because he was impressed with the Jews great description of this man? No, in fact, it’s just the opposite. But it is the grace of our Father who in his mercy reaches down from heaven to touch us, to heal us. Through his incarnated Son he comes to us, he mends our wounds, heals our diseases, and forgives our sins. He moves toward humanity out of his love for us, not because of anything we’ve done. That’s grace. That’s the Gospel. That’s the difference between every other religion and Christianity. 6-9 What faith looks like Look with me at verse 6 where we will see what God is truly after. “When [Jesus] was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume (i.e. I did not see myself worthy) to come to you.” Notice the difference between the centurion and the Jews response to Jesus… First, out of respect and submission, he addresses Jesus as “Lord,” and instead of “I am worthy,” as the Jews had said about him, he says, “I am not worthy.” Out of respect, the centurion still does not even come close to him, but instead sent friends to report these words. Culturally, this man knew he should have nothing to do with Jesus and Jesus should care nothing about him. What is God looking for? He is looking for a heart that comes to Jesus with reverence, acknowledging his lordship and our need for him. Let’s continue in verse 7: “But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” So, the centurion sends word and says, “Jesus, I believe that all you have to do is say a word and my servant will be healed.” Just say the word! “I tell my soldiers to do something, they move, immediately, because I have that kind of authority. And Jesus, I believe you have the authority to heal in the same way.” This is incredible. This highly respected centurion who knows something about authority is here admitting that Jesus is far superior in ranking to him. Jesus’s authority far surpasses his earthly authority. He confesses belief that Jesus has power over heaven and earth, to command the created order and move things. The man recognizes and embraces, not just accepts, but embraces, Jesus’s authority over all things. He doesn’t turn to Herod or Caesar. Instead, he turns away from self and all other man-made solutions and saviors to the One who has true authority. He believed that nothing was too hard for One with this authority. He believed that Jesus could command with a word – from a distance, mind you – whatever illness was killing that man to leave him and that he would be restored to health. That’s not how I think when I’m praying for someone. I’m often thinking about how not to look to foolish when the prayer doesn’t work… That’s not how I’m thinking when I’m living in shame, when I’m staring at myself. The centurion recognized who Jesus was. He understood that he had authority that far surpassed any human authority and he said, Jesus, “just say the word and it will be done.” Let’s see Jesus’s response. Verse 9: 9-10 What causes Jesus to marvel? 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” Jesus heard these words and he marveled. He marveled. He stood amazed. There are only two times in the New Testament where Jesus is said to marvel. One is in Mark 6:7 where Jesus marvels at the unbelief in Nazareth, and the other is right here (DeYoung). What caused Jesus to marvel? The centurion’s faith. Do you see that? The thing that causes Jesus to marvel, the thing that moves him, that matters most to him about us, is not our good deeds, but our faith. This is what pleases the Lord. But Jesus is said to marvel about another thing. What is it? Unbelief. Lack of faith. Pastor Kevin DeYoung writes, “Two things… make Jesus step back and say “Wow!” 1) Those who believe when it’s not expected they would. 2) Those who disbelieve when there’s every reason they should.”[1] Do you hear the indictment in those words from Jesus? “Not even in Israel…” “not even amongst my own people”, if he were speaking today he might say, “not even in the church” have I found such faith. These are painful words, to hear, and maybe more, for Jesus to say. Those who have every reason to believe, who have seen his miracles, have heard his teaching, who have been with him and seen how he fulfilled the prophesies, these are the ones who reject him. But a Gentile, a pork eating, unclean, foreign soldier, is the one to receive him with this faith. Faith or lack of faith is what makes Jesus marvel. Verse 10 tells us that “when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.” The man’s faith moved the Lord, and though we are not told how or with what words, the man’s faith was rewarded with the healing he desired. YOU What is God looking for in you? He wants you to come to him humbly with faith like the centurion that believes that if Jesus says “do it”, it will be done. If he says, “Forgiven,” we are forgiven! The Bible teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God. This is one of the most fundamental aspects of Christianity. Why? Why is faith so important to him? Because faith puts him in his rightful place, it puts him back on the throne of our hearts. When Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan, they took their eyes off of God and put them on themselves. They dethroned God in their hearts. And even today, when we look to ourselves or other human saviors, we do the same thing. But God calls us to simply turn our eyes away from self to him, away from our supposed sufficiency to his true sufficiency, away from our deficiency to his sufficiency. So this leads me to ask, are you like the Jewish elders or the centurion in your response to Jesus? When you come to stories like these in Scripture you should be asking yourself which character is most true of you. And if we’re honest with ourselves it’s easy to quickly pat yourself on the back – “oh yes, I do believe in Jesus, I’m not like those religious guys….” Not so fast. How do you relate with God today? Are you like me and the Jewish leaders believing that I somehow can earn God’s favor? Or do the blessings and trials of life cause you to come with humble submission to the king of the universe like the centurion, saying, “I am unworthy even to have you come into my house, but I need you, I trust you, I thank you, you are able.” When we simply bow before the king, aware of his identity, power, and authority, to accomplish everything we need, God is pleased. He is moved. Yes, good works will and must follow our faith, but they can never ultimately gain his approval. We don’t work for approval, but from approval. I need you also to remember, faith is not just a one and done deal. No, but all of life requires the same trust in Jesus. When you trust him in extreme suffering or in material need, I believe he marvels at your faith. When you turn from sin in the face of the worst temptation, I believe he marvels at your faith. When you give up your comforts for the mission of God, I believe he marvels at your faith. But maybe you sit under the teaching and preaching of the Word week in and week out, you’ve grown up around the Scriptures and around the church and have seen miracles of salvation and perhaps healing and other things, but still there is no zeal for Jesus, no desire to know him or to make him known. This, I believe, also makes Jesus marvel. How does Jesus marvel at you today? Does he marvel at your faith or does he marvel at your unbelief? WE All Peoples Church, we are in a time not like many others. We are likely to see many more trials this year and certainly in our lifetime. How will we respond? Will we respond to these mini-floods with faith, clinging to Jesus, or will we cling to something else? Will you trust him for healing, trust him when he doesn’t heal, trust him when he gives, trust him when he takes? Will you trust him? This is what he desires. He is worthy of our trust, friends. He came and healed the sick, raised the dead, and overcame death itself by going to death. He is worthy of our trust. When Jesus went to the cross he was there in your place. He was performing the death you deserved for the sins you committed. And if Jesus was punished for your sins, that means that God no longer has a reason not to be pleased with you. Even more, when he rose from death, he rose on your behalf so that you could live a new life in him, a life of faith in him rather than yourself. And if God gave the Son for you do you think he would hold back anything else you need. Don’t be found on judgement day having heard and seen so much about Jesus and yet still clinging to your own righteousness or anything else. In these next few minutes together, if you are not yet trusting Christ, I want you to turn to him with this simple prayer, “Jesus, I believe you are who you say you are. Please, save me.” And if you love Jesus already, I want you to turn to Jesus with this simple prayer, “I believe, Lord, but help my unbelief. I want to make you marvel at my faith in you in this moment.” Let’s pray. Lord, you said that without faith it is impossible to please you. We want to please you. Thank you for coming for us. Forgive us for all of our daily unbelief and help us trust you more. In the name of Jesus, Amen. [1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/what-makes-jesus-marvel/

Dedication of the Temple 2 Chronicles 6v1-21 Tonight as you may have gathered, we go back to looking at the prayers of Solomon in 2 Chronicles 6. Not in an exhaustive way, but to discover together what we can learn about God and His relationship with those who are His and seeing how this is relevant to us some 3 millennia later. During the intervening period, I wonder if Solomon had wrestled in his mind over what he prayed… Let us wrestle together now, in these prayers of his, albeit briefly. This is a key passage, a link if you like, between the Covenant that God made with Solomon’s father, David, including the building of a House for God, the Temple, and the glory of the Lord filling the Temple in 2 Chronicles 7. This reflects I think, the necessity and vitality of prayer in the unfolding of God’s will for humanity. The story is also regaled in 1 Kings 8 but with some nuance as you may expect. Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. A Covenant Making God Down through history, the Bible reveals that God has made Covenants with humanity. A covenant is an important way to describe the progress of the relationship between God and humanity through the Biblical story. A covenant at the time of the Old Testament was a solemn commitment between the two covenanting parties to fulfil all the promises and obligations of the covenant. Covenants were common in all kinds of life, and not just between God and humanity. The idea comes from the sort of agreement commonly entered into in the ancient area round Israel between a high king, and a sub king or clan chief. It is easy to see how a covenant is a good way to describe the relationship between God and humanity. God, who promises to protect and help the human with faithfulness, and the human who promises to worship and honour God with faith. The Covenants between God and humanity have several things about them regarding the relationship. In these Covenants between God and humanity, God always took the initiative – sometimes by complete surprise. God has made certain commitments and has given His solemn promise to fulfil His end of the bargain. God waits for a response from humanity. God does not coerce or force but waits for humanity to take the responsibility of replying and acquiescing to God's covenantal promises through obedience, faithfulness and worship. There are Covenants made in the Garden of Eden, Covenants made in history with Adam, Noah and Abraham, but we will fast forward to the Covenant between God and Moses before going onto His covenant with Solomon’s father, David. The Mosaic Covenant Why look at the Covenant made between God and Moses? We do so because there is a connection between that Covenant and the prayer of Solomon we are looking at tonight. Indeed the very Ark of the Covenant contained a gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. Charles Spurgeon commented “One is struck, with the fact that the language of Solomon is far from new, and is full of quotations from the Pentateuch (where the Mosaic Covenant is fully explained), some of which are almost word for word.” This covenant is between God and humanity, in this case with the particular nation of Israel. It commences with the stipulation “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5). This covenant was to Israel in order that those who believed God’s promise, could know how to live righteously. Israel’s task was to bring the knowledge of God to all the world so that blessing might come to all humanity. In this, however, they were to fail and only when Jesus came as the perfectly obedient Israelite was it to become possible that all the world should be blessed. This Mosaic covenant covered the three areas of life: The commandments were given so they would know how to relate socially to God correctly (Exodus 20:1-17) The judgments were given in order that they could relate socially to each other properly (Exodus 21:1 - 24:11 and in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) The decrees dictate their religious life so that God could be approached by humanity on His terms (Exodus 24:12 - 31:18, and in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). The Mosaic Covenant was never meant as a means by which humanity could achieve salvation with God. It was given so that they could realize the helplessness of their own efforts, and their need of God's help as well as expressing their devotion to the Lord. Yet they still failed to bring blessing to other peoples. Galatians 3:22-24 explains that the Law was only a protective fence until through the promised Messiah, when humanity could be made right with God through faith. That Messiah we know to be the man Jesus Christ. More later though. The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:4-17) Now we fast forward to the Covenant which was in place as Solomon dedicates the Temple to God and is mentioned here. This covenant that God made with David, Solomon’s father. Three great things were promised: A land forever (2 Samuel 7:10); A dynasty without end (2 Samuel 7:11, 16) A perpetual kingdom (2 Samuel 7:13, 16) Through the Covenants we see a God who is willing to interact with His creation and bless it. When first century Christians such as the Apostles Paul, Peter and John checked and thought over all the events surrounding the life of Jesus Christ, they searched their Scriptures (our Old Testament). It was as God the Holy Spirit illuminated their minds, that they wrote down and passed on the whole range of Old Testament promises which were fulfilled in God's Messiah and the world's hope - Jesus Christ and Him alone. That is why it is important for us as twenty-first century Christian Disciples to read our Old Testament as well as the New Testament. For by reading the Old Testament, new light is shed upon our own understanding of the New Testament. One of the fundamentals of understanding the Bible, is to let the Bible interpret the Bible. There is one more Covenant of God which we are to look at tonight, but we will see that shortly! We press on with these prayers of Solomon. There are 3 prayers here. v1-2 are opening words of praise to God v4-11 are the 2nd prayer v16-41 are the 3rd prayer. We won’t go into any great detail tonight, you will no doubt be glad to know. We will get to about verse 21 I think. But with a very general overview, let’s look together and see what we can learn together from the wise man Solomon about God and about prayer. Charles Spurgeon said that “It is worthy of remark concerning this prayer that it is as full and comprehensive as if it were meant to be the summary of all future prayers offered in the temple.” Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. Part 1 1. Verses 1 & 2 - Solomon acknowledges God’s presence in the cloud Here we see that Solomon acknowledges God’s presence in the cloud. The cloud of God’s glory has a long association with His presence. Solomon knew that the presence of the cloud meant that God dwelt in the temple in a special way. It was to be a special place to come and meet with God. It was symbolic of God living with His people. 2.Verses 3 to 9 – Solomon blessed the people and blesses God. Here we see that Solomon blessed the people and blesses God. Solomon knew, affirmed and recognized that the completion of the Temple was the fulfilment of the plan of God and not of Solomon himself or indeed of his father David. God’s plan. David and Solomon were merely the human instruments, they were God’s arms and legs, but the work was affirmed to be God’s alone! God’s actions or work have confirmed His words, His promises! God’s hands were at work building the Temple as He guided and strengthened the human workers who contributed themselves to its construction. Solomon recounts how their ancestors had escaped from Egypt in the Exodus 500 years hence. This shows its importance to the people of Israel at the time! Their minds were singing “If the Lord can bring us out of Egypt and rescue us, He will help us establish ourselves as a nation and build this Temple in order to worship Him. “ God is faithful to His promises. Down through the ages God has been faithful and keeping His part of the Covenant that He made with people. Later when we come to conclude we will see together briefly the promises of God for the Christian, including us today almost 3 millennia later. Solomon now issues a statement concerning his father, David! Why David was not to build it. Though David, the mighty King had done extensive preparations for it, he didn’t actually complete it. The completion was left for his son, Solomon. Why? Because of God’s ideal of rest for his King and for his people. David had fought many wars and battles. It was part of his rest in God not to build the Temple. Solomon was spared the emotional turmoil of war, so could dedicate his energies to building the Temple – the House of God. 3. Verses 10-11 - Solomon presents the finished temple unto God. And with verses 10 to 11, we see that Solomon presents the finished Temple to God. Solomon recognized that being the successor of his father David to the throne of Israel was significant. He then places the Ark of the Covenant, in its resting place in the Temple. The Ark of the Covenant was a physical representation of God’s promised presence with His people, the nation of Israel. It was a wooden chest clad with gold containing a gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. Solomon speaks of a God who fulfilled with His hands what He had spoken with His mouth. God had said what He was going to do, and then went and did it. How are we doing at worshipping as we work for the Lord? Are we workers primarily and then click a switch to engage worship mode as we come here on a Sunday? Or do we consider ourselves God worshippers as we work? God wants worshippers before workers. In God’s mind, the only acceptable workers are those who have learnt the art of worship. Do you consider all you do as acts of worship to God? Everything you do as acts of worship to God? Because that is the kind of people God wants and desires, the kind of people who worship Him in Spirit and in truth and in all aspects of life – not just for a couple of hours on a Sunday. Part 2. Solomon’s prayer. Verses 12-14 - Humility before and praise unto God. .Here in verses 12 to 14 we see that Solomon stands before the altar of the Lord. Solomon did not dedicate the Temple from within the Temple itself because that would have been the wrong place. That was where only the Priest could go, so Solomon stands outside, raised up so that the throngs of people could see him. Before the altar, spreading out his hands in an act of symbolism - reaching out toward heaven in a gesture of surrender, openness, and ready reception. Here Solomon recognizes that God was and is completely unique in all facets of being and expresses it. The false and pretend gods of the nations around Israel could not compare to Him in any way.Verses 15-17 - Solomon recognizes God as the maker and keeper of promises. Solomon commences now to thankfully praise God, because God has kept all His promises that He had mad in the past. Have you done that in your prayer life? Speaking out thanks for what God has done for you in the past? He continues and calls upon God to keep the promises that He has now made. We are, as His people, to take on board God’s promises, take them to heart in faith, and then boldly and reverently call upon Him to fulfil the promises. Again, is that part of your prayer life? God promises and we are to appropriate, take hold of them and proclaim them, taking them on board in our life by faith, knowing that God fulfils the promises that He makes to people. Verses 18-21 - Solomon asks God to dwell in this place and honour those who seek Him here. Solomon now asks a question in this prayer! How often have you and I asked God questions as we pray, rather than just listing off our demands. God would reside in the Temple but not to the exclusion of other places. While God would have a special presence in the Temple, He would not be restricted to it. Solomon asks God to listen to His people as they pray and worship in this Temple dedicated to Him. When God hears the prayers made in the Tempe, Solomon implores that He would forgive His people and probably the greatest answer to prayer that they could expect. Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. Conclusion - Promises of God for the Christian After such a prayer, how can we conclude? What are the challenges and comforts we have seen from this passage of Scripture? This Temple was destroyed about 400 years later by the Babylonians. It is long gone. What about David’s Covenant though? Was that ever fulfilled? Remember David’s Covenant which we looked at briefly earlier on? Was that ever fulfilled? We can say that it has been! It was fulfilled gloriously in the coming of God, in the man Jesus Christ. When the great God did indeed come as a human being in the person we know as Jesus Christ. It is historical fact. 2 Samuel 7:12 predicted the birth of Solomon as David's successor to the throne, with his role being to establish David's throne forever (2 Samuel 7:13). We see this link to the man Jesus Christ, through the genealogies to both Joseph: who had a legal right to King David's throne (Matthew 1:1-17) and to Mary: who had a blood right to King David's throne (Luke 3:23-38). The land is the whole world, now potentially the sphere of the rule of Jesus (Romans 4:13); the dynasty was, through Solomon, eventually to be the eternal son, Jesus (Matthew 1:1, 6, 16; Luke 3:23, 31); the Kingdom is the kingdom of God, now established, and ever growing in the world in which we live. (Matthew 11:12) All of which were fulfilled gloriously in the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus the Messiah, the Saviour. Jesus Christ – fully God and fully human. Not just for the Jews but for all people of every race and language. Really that should make us go WOW in awe of our God. Our God is the God of history and has stepped into history as a human being. The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:15-20) We see all this in what is called the New Covenant. Four features of this covenant are: Regeneration – God will write His law on the hearts of people. (Jeremiah 31:33) Restoration - God will be their God, and they will be God's people. (Jeremiah 31:33) Promised Holy Spirit – God will indwell people and they will be led by Him (Jeremiah 31:34) Justification – Sins will be forgiven, removed and remembered no more (Jeremiah 31:34) This new covenant is sealed only through the perfect sacrifice of the God-Man Jesus on the cross. His death ensures the truth of this New Covenant. His death pays the penalty for the sins of all people. That is why we are to say yes to God and His New Covenant. This New Covenant can be contrasted with the Old Covenant, the Mosaic covenant that we looked at earlier, (Jeremiah 31:32; Hebrews 8:6-13) because this New Covenant finalizes and makes possible what the Mosaic Covenant could only point to: the follower of God living in a righteous life conforming to God's holy character. Solomon asks in verse 18 “But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple that I have built!” In Solomon’s direct context, he was talking about the Temple which he was dedicating to God. In the overall context of the Bible, however, God did indeed come and dwell on earth. Not just with humans, but to be a human. Jesus Christ, the God-man. God keeps His promises and Jesus Christ is evidence of that. Oh that is so easy to forget when we are undergoing the trials of life. In what way does God keep His promises to us today? Five quick statements. By faith, He is praying for us. God the Son, Jesus Christ is making intercessions for Christians (Romans 8:34). He knows our troubles and He feels our cares and knows what we are going through (Hebrews 4:14-16). Isn’t that simply amazing and oh how easily we forget. By faith - He will come to us. Have you ever felt like God is far away? Well you aren’t alone! Solomon’s father, David, often felt that God was far away and unconcerned with his life. Just a cursory look in the Psalms will reveal that. However he also knew that God would ultimately rescue him. Jesus always comes to us through difficult times. Although He may not come in the time we think He should come, because He knows when we need Him most. By faith - He will help us grow - Once, when His disciples were in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to them walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). The purpose of this incident was to show that Jesus would be leaving them soon, so they had to learn to trust in Him when He wasn’t physically present. One of those disciples, Peter, wrote later on in his life, “for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12). How are you growing as a follower of Jesus? Not only in your knowledge but also in your transformation and development? As we are being transformed by the power of God the Holy Spirit into the image of God the Son, Jesus Christ, it is to the praise and glory of God the Father. Our transformation reveals God at work. By faith, He will see us through - Again, when the disciples were in the storm, Jesus said “Come” and Peter went with Him. This must have encouraged the other disciples, for upon seeing Jesus’ power they worshipped him. Whatever troubles you are undergoing are temporary, and Jesus will see you through. For various reasons 2015 for Youngmi and I started out as if it could be our annus horribilus. Yet it became our annus mirabilis instead as we saw God at work each day throughout the year. By faith, you have salvation - if you are trusting in Jesus alone for your salvation. By faith Jesus is praying for you, will come to you, grow you and help you through troubles. By being obedient to God, you and I are showing others our salvation and showing that faith, is not blind, but active. We can be obedient to Him by relying on His strength and wisdom. We are to be faithful to God and show it by being obedient to Him and getting on with the work we have been given, just as Solomon was in getting the Temple competed. Is your work worship or your worship work? As we go out tonight, let us remember that God keeps His promises, He is listening to your prayers and He wants us to be in a dynamic moment by moment relationship with Himself. This great God wants you and I to be actively obedient to Him in all facets of our lives – our work, our play, our conversations, our worship and our relationships. If you are struggling in a particular area, get trusted others to pray for you and to hold you accountable – that is part of discipleship – part of following and loving God. Our verse for the year as a Church is Psalm 105:4 “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” That was what Solomon did in the building of the Temple. That is what we are to do as well, as I am sure you are aware. Not only the Church here as a whole, but as individual followers of Jesus Christ. If we try to do it in our own strength we will fail. If we do it in the strength of the God we proclaim to love, worship, serve and glorify then we can – because all glory and honour will go to Him and Him alone. As we go, are we ready in some way to tell others about this great God we claim is great and sing here in this fabulous building of our love and service? Are we ready to enable and encourage each other in the faith, and not just our friends and favourites, in some way as we see need? Are we actively engaging with the great God throughout each day, worshipping Him in all aspects of life and letting Him have dominion over every aspect of our lives as we put our trust fully in Him and in all aspects of life? We are to be faithful to God and show it by being obedient to Him and getting on with the work we have been given, just as Solomon was in getting the job done. As a general observation, most of the Church is scared of that word evangelism. We are not all to be evangelists like the Billy Grahams or Bruce Kitchings of this world, but we are to tell and show others about the God we claim to love and are in covenant with. Let’s go WOW the world, all of it, including our little corner here for God with the news of our God – the God who is outside of time who stepped down into time, into human history, in order that humanity could choose to follow Him or not - to be His children or not. Let’s keep our eyes fixed firmly on our God as we seek to enable and encourage – not just as a church body but also as individuals to all others that we meet. We are the Church on the hill. Let us, both as a church and as individuals, “Look to the LORD and his strength; seeking his face always.” Let’s go WOW for God together, heeding His advice and worshipping Him alone in all facets of life. Are you tired and in need of comfort from all the challenges you are having to endure? Keep your eyes on God and allow Him to embrace you, comfort and lift you up. Remember that He is for you, He lives within you and you are His child. Are you too comfortable? In need of a challenge to stop you becoming complacent? Ask God to help you overcome, to empower you and seek His face and wisdom. Ask for His strength to help you do what He has asked you to do? The God we have comforts us in our challenges and challenges us in our comfort. We have an amazingly glorious God! Let’s have a minute or two to bring ourselves before God and ask God to help you as only He can. Then I will close with a prayer before we go on to have our final song together. Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site! Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Happy Wednesday, friends! Today marks THREE weeks of sheltering in place for those of us in central California, and it is for me, a personal record for sheltering in place/staying home and social distancing, beating my previous record of 5 days when I had the flu in 5th grade and two weeks when my mom's car was hit by a moving van when I was 8 or so. Are you going crazy yet? I sort of see some signs that my family is, therefore I am planning on building a temporary shelter/respite place in the laundry room for me and the boy, because he still seems mostly sane. Today's Bible readings include Leviticus 11 and 12, Psalms 13 and 14, Proverbs 26 and 1 Thessalonians 5. Yeah, Robert Murray M'Cheyne kind of went crazy on us today! Today's big Bible question: Will College Football Happen this year?! I go live to my special guest, Ryen Russillo for his take. Oh, wait, that's actually a topic for a different show - our actual question is: Will it be possible for Christians to know that that the coming of Jesus is soon? Well...what do you think? Don't guess yet - let's read 1 Thessalonians 5, then come back and discuss it, and then we will read our other 50 Bible chapters for the day. Here's the pertinent part of 1 Thessalonians to help us answer the question:  About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 Will Jesus REALLY come back in 1994? Spoiler alert: NO! The picture for today's episode of the show is a copy of the book 1994?, with my desktop and microphone in the back. Yes, that is a CVS prescription bottle that is acting as a space on my microphone boom arm. More importantly, is the book 1994? one of my great theological treasures! You can't tell from the picture, but the book is a 551 (!) page, well researched book by author and radio host Harold Camping that was written in 1992 and makes the very bold claim that Jesus will return in 1994. In fact, the back of the book contains this stunningly wrong prediction: "Whether we like it or not, the end of history is almost upon us. Abundant biblical information focuses on 1994 as the likely end of the world. This information should be declared to the world because it severely and eternally impacts each and every individual of the more than 5.5 billion people of the earth." 1994? 1992, by Harold Camping I'll be honest with you. I haven't read this book, and I've barely opened it. I bought it for 25 cents at a Trussville library sale as an illustration of the fact that people have been trying to predict the exact date of the second coming for hundreds of years, and have struck out every time. Tonight, for the first time, I read a few paragraphs of this book, and I've got to tell you that my mind is blown. Some how, some way, Brother Camping calculates that the date the world began was on 11,013 B.C. I am afraid that I have no idea whatsoever how Camping arrived at that date, as I turned to page 442, and just started reading. I do not have time to read a whole 550 page book of nonsense, even if I wasn't doing a daily Bible podcast. So, the world apparently began on 11,013 B.C., and here is how, according to Camping, we get to 1994: Especially interesting is Jacob's age when he came under the care and protection of Joseph. When asked of Pharaoh his age, he answered in Genesis 47:9 "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, 'The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. From this verse, Camping makes the following conclusion, "We can't help but see the parallel between this account and the pilgrimage of believers in this world. When do we escape the evil days of this earth? In one sense we escape them when we become saved, but the final escape is the end of the world. We see again how 13000 years, or the year 1988 stands out as the end of the world. This is the sort of reasoning you get in books of this ilk - books that attempt to pin down the exact date of the return of Jesus. Many, many attempts have been made to this in the past. The Jehovah's Witnesses predicted the second coming, and other important Bible prophecy events, would happen in 1878, 1881, 1914, 1918, 1925 and more, but all of these events were busts, and had to be retconned. Camping himself recalculated his dates, and came up with a "beyond a shadow of a doubt" return of Jesus that would happen on May 21, 2011. When that failed, he moved the date to October 21, 2011. When that failed - he very wisely, and humbly repented of his silliness, shared the Matthew 24:36 truth that 'no man knows the day or the hour of the return of Jesus," and then began to study the Bible to learn about about what it taught and about Jesus, than to try and figure out dates and such. Good job, Mr. Camping. You messed up, but you got there eventually in the grace of God. The problem with trying to discern the exact date of the return of Jesus is what Jesus Himself claimed about His Second Coming: The angels in Heaven didn't know the date, Jesus the Son of God didn't know the date, but ONLY the God the Father knew the date of His return. I think that means that the timing of the return of Jesus is not ENCODED or hidden somehow, someway in the Bible - but, quite literally ONLY the Father knows that date. Now, that said and believed, we have a curious thing here in 1st Thessalonians: "But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief." Jesus, as He said, is going to return like a thief in the night - in a way that will surprise the world...but, according to Paul - those believers who aren't in the dark WON'T be surprised by the return of Jesus. Instead, they will be ready. Is this a contradiction between the teaching of Paul, and the teaching of Jesus? Not at all. In fact, the teaching of Jesus largely emphasized the same thing: 35 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40 So - the Second Coming should NOT hit Bible-believing, blood-bought followers of Jesus by surprise. Why not - because they know the hour? NO! Because, NO MATTER WHAT HOUR IT IS, they are living and acting like the Master (Jesus) could return at ANY MOMENT! Think of it like this: You work at an office, and the boss is away. If everybody is diligently working while the boss is away, then his return won't shake anybody up in the least, and it certainly won't surprise anybody, or alarm anybody (least of all, the boss), because all of the workers are diligently and alertly doing what they are supposed to do. Suppose, however, that the workers goof off. They play games on their phones, make personal calls, peruse social media, and get a game of poker going in the break room. When the boss returns then - THEY WILL BE SURPRISED - exactly like a sleeping homeowner of a house that a cat-burglar breaks in. You're not surprised by such a thing if you are waiting and watching alertly, but it catches you way off guard if you are sleeping or goofing off. The antidote to being surprised is NOT knowing the exact time of the boss's return, but knowing that he could return at ANY SECOND, and doing exactly what He commanded you to do while He was gone. I think that is the primary reason why Paul is telling believers that the coming of Jesus should not catch them like a thief in the night - because they are awake and alert. That said, I think there might be a secondary sense here too. Maybe. The fact is that Jesus describes (in Matthew 24, Luke 22, etc) and Paul describes (in this passage and several others) and other Old and New Testament books do indeed give us some hints about how things are going to look around the time of the return of Jesus. This information on the Second Coming is somewhat vague, and I believe purposely so. If it wasn't, then we believers, being human, would likely procrastinate on the Great Commission and wait until the last minute, and it is clear that though Jesus didn't know the exact date of His return, He did seem to know the Second Coming would be far in the future (see Matthew 25:19, Matthew 24:48, among other hints), thus He sent the believers out with urgency, and we still have that same urgency. Our mission is to be serving the King and His Kingdom when He returns! Will we know His arrival is getting near? I think the answer is MAYBE. Some true believers from all centuries have believed they lived in the time of Jesus' return, and thus far, they have all been wrong. That means the signs of Jesus' coming could be misinterpreted. That said, I believe that the nearer we get to His return, the clearer the events unfolding on earth will match the events foretold in Scripture. The principle is: The Nearer we get, the clearer. I think it is telling that Jesus, in Luke 12, said the disciples would not know the hour. I take that to mean that we will not know the exact date, but that the Body of Christ on earth at the time will not be surprised like a thief in the night (even though Jesus will indeed come like a thief in the night!) for two reasons: #1 They will be working, alert, awake, watching, and crying out Maranatha - come, Lord Jesus! #2 - The Body of Christ on earth at that time will begin to see a more closely matched set of circumstances and events unfolding that unmistakably matches biblical prophecy. That generation won't know the day or the hour either, but I suspect that they will have a collective sense that it is going to happen soon.

Happy Wednesday, friends! Today marks THREE weeks of sheltering in place for those of us in central California, and it is for me, a personal record for sheltering in place/staying home and social distancing, beating my previous record of 5 days when I had the flu in 5th grade and two weeks when my mom's car was hit by a moving van when I was 8 or so. Are you going crazy yet? I sort of see some signs that my family is, therefore I am planning on building a temporary shelter/respite place in the laundry room for me and the boy, because he still seems mostly sane. Today's Bible readings include Leviticus 11 and 12, Psalms 13 and 14, Proverbs 26 and 1 Thessalonians 5. Yeah, Robert Murray M'Cheyne kind of went crazy on us today! Today's big Bible question: Will College Football Happen this year?! I go live to my special guest, Ryen Russillo for his take. Oh, wait, that's actually a topic for a different show - our actual question is: Will it be possible for Christians to know that that the coming of Jesus is soon? Well...what do you think? Don't guess yet - let's read 1 Thessalonians 5, then come back and discuss it, and then we will read our other 50 Bible chapters for the day. Here's the pertinent part of 1 Thessalonians to help us answer the question:  About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 Will Jesus REALLY come back in 1994? Spoiler alert: NO! The picture for today's episode of the show is a copy of the book 1994?, with my desktop and microphone in the back. Yes, that is a CVS prescription bottle that is acting as a space on my microphone boom arm. More importantly, is the book 1994? one of my great theological treasures! You can't tell from the picture, but the book is a 551 (!) page, well researched book by author and radio host Harold Camping that was written in 1992 and makes the very bold claim that Jesus will return in 1994. In fact, the back of the book contains this stunningly wrong prediction: "Whether we like it or not, the end of history is almost upon us. Abundant biblical information focuses on 1994 as the likely end of the world. This information should be declared to the world because it severely and eternally impacts each and every individual of the more than 5.5 billion people of the earth." 1994? 1992, by Harold Camping I'll be honest with you. I haven't read this book, and I've barely opened it. I bought it for 25 cents at a Trussville library sale as an illustration of the fact that people have been trying to predict the exact date of the second coming for hundreds of years, and have struck out every time. Tonight, for the first time, I read a few paragraphs of this book, and I've got to tell you that my mind is blown. Some how, some way, Brother Camping calculates that the date the world began was on 11,013 B.C. I am afraid that I have no idea whatsoever how Camping arrived at that date, as I turned to page 442, and just started reading. I do not have time to read a whole 550 page book of nonsense, even if I wasn't doing a daily Bible podcast. So, the world apparently began on 11,013 B.C., and here is how, according to Camping, we get to 1994: Especially interesting is Jacob's age when he came under the care and protection of Joseph. When asked of Pharaoh his age, he answered in Genesis 47:9 "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, 'The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. From this verse, Camping makes the following conclusion, "We can't help but see the parallel between this account and the pilgrimage of believers in this world. When do we escape the evil days of this earth? In one sense we escape them when we become saved, but the final escape is the end of the world. We see again how 13000 years, or the year 1988 stands out as the end of the world. This is the sort of reasoning you get in books of this ilk - books that attempt to pin down the exact date of the return of Jesus. Many, many attempts have been made to this in the past. The Jehovah's Witnesses predicted the second coming, and other important Bible prophecy events, would happen in 1878, 1881, 1914, 1918, 1925 and more, but all of these events were busts, and had to be retconned. Camping himself recalculated his dates, and came up with a "beyond a shadow of a doubt" return of Jesus that would happen on May 21, 2011. When that failed, he moved the date to October 21, 2011. When that failed - he very wisely, and humbly repented of his silliness, shared the Matthew 24:36 truth that 'no man knows the day or the hour of the return of Jesus," and then began to study the Bible to learn about about what it taught and about Jesus, than to try and figure out dates and such. Good job, Mr. Camping. You messed up, but you got there eventually in the grace of God. The problem with trying to discern the exact date of the return of Jesus is what Jesus Himself claimed about His Second Coming: The angels in Heaven didn't know the date, Jesus the Son of God didn't know the date, but ONLY the God the Father knew the date of His return. I think that means that the timing of the return of Jesus is not ENCODED or hidden somehow, someway in the Bible - but, quite literally ONLY the Father knows that date. Now, that said and believed, we have a curious thing here in 1st Thessalonians: "But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief." Jesus, as He said, is going to return like a thief in the night - in a way that will surprise the world...but, according to Paul - those believers who aren't in the dark WON'T be surprised by the return of Jesus. Instead, they will be ready. Is this a contradiction between the teaching of Paul, and the teaching of Jesus? Not at all. In fact, the teaching of Jesus largely emphasized the same thing: 35 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40 So - the Second Coming should NOT hit Bible-believing, blood-bought followers of Jesus by surprise. Why not - because they know the hour? NO! Because, NO MATTER WHAT HOUR IT IS, they are living and acting like the Master (Jesus) could return at ANY MOMENT! Think of it like this: You work at an office, and the boss is away. If everybody is diligently working while the boss is away, then his return won't shake anybody up in the least, and it certainly won't surprise anybody, or alarm anybody (least of all, the boss), because all of the workers are diligently and alertly doing what they are supposed to do. Suppose, however, that the workers goof off. They play games on their phones, make personal calls, peruse social media, and get a game of poker going in the break room. When the boss returns then - THEY WILL BE SURPRISED - exactly like a sleeping homeowner of a house that a cat-burglar breaks in. You're not surprised by such a thing if you are waiting and watching alertly, but it catches you way off guard if you are sleeping or goofing off. The antidote to being surprised is NOT knowing the exact time of the boss's return, but knowing that he could return at ANY SECOND, and doing exactly what He commanded you to do while He was gone. I think that is the primary reason why Paul is telling believers that the coming of Jesus should not catch them like a thief in the night - because they are awake and alert. That said, I think there might be a secondary sense here too. Maybe. The fact is that Jesus describes (in Matthew 24, Luke 22, etc) and Paul describes (in this passage and several others) and other Old and New Testament books do indeed give us some hints about how things are going to look around the time of the return of Jesus. This information on the Second Coming is somewhat vague, and I believe purposely so. If it wasn't, then we believers, being human, would likely procrastinate on the Great Commission and wait until the last minute, and it is clear that though Jesus didn't know the exact date of His return, He did seem to know the Second Coming would be far in the future (see Matthew 25:19, Matthew 24:48, among other hints), thus He sent the believers out with urgency, and we still have that same urgency. Our mission is to be serving the King and His Kingdom when He returns! Will we know His arrival is getting near? I think the answer is MAYBE. Some true believers from all centuries have believed they lived in the time of Jesus' return, and thus far, they have all been wrong. That means the signs of Jesus' coming could be misinterpreted. That said, I believe that the nearer we get to His return, the clearer the events unfolding on earth will match the events foretold in Scripture. The principle is: The Nearer we get, the clearer. I think it is telling that Jesus, in Luke 12, said the disciples would not know the hour. I take that to mean that we will not know the exact date, but that the Body of Christ on earth at the time will not be surprised like a thief in the night (even though Jesus will indeed come like a thief in the night!) for two reasons: #1 They will be working, alert, awake, watching, and crying out Maranatha - come, Lord Jesus! #2 - The Body of Christ on earth at that time will begin to see a more closely matched set of circumstances and events unfolding that unmistakably matches biblical prophecy. That generation won't know the day or the hour either, but I suspect that they will have a collective sense that it is going to happen soon.

I'm more or less ready for Christmas. But am I ready for Jesus? Not really. I'm not ready for Jesus to show up, and perhaps that's exactly as it should be. Today on the podcast we’re talking about how Jesus is ready to enter my life—just as it is.

*Pop Quiz Answer* You can find and participate in the Pop Quizzes posted on our Instagram/Facebook pages @belovedempowers every Wednesday! Question (True or False): Jesus had been alone in the wilderness for 40 days before He was tempted by satan. Answer: FALSE Jesus was led accompanied and spiritually fortified by the Holy Spirit the entire time He was in the wilderness! So, not only was Jesus NOT alone, you aren't either! No matter what your wilderness situation/circumstance/season may look like, remember this: from the moment you choose to live your life as a God Girl, the Holy Spirit becomes your companion throughout life the same way He did for Jesus! Have a listen, and leave me a voice message or comment - I'd LOVE to hear your insight on this! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simplyfaithfull/message

Be the LIGHT There is this question that I literally get asked ALL THE TIME!! “Are you always this happy?” Deathly afraid of public speaking my entire life!!  It’s amazing what God will do with your life if you surrender it fully to him! Back to the question “Amber, are you always this happy” -God has freed me from brokenness, so for the most part.. the answer is YES! How could I not be? The Bible says: “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” Ephesians 5:8 NLT This was me!  Full of darkness! -Kid (parents divorcing) -Teenager (looking for love in all the wrong places) -Then God saved me and called me to be a light! The bible says: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 NLT So, if God has saved you from darkness, and has called you to be light you must not hide under a basket, but be placed on a stand! (Don’t have time for you to hide) My question for you is, ARE YOU HIDING UNDER A BASKET?  -If the answer is YES, then WHY? ( I HAVE FELT ALL OF THESE!) Is it FEAR?  -He says not to fear, He is with us.  “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 Feeling UNQUALIFIED?  -Moses didn’t feel qualified either! Anytime I am called to speak and I feel unqualified to do so I remember this story.  “Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” Exodus 4:10-11 Feeling UNWORTHY?  -He says, YOU are chosen and YOU are his child!  “…for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 -We serve a God who looks beyond your mistakes, He looks beyond your qualifications. His word says you are CHOSEN, you are His CHILD! -It is time to stop HIDING under the BASKET!  -But how? You need to be connected to the RIGHT SOURCE! -What source are you plugged into? (WRONG source, your light will go out) “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” Ephesians 3:16 God will give you unlimited resources and he will empower you and give you strength IF you are connected to HIM! -Make sure you are connected to the God as your source, because the world will slowly burn you out and your light will fade.  You need to have CHILD-LIKE FAITH! -When I think of having childlike faith I think of this story about our youngest daughter Bella. - But that’s one of the things I love so much about children! They believe BIG! They have BIG faith!! Can us adults have faith like a child? Actually God calls us to! Look at what he says! “About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4 You need to go ALL IN! Summer series! Stories about summer. Carson with swimming lessons.  Some of you have just been sticking a toe in the water. GO ALL IN! Stop hiding under the basket! Go ALL IN and be the light God has called you to be!  You need to BATTLE through the trials! -They will come. They have come for me. Joy has to come from Jesus NOT circumstances) “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” Romans 5:3 -Endurance has developed in me. And through it all, I felt the closes to Jesus You need to STRIVE to be like JESUS! -Jesus was the best example of being a light! -Jesus was making friends every where he went.  -(Story of Matt not letting me go into gas stations) -EVERYONE is important. Everyone matters. Everyone deserves a friend, and everyone deserves to see the light of Jesus.  If we are NOT changing what’s going on beyond these walls of this church, then we are missing it! Ask yourself this question: Are you hiding your light under a basket? Or are you making sure your light is out on a stand? Challenges: Invite someone to church! Invite someone into your home!  Share your testimony with someone! Join the Dream Team!

How does Jesus NOT want you to pray? Does God care if your public prayers are longer than your private prayers? Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice..." Do you hear it? Is it getting more difficult to hear God's voice with all the distractions in your world? This is part of a workshop on listening to God. Blocks and obstacles that prevent you from hearing from God are addressed.  Photo by Malte Wingen on Unsplash

1:57-80 Luke23 December 2018Neil Atwood I Am Second“…it’s not about you.” Zechariahnot about himnot about the baby(!) Celebrating someone else Jesus Not about John. It’s about Jesus “Praise be to the Lord the God of Israel because he has come to his people and redeemed them, he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.”Luke 1:68 Promise fulfilled Rescue from our enemies v74 His plan of reversalHis promises are keptResponding to God’s glory “And you my child will be called a prophet of the most high. For you... will go on before the Lord. To prepare the way for him.” Luke 1:76 “You, my child... will go before the Lord. To prepare the way for him.” Salvation from our enemiesSalvation from our sin Not. About. Me.All about Him

Jesus: Not what we thinkSeries: Matthew: Come to me Speaker: Rev. James WagnerMorning ServiceDate: 4th November 2018Passage: Matthew 10:34-42

Joseph Warren chats with: Msgr David Toups (Seminary Rector, Priest, Jesus follower) His personal REACTION to the shocking news Toups' answer to "How is THIS happening again in our Church?" His 3 steps to release YOUR anger Quote of the Day: "Our Faith is in the Person of Jesus NOT in the personnel of the Church." Learn More: www.SVDP.edu --------------------------------------- Get More: www.BrokenCatholic.com Join Joseph's 40-Day Holy Hour Challenge Become A Patron of The Show!! Get Patron-Only Rewards Music: www.Purple-Planet.com

We look at Matthew Chapter 11 today. It is kind of a puzzling story, where John the Baptist (who is actually Jesus’ relative and played a very key role in Jesus’ life early on) is in prison. John the Baptist is also expressing serious doubts about who Jesus is and his identity. It is a fascinating story that gives us a window into the kinds of expectations that Jewish people had about the Messiah. What was Jesus NOT doing that made John have these doubts? We explore this story and our own personal expectations of Jesus in this episode.

https://youtu.be/UxdYzuL_Ygc The Veil was tornMark 15:33-41 READWe have direct access to God. We have forgiveness of Sins. Therefore we should not sin and we should stay in fellowship. We should endureIf you don’t understand the significance of the veil being torn, you will struggle to walk in VictoryWhat is happening-The death of Jesus- “why have you forsaken me”? The weight of sin, trying to give him vinegar, the veil is torn, and the centurion says “Surely this man was the son of God”This declaration from the Centurion is HUGE that he saw the death of Jesus and believed that he WAS God in flesh!But the most important part we want to talk about today is the verse 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.Very Very significant. Very important. Before Jesus there was separation between God and man. Symbolically through the temple, but spiritually through Sin.This is no longer the case. Jesus has broken the dividing line. We now have direct access to GODREAD Eph 4 14-16 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separationThe problem with Many Christians, is that they haven’t read the OT enough to really appreciate the meaning behind the veil being torn, but its HUGEIts like this- President of the US- (regardless of who is office) most protected person on the planet. Layers and layers of security ( fence, background check, metal detectors, go through bomb sniffers, THEN you get in thehouse- but still no access) Think if you could just walk up, and in and sit in the oval- That’s ACESS. That’s no dividing line. Now think if you were a many time felon who shouldn’t have access!- None of us should have access to the father because of his WRATHRomans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”Nahum 1:2-3 God isjealous, and the Lord avenges, The Lord avenges and is The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked.What was it like in the OT?READ- Ex 26:31-35 What the veil looked likeREAD Lev 4:1-21 What the High Priest DIDREAD Leviticus 21:6-8 How the high Priest LIVEDHow sin was dealth with Exodus 30:10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.” You could barely handle me reading it to you for a few minutes, but think about living a lifetime under the OTBut Hebrews says– Hebrews 10:20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,The tearing of the veil signifies the NEW living way! Its through JESUS- Not through the OT PriesthoodHeb 7: 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who isholy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.Heb 4:14-16Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.SO WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? READ HEBREWS 10 We have God's law in our hearts Because of the veil being torn, if we are Christian we now have the law of God written on our hearts.

“We become disappointed in Jesus NOT when he fails us, but when we expect the wrong things from him.”

Is it possible to do Christianity without Jesus? Not only is that crazy and weird, but we do it ALL THE TIME. There's a better way, and we're going to talk about it.

https://youtu.be/jPiiJt8F6Zs I see Christians who can’t seem to manage their lives, not walking in the abundance that Christ offers. are they truly converted? Has there been heart change?Christ never intended for you to spend a lackluster destructive sinful life upon your salvationThe Bible talks about Suffering, but its suffering for being a Christian, not suffering because you haven’t been renewed by the Holy Spirit and are trying to live for God on your own strengthThe problem with a lot of people is that they aren’t much different than the story of Mark 11. Going through the motions, just paying lip service, being self serving, basically practicing false religion.  All talk. No conversion. Believing they are doing the right thing but failing.READ Mark 11:1-11There’s some great parts to this story, but the truth of the hearts of crowd is an often overlooked part of this story-Here’s whats going on- The Jewish people of the time are living in Israel and its capital, Jerusalem. Rome had been in control of Jerusalem for about 90 years at this pointRuthless Caesars and leaders who would exploit and control the jewish populaceThere was a Co-existent relationship between the Pharisees (the Jewish ruling class) they were in bed with Rome. One hand washed the other. Rome allowed the Jews to do whatever religious practice they wanted as long as it didn’t interfere with what they were doing.So its after 90 years of this that Jesus comes into Jerusalem and the people declare that Jesus is their ruler. HE is the king that is going to ‘save them’ from Rome. He is the “savior” the “messiah” that was to come- reestablish the Throne of David, throw over rome, and start a revolution. Change the government. Change their lives. But here was the message of Jesus= Not here to save you from Rome, I’m here to save you from yourself1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.Can you imagine a time when people thought a government was going to fix their lives?When their only hope was that they could have a ruler to rule them and a government to take care of themThis is when Christianity becomes a religion- when you want to satisfy self and worship idols1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,The essence of Christianity isn’t social or political reform, it is repentance and renewal.Jesus destroyed the religious people’s ideas about what was holding them back- Israel thought it was the politics that were holding them back, when the reality is that it was themselves that were holding them back. They needed deliverance from sin not from circumstance.The impact of the triumphal entry is found not just in the story, but in the actions of the people just a few days laterAs we enter into the end of Mark, chapters 11-16 cover about 7 days of history. This story takes place on a Sunday, and Friday, the hearts and mouths of this crowd will be drastically differentThe main curve is that they wanted their form of Religion. Their form of politics. Their answer for a king, and when Jesus didn’t fulfill that, they crucified him. They created a false religion not grounded in the essence of Christ. A self serving, intellectualThe triumphal entry is a large charade that doesn’t go much farther than the Sunday it happened on. Within a matter of days his kingship is forgotten, his impact lessened, and then they crucify him.How sad it would be if there were gathering places of people where they heralded Christ as king and a week later were crucifying him.What was in the hearts of the people in the crowd that day on the triumphal entry?Hope of Political power 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the tr...

What has it cost you to follow Jesus? Not what you can afford, but what have you lost?

Download | Subscribe (Free) In this episode, Rev. Gibson discusses how Jesus presented and teached his ministry for building God's Kingdom - the Beatitudes. Jesus's vision plan laid out to his early followers, grounded in the Sermon on the Mount gospel, goes against every philosophy of power, wealth, and strength to build a kingdom. Re-examining and re-evaluating this power, beautiful and radical message could be a transformative tool when reflecting on our present lives and the tense moments many are experiencing in our nation. Lastly, Beverly and Johnny look at humility from the pulpit and Prophet Micah's prophetic message of what God expects from us: to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. Help support Pulpit To Pew Click to read Rev. Gibson's full worship notes What you will hear: > Micah - the "lawsuit" reading > How to be good: to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with God > Overthinking messages and lessons can be a barrier > The mission statement of Jesus's journey and building God's Kingdom is the Beatitudes > God's way of Kingdom building > The Beatitudes comes off as the opposite message of what the people of the time (and now) needed to established a great nation: wealth and power > Jesus came > Humility - grounded from the earth - lowly > We are only here for a season and you are not God - we are temporary > We are loved and valued by God, but we are temporary and not above anyone else > We are the creatures, and he is the shepherd > World Leaders - how should they see themselves > The first shall be last, and the last shall be first > Following the way of the cross is not for the weak > The Beatitudes - this message will rule the whole path > The Beatitudes as a vetting and weed out class for his followers > Reconditioning our perspective to understanding Jesus's message of Sermon on the Mount > Exegesis defined > The Sermon on the Mount doesn't need a lot of exegesis analysis and added interpretation because of the beauty and powerful message > Sermon on the Mount used by great speakers in history as a servant leader speech model (Martin Luther King, Jr and Gandhi) > World leaders need for humility and the need for someone to ground them > Not managing but empowering others leadership message and philosophy > Another Star Wars reference - the tug of war of the pure light and the darkside > What is "the pure of heart"? > To will one thing and to will one thing is to know God > Relooking and rethinking the descriptions and language of the Beatitudes > The difference preaching prophetically or pastorally > What Prophets do > Prophets: let me tell you what God said to mend your ways and find a way to get you closer to God > Dealing with an uncertain world from the pulpit as an individual and at the same time as a priest and leader of a diverse parish > The Gospel speaks itself, and the priest doesn't have to speak from a perspective to the message to fit a trying and disruptive moment in time > The pulpit that contains in it - "we want to see Jesus" > Not getting to emotionally and spiritually attached to the temporary leaders, events, and times of the present > Don't believe everything that you think > Balance your beliefs with the timeless messages with the moments and the urgent temporary world > The deepest longing we have to be a part of something more than something temporary and more > Johnny and Beverly admit to be spoiled children > Johnny Dad's message of "things are never as bad or as good as you think it is" - keep things in perspective > Prophet Isaiah's messages seems very relevant in these recent times > Cast a big vision, be grounded in where you are now, and figure out where you are going in the future Weekly Readings: Micah 6:1-8 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12   What do you think about Pulpit To Pew?
 We would love to hear what you think, or maybe what you would like us to talk about on an upcoming podcast. Email producer Stacy Wellborn at stacywellborn@gmail.com and join in the conversation. Like Pulpit To Pew Podcast?
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As we are proceeding through the gospel of Mark we are asking the question, who is the real Jesus? Not a Jesus we make up, or a Jesus of our society or our culture, but the Jesus of the Bible. For it is only the real Jesus who can change you and transform you. It is only the real Jesus who can comfort you or challenge you. It is only the truth of Jesus that can set you free. So who is the real Jesus? In this passage we are exploring this morning we will be confronted with two truths. The first is the reality of false claims that are made about Jesus. In vv.20-21 we see that even Jesus’ own family thought him to be crazy so they did not understand who Jesus was and what he was all about. And then his opponents made the false claim that his work was being done through the authorship of t Beelzebul and the prince of demons. Jesus, of course, refutes this and how does he do so? That is our second point, the true reality about Jesus. Here we see that he is the divine Warrior who binds the strong man in order to plunder his goods. And also in vv.31-35 that one of the practical realities of belonging to Jesus is that you get a new family. That Jesus if forming a community, a new family around himself. One of the connections we can make here is to go back to Genesis 3:15 and recall that very first gospel promise. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Jesus has entered the strong man’s house as a divine warrior, to do what God promised all the way back in the book of Genesis he would do. Satan bruises Jesus’ heel on the cross, but Jesus crushes Satan’s head. Jesus is the divine Warrior who defeats evil. Through the cross. Through making himself weak, he displayed the greatest strength and defeated evil by succumbing to its worst. And in doing so he bound the strong man in order to plunder his goods and bring us into his family.

In which Piers tells you all exactly what sort of gifts you were meant to get for the baby Jesus (NOT pizza), Erik insults the baby Jesus by giving him nothing more than stale pizza and a terrible pitch, and everyone celebrates the miracle of Epiphany together as one family united under the banner of the storm-lord Christ.

Do you believe in Jesus? Not "what do you believe about Him?" But "Do you believe IN Him?" It's life's ultimate question. It's also life's unavoidable question. Each individual will have to give an answer.

In this message, Pastor Randy Jumper looks at some of the most important words of the Apostle Paul's life.  It's clear that despite prison and hardship, Paul kept a joyful attitude and a joyful life.  What does it mean to know Jesus? Not just know about Him, but know Him?

Jesus: Not just a good advisor

Jesus: Not just a good advisor

In week #4 we will look at the cultural belief that it does not matter what I believe as long as I am sincere. God says, I Did Not Say That when we look at Believe What You Want. This week we want to look at how what we believe is so important and we are going to consider Jesus — NOT the Christian religion, NOT church, but Jesus.

Holding on to our Salvation in Jesus Not forgetting who we are.

This is NOT some new thing. Learning Jesus will heal you NOW is easily understood when you Search The Scriptures for yourself. If you just took the book of Matthew alone and read all 28 chapters which would probably take you only a couple of hours you would convince yourself of this fact as well. Trouble is... will we read the book of Matthew and find out? Unfortunately, many will NOT. Thats about as smart as saying "if I take that medicine my doctor gave me I will get better, but I'm NOT going to take it". That would be so stupid, right? Well is the same thing when we don't search the Bible to see if Jesus will heal us. We all have so many reasons why we are so sure we will NOT be healed. Many times we won't read because we condemn ourselves because we think we are too sinful to be healed. Sin will NOT stop you from being healed. It's quite the opposite when you READ the truth. There is no excuse for you NOT to be healed except for our own ignorance of the Mercy and Love of God to everyone of us. Ask yourself this question. "Why is it that I ALWAYS believe God will NOT heal me?" Isn't it interesting that we always start out believing He Will NOT heal us? We have more confidence in Jesus NOT healing us. This should make any thinking person suspicious of why one should believe so negatively. When you read the bible you'll always figure out that YES God wants to heal me and He wants to right NOW! Take the plunge! Jump into God's Word and listen to no one else and let God be God and heal you today! It is that simple! Wouldn't you agree God wants everyone to believe in Jesus and go to heaven someday? Wouldn't you say that promise if for EVERYONE and be willing to argue all day long to prove it? Why is it that you believe this so strongly and won't budge? It's because you KNOW what the BIble says about going to heaven! Its the exact same when it comes to Jesus healing you! Once you learn THIS no one can every take it away from you!

What is the purpose of the church? Why is there a church, anyway? For that matter, isn't Christianity just about the relationship between a believer and Jesus? Not according to the apostle Peter, and Peter spent more time with Jesus than probably anybody except Jesus' mother. Then what is the church about? Pastor Luke teaches from 1 Peter 1:22-2:10 in "After Infancy, What?," the first message in a new series, "House of God."

Spiritual leaders • Recognize that God intends good from our suffering (2 Cor 1:1-7) • Correct spiritual issues (2 Cor 2:1-4) • Know the goal is lives changed by Christ (2 Cor 3:1-6) 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 vv. 7-11 Old covenant – glorious – brings condemnation – fading glory New covenant – more glorious – brings righteousness – surpassing, lasting glory v. 12 – Such hope, such confidence in the new covenant makes us bold. What religion has the hope, the power, and the glory of Christianity? vv. 13-15 – The Old Covenant keeps people from seeing the glory of the new covenant. vv. 16-17 – In Christ, the veil is taken away and people are set free. Free from trying to be good enough to meet God’s standards. Free from trying to earn God’s favor. Free from the endless cycle of covering over their sins. Jesus met God’s standards for us. He earned God’s favor for us. He covered our sins for us. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! v. 18 – Jesus is making us like himself. Spiritual leaders grow in likeness to Christ actively and intentionally You cannot lead people to a place you are not going. Have you made the decision to follow Jesus? – Not just to be saved, but follow him? It’s sad to say, but many people want salvation without following Jesus. To follow Jesus is to • Love what he loves • Do what he did How will you get there? To follow Christ, there are things that belong in your life: 1. A desire to grow 2. Bible study and Prayer 3. Confession and Repentance 4. Humble reliance on the Holy Spirit To follow Christ, there are things that do not belong in your life: • Sexual immorality, lust, impurity, greed

In our text we are going to answer the question; who is Jesus? Not that we are going to examine every facet of who Jesus is, but we are going to see how He primarily reveals Himself to us. Scene 1 (vv. 18-35) - I. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's plan of Redemption Scene 2 (vv. 36-50) - II. Jesus is the Redeemer The Response - To worship (Romans 12:1-2) Her worship was…1. Genuine 2. Humble 3. Sacrificial 4. Grateful

In our text we are going to answer the question; who is Jesus? Not that we are going to examine every facet of who Jesus is, but we are going to see how He primarily reveals Himself to us. Scene 1 (vv. 18-35) - I. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's plan of Redemption Scene 2 (vv. 36-50) - II. Jesus is the Redeemer The Response - To worship (Romans 12:1-2) Her worship was…1. Genuine 2. Humble 3. Sacrificial 4. Grateful