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Are you exhausted from trying to look perfect and polished? I'm diving deep into the chokehold of performance and anxiety that keeps so many of us trapped. I'm calling out the Pharisee Complex—the dangerous lie that says excellence equals worthiness. It's time to trade in that prison of perfection for the radical freedom found in grace. I'm giving you the keys today, including three practical, one-thing-only steps to embrace wholeness over flawlessness. Key Takeaways for a Quick Win God desires wholeness (telios), not flawlessness. Stop striving to be perfect; start pursuing maturity and completeness. Perfectionism is a prison that limits our freedom; it's not a personality type, it's often a protection mechanism. Radical Repentance is the shift from a life of damage control to a life dependent on God's grace. Family, I love you and I'm cheering for you to walk in this new freedom. Don't keep this key to yourself! If this episode broke a chain in your life, you know someone else who needs to hear it. Do a sister a favor and tag me @biancajuarezofficial so we can set more captives free together. Love you, B Sound Bite to Share: Bring it messy, bring it undone. Chapter Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Perfectionism 02:47 The Pressure of Perfection 05:37 Understanding the Pharisee Complex 08:42 Signs of Perfectionism (Fear of Judgment, Misunderstanding Scripture, Idol of Control) 11:27 Breaking Free from Perfectionism 14:44 Practical Steps to Freedom Resources & Links Bianca's Book: Grit Don't Quit: Developing Resilience And Faith When Giving Up Isn't An Option. https://amzn.to/3MO74OC Bible Study: Grit Don't Quit Bible Study https://www.biancajuaerzofficial.com/gdq All Resources: Learn more about books and other resources from Bianca. https://www.biancaolthoff.com/resources Support the Podcast Subscribe + Leave a Review: Don't miss an episode! Find We're Going There on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Stay Connected: Join the community today. https://www.biancajuarezofficial.com/ WGT Email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BiancaJuarezOfficial Thank You to Our Sponsors - We're Going There is Sponsored by: HomeChef: For a limited time, get 50% off and Free Shipping on your first box! Go to HomeChef.com/GOINGTHERE. BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/GOINGTHERE today to get 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
(Joel 2:13) Judgment is coming! It may be sooner than you think. Joel teaches us how to prepare and how to live today on the edge of eternity. You also discover a prophecy that is fulfilled in the Book of Acts. (10040260216) Join our study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/ Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/
Adam works with a client who was hyper vigilant to shame and judgment based on being humiliated during childhood by their parents. This session uses direct suggestions, reframing, and acceptance as a tool to release shame and build self-acceptance. To access a subscriber-only version with no intro, outro, explanation, or ad breaks and 24 hours earlier than everyone else, tap 'Subscribe' nearby or click the following link.https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/adam-cox858/subscribe
2 Peter 3 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin discuss some possible meanings of the question "Where is the promise of His coming?"Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24446The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
In Romans 2:1-11, Paul shifts his focus from obvious rebellion to a more subtle danger — self-righteous judgment. After describing humanity's sin in chapter 1, he turns to those who condemn others while practicing the same kinds of wrongs. Paul warns that judging others does not excuse anyone from God's standard. Instead, it reveals a heart that also stands in need of grace.This passage emphasizes that God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, not to give us confidence in our own morality. His judgment is impartial and based on truth. Whether Jew or Gentile, religious or irreligious, every person is accountable to Him. God sees beyond outward appearance and evaluates the heart and the direction of one's life.As we move forward in Romans, this section calls us to humility. It reminds us that comparing ourselves to others is not the measure of righteousness — God's holiness is. Rather than standing in judgment over others, we are invited to respond to His patience with repentance and to rest in the hope of eternal life that He gives to those who seek Him.Connect with us!Missioncity.church
Meatfare/The Last Judgment Matthew 25:31-46 On the Sunday of the Last Judgment, the Gospel reveals that judgment takes place not in a courtroom, but in the throne room of God—a reality the Church enters every Sunday in the Divine Liturgy. This homily explores how worship forms repentance, trains us in mercy, and sends us into the world with lives shaped by the pattern of Christ's self-giving love. --- The Throne Room Now: Judgment, Mercy, and the Work of the Liturgy A Homily on the Sunday of the Last Judgment Matthew 25:31–46 When we hear the Gospel of the Last Judgment, our attention is usually drawn—rightly—to the command to do good: to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the imprisoned. And the danger every year is that we hear this Gospel as if Christ were saying something like this: "Be good people during the week—and then come to church on Sunday." But that is not what the Lord is saying. In fact, the Gospel appointed for today does something far more unsettling—and far more hopeful. It places the Judgment not in a courtroom, but in the throne room of God. Christ says, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory." That is not legal language. It is liturgical language. The people who first heard this would have known exactly what that meant. They would have filled in the details instinctively from the Scriptures and from worship: the throne surrounded by cherubim and seraphim; the unceasing hymn of praise; even the River of Fire—not as punishment, but as the light and heat of God's own glory. And here is the first thing we must understand: We are not only told about that throne room. We are brought into it. Every Sunday, the Church does not merely remember something that will happen someday. We are brought into that reality now—as much as we can bear it. The Kingdom is revealed to us here and now, sacramentally, liturgically, truthfully. And that changes how we hear today's Gospel. First: There is a connection between doing good and coming to church Sunday is not an interruption of the Christian life. It is its measure. In a real sense, every Sunday is a little judgment—not a condemnation, but a revelation. We come into the light, and the truth about us is allowed to appear. And notice how this begins in the Divine Liturgy. It begins not with confidence, not with self-congratulation, but with repentance. The priest, standing before God as the leader and voice of the people, pleads at the very beginning: "O Lord, Lord, open unto me the door of Thy mercy." That is not theatrical humility. That is the truth. We are asking to be let in—not because we deserve it, but because without mercy we cannot even stand. And then, before the Trisagion, the priest names what God already knows about all of us: that He "despisest not the sinner but hast appointed repentance unto salvation." And so he begs Him directly: "Pardon us every transgression both voluntary and involuntary." This is what Sunday is. It is the people of God standing before the glory of His altar and asking to be healed. Asking to see clearly. Asking to be made capable of love. But repentance in the Liturgy does not remain on the lips of the clergy alone. Before Communion, the entire Church takes up the same posture and says together words that are almost shocking in their honesty: "I stand before the doors of Thy temple, and yet I refrain not from my terrible thoughts." We do not pretend that standing in church has magically fixed us. We confess that we are still conflicted, still distracted, still broken. And then, with no room left for comparison or self-justification, we each say: "Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am first." And finally, we make the plea that fits today's Gospel with frightening precision: "Not unto judgment nor unto condemnation be my partaking of Thy holy mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body." The Church is honest with us here. The same fire that heals can also burn, depending on whether we approach it with repentance or with presumption. This is not a threat meant to drive us away, but truth meant to help us approach rightly. That is why Sunday is a little judgment—not because God is eager to condemn, but because His throne room is opened to us now in mercy, so that we may be healed, corrected, and trained to recognize Christ when He comes to us in the least of His brethren. Second: Sunday worship is where we actually do the work Christ commands And once we see that, we can begin to understand what the Church is actually doing here - and why worship cannot be separated from judgment. Before we ever offer bread and wine, the Church first intercedes for the world. We pray for peace from above and the salvation of our souls; for the peace of the whole world and the good estate of the holy Churches; for this city and every city and countryside; for travelers by sea, by land, and by air; for the sick, the suffering, and the captive; for deliverance from tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity. We even pray for civil authorities—not to bless power for its own sake, but that peace and order might make room for mercy and justice. In other words, before we do anything else, we place the needs of others before God. And in addition to interceding for all of this, here—at the heart of the Divine Liturgy—the Church actually performs the works of mercy Christ names in today's Gospel. Not in theory. Not symbolically. But truly. Here: · Strangers are welcomed and given a home. · Prisoners are freed from the shackles of sin and the sentence of death. · The naked are clothed with baptismal garments. · The thirsty are given living water. · The hungry are given the Bread of Life. This is not allegory. This is reality at its deepest level. God Himself tells us to care even more for the soul than for the body. During the week, we sacrifice ourselves to meet bodily needs—and we must grow in that work. But on Sunday, we are commanded to do the most important work of mercy: to restore people to life in Christ. That is why worship is not optional. It is not private devotion. It is the Church doing what the Church exists to do. And because that work is real, it carries with it genuine hope. Third: Sunday gives us a foretaste of the reward The Gospel of the Last Judgment is not only a warning. It is also a promise. Those who learn to serve Christ in the least of His brethren are not merely rewarded—they are invited to rest in God, to share in His life, to participate in His rule. Saint Paul says something astonishing: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … Do you not know that we shall judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6:2–3) This does not mean we become harsh or self-righteous. It means we are being trained—here and now—for a future of responsibility, faithfulness, and love. What we do here is forming who we are becoming. Conclusion What happens in this Divine Liturgy is the automatic response of the Church—that is, of a people devoted to sacrificial love—to God's command to care for others as we care for ourselves. This is not a dead ritual. It is a powerful tool for doing essential work. It is the throne room of God revealed to us now. But it is not meant to remain here. The expectation of the Church is that the pattern of the Liturgy becomes the pattern of our life. That the repentance we practice here becomes the repentance that shapes our weeks. That the mercy we receive here becomes the mercy we extend beyond these walls. That the intercessions we make here train us to notice, remember, and bear the burdens of others when we leave. That is why the Liturgy does not end with applause or reflection, but with a command: "Let us go forth in peace." We are sent out not having finished our work, but having been formed for it. And when the Son of Man comes in His glory, He will recognize those whose lives have taken on the shape of His worship—those who learned, here, how to repent, how to intercede, and how to love.
In this week's Real Talk episode we're chatting all things starting prep. Separation anxiety, school parent judgment, schedules and more . We go deep on Liv's first day experience and why it was not Insta worthy. If you're experiencing new chapters with your kid, are feelingall the feels about the year ahead, this one is for you. A big thank you to our episode sponsors iL Tutto & Healthy Life. Healthy Life - Discount codeInstagram @healthylifeauhttps://www.healthylife.com.au/discover/baby-kids-saleGet up to 40% off across pre-conception, pregnancy, baby, toddler and kids essentials during the Healthy Life Bump to Bub sale.AND for our Parenthood Pod community use the code PARENT20 at checkout to receive a further 20% off both full price and already reduced sale items.Offer ends 2 March 2026. iL Tutto - Discount codeInstagram @iltuttohttps://www.iltutto.com.au/Receive 20% off on full priced items by using the code parent20 at checkout.Disclaimer: The discount excludes already discounted items, furniture packs and gift cards.Offer ends 2 March 2026. InstagramFollow Parenthood on Instagram @parenthoodpod Episode with Kyla Kirkpatrick - Champagne Damehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5fyKwzdMr5tMDCfW5UIHSD?si=7d98b27c8b534016 ShareWe'd love it if you could share this episode with a friend! Parenthood Podcast acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of theland on which we work and live, and recognise their continuingconnection toland, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past,present and emerging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Habakkuk: A book that is 2700 years old speaks to us in these last days and helps us to just trust that God is in control.
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In this podcast we will be talking about The 7 ways to manage time from the teachings of Immanuel Kant. Kant. Immanuel Kant is considered to be one of the central Enlightenment thinkers of all time. His philosophy is called Kantianism. So here are 7 time management tips from Immanuel Kant - 01. Organize yourself02. Follow through03. Follow universal principles in your daily activities04. Schedule time for developing your skills05. Make time for the small things06. Make time for your other duties 07. Make time for moral self-developmentHope you enjoyed this audio and find these insights on time management from Immanuel Kant helpful. Immanuel Kant lived in the 18th century and is considered to be one of the greatest German philosophers and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers of all time. His philosophical revolution was to place the human at the center of the philosophical study of knowledge, morality, and beauty. He deeply believed that reason is the root of morality. His thoughts on the relationship between reason and human experience led to the notion of “procedural humanism” or “Kantian humanism”. The work of Immanuel Kant is still relevant today as the humanistic values of Western culture are deeply influenced by the Kantian moral philosophy. His philosophy is called KantianismThe fundamental idea of Kant's “critical philosophy” – especially in his three Critiques: the Critique of Pure Reason (1781, 1787), the Critique of Practical Reason (1788), and the Critique of the Power of Judgment (1790) – is human autonomy. He argues that human understanding is the source of the general laws of nature that structure all our experience; and that human reason gives itself the moral law, which is our basis for belief in God, freedom, and immortality.
4 Hours and 40 minutesPG-13This is a series Pete did for doing for his supporters. He read and commented on Alison Weir's revealing 'Against Our Better Judgment' - The Hidden History of How the U.S. Was Used to Create Israel.Against Our Better JudgmentPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's Substack Pete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on Twitter Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.
God's judgment is a common topic throughout the Bible and even in popular culture. But what does the Bible mean by divine judgment? Does it mean God smites us when we go too far? In this sermon Greg Boyd invites us to see the divine judgment or the wrath of God in a different light. God's judgment actually means that sin possesses its own repercussions—you might say that the wrongdoing ricochets. This is how divine wrath works because this is how God designed creation.
The problems here include a judgment that is very old, on a lawsuit the man says he was never served with, for something he is not liable for - and the plaintiff in the original case has passed away. https://www.lehtoslaw.com
God's judgment is a common topic throughout the Bible and even in popular culture. But what does the Bible mean by divine judgment? Does it mean God smites us when we go too far? In this sermon Greg Boyd invites us to see the divine judgment or the wrath of God in a different light. God's judgment actually means that sin possesses its own repercussions—you might say that the wrongdoing ricochets. This is how divine wrath works because this is how God designed creation.
Luke Cornelius - What happens when reformation is not enough, when forgiveness is repeated but change is not? How does the Lord save the world when his church is utterly compromised? In 1 Kings 19, we begin that journey.
“Jerusalem's Judgment” is the latest sermon in our series through the Gospel of Mark (13:1-37). This sermon was preached by Rev. Jason Garwood on Sunday, February 15th, 2026, during the Covenant Renewal Worship Service at Cross & Crown Church in Warrenton, Virginia. Learn more about our church and mission at www.crosscrownchurch.com.
With the approach of Ash Wednesday on February 18th, the Church once again does something both startling and merciful: she reminds us that we shall die.There is about this reminder a bracing honesty which our modern age sorely needs. We are encouraged, most days, to behave as though we were permanent fixtures in a very temporary world. We speak of plans and prospects, of improvements and entertainments, and seldom of endings. Yet on Ash Wednesday the priest marks our foreheads with ashes and speaks the plain truth: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” It is not cruelty. It is clarity. And clarity, in the hands of God, is always a form of kindness.Lent, then, is not a season for religious theatrics, but for reality. The Church calls us to consider the Four Last Things—Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell—not because she delights in severity, but because she desires our joy.Death is the great appointment we all keep. It is not an interruption of the story, but its turning page. For the Christian, death is not the collapse of meaning but its unveiling. The One we have trusted in shadows we shall meet face to face. To remember death is not to become morbid; it is to become wise. Only when we grasp that our days are numbered do we begin to truly live.Judgment, too, has been misunderstood. We imagine a cold tribunal and forget that judgment is the setting right of what has gone wrong. Every time we cry out against injustice, every time we long for truth to prevail, we are secretly longing for judgment. And the Judge is not a stranger but the very Christ who bore our sins. To stand before Him will be to stand before Love itself; it's a love that burns away falsehood and heals what we have surrendered to Him.Heaven and Hell stand as the two great possibilities before every human soul. Heaven is not a sentimental cloud, but the solid, blazing reality for which we were made. It is the fulfillment of every pure desire, the answer to every homesick ache we have ever felt in this world. Hell, on the other hand, is not so much a torture devised by God as the final monument to human refusal, the tragic end of a will that persistently says, “I will have my own way.” In the end, we are given what we have chosen.Lent is the season in which we are invited to choose again.Through prayer, we learn to desire God above lesser things. Through fasting, we discover how tightly we cling to what cannot save us. Through repentance, we unlock doors we have long kept barred. The ashes on our foreheads are not a sign of despair but of hope, hope that even dust may be raised to glory. As February 18th draws near, we would do well not to rush past it. Let us receive the ashes. Let us ponder the Last Things. Let us allow eternity to cast its searching and saving light upon our present lives.For it is only in remembering that we shall die that we truly learn how to live. Only in facing judgment that we begin, at last, to desire Heaven. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give
Our Election in Christ (7) (audio) David Eells – 2/15/26 I'm going to continue speaking today about election and talk about the children and the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that giveth life; … (Joh.6:63). In the Book of Romans, we found out that before Jacob and Esau were even born, Jacob was called God's elect. (Rom.9:10) And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, even by our father Isaac— (11) for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, (12) it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. Well, just as I'm sure you have questions, I had some questions, too, when I got this far in my revelation about election and predestination. What about the children? What about the babies? What about the doctrine of an “age of reason” that the Church has had for so many years? They say every child goes to be with the Lord, if they die before they reach the “age of reason,” and after that age, then they become accountable. Then it becomes their responsibility to accept the Lord and walk with the Lord. And so on. To me, that doctrine seemed contrary to election, according to everything I understood. I really wanted to know for myself, so I began to do some research. I decided to seek out how all of this fits together about children and election, but I want to remind you that both Jacob and Esau went past the stage of childhood; Jacob went on to manifest as a vessel of honor, and Esau as a vessel of dishonor. Neither one of them died as a child or as a baby. Let me share with you what I discovered. We know that, according to election, there are sons of God and sons of the devil, based on what God makes out of the clay and what a person becomes in their life (Romans 9:21). But, according to nature, I'd like to show you another teaching: (Heb.12:9) Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of [our] spirits, and live? Some translations add in the word “our” to “Father of spirits” in this verse, but the word “our” is not in the ancient manuscripts of the Nestle's or Received Text, and there's no numeric pattern for that word to be there. He's the “Father of spirits,” as He's called elsewhere in the Bible. You may be questioning, “So is God the Father of our spirits or is He the Father of every spirit?” The answer can be found here: (Num.16:22) And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? And another place says in (Num.27:16) Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation. That gives us two witnesses that He's “God of the spirits of all flesh.” When God breathed into Adam the breath, or the spirit, of life, the spirit that He gave Adam was a fresh, clean human spirit (Genesis 2:7), and I believe God gives everyone a fresh, clean human spirit. Now I want you to look at something that you may find surprising. Once you understand election and God's predestination of the elect, you can see how there are sons of God and there are sons of the devil. We've seen that the “wheat” are the sons of God and the “tares” are the sons of the devil. The wheat and the tares were sown in the earth, and in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24,36-43), the earth was the hearts of men. Universally, the hearts of men are that “earth” in which God sows His seed and in which the devil sows his seed. But what about that heart before it manifested the seed of God or the seed of the devil? When Paul preached to the pagans at the Areopagus, he told them, (Act.17:24) The God that made the world and all [things] (The word “things” is not in the original; it was added by the translators.) therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (25) neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all [things]. Again, the word “things” is not in the original. “He giveth to all life, and breath.” The word there for “breath” is the Greek word pneuma, and it's the same word translated as “spirit” in other places in the New Testament. The words “breath” and “spirit” both come from the same word pneuma, which is where we get our word for “air.” As we read on down, we're going to see if this word “all” really means “all” because this word “all” has to be judged by its context in the rest of the Scripture. We read again this text without “things.” (Act.17:25) Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all; (26) and he made of one every nation of men (God made all men) to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined [their] appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation (Everybody came from Adam according to (Act 17:26) and he made of one every nation of men… And, Eve is called the “mother of all living” in Genesis 3:20, so we know that everybody came from Adam and Eve, contrary to some doctrines of men.); (27) that they should seek God, if happily they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us (That shows each person on this earth is individually responsible for seeking God, but not everybody will do that and they are going to be held responsible.): (28) for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Paul is agreeing with what those pagans were saying about us receiving our being in God. He's saying that it's true. (Act.17:28) For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. “We are also His offspring.” You know, Christians like to correct this theology and say, “For we are all children of God.” That's not true because we are not all children of God, but we are all His offspring in a way. Then Paul goes on to say, (29) Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. (30) The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: (31) inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Well, how are we all the “offspring of God”? (Joh.1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All [things] were made through him (He's talking about people, not things, which is not in the numeric pattern. The Greek word there is the adjective pas, and it simply means “all, the whole, every kind of.”); and without him was not anything made that hath been made. So the Word made everything; He made Adam. We can read a confirmation of this here: (Col.1:16) For in him were all [things] created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him. Everything was created through Jesus and for Jesus. He is the first-born of the creation of God. This is talking about from the very beginning of all creation. It all came to be because it was created through Christ. (Joh.1:4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And over in Proverbs it says, (Pro.20:27) The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all his innermost parts. The Father created all things through Christ, and Christ was the medium through which the Father used to create all things and all men as in these texts. It was Jesus, the Son of God Who created all things and breathed into Adam. (Gen.2:7) And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Or the “spirit.” The Hebrew word there is neshamah and is translated as both “breath” and “spirit” in the Old Testament.); and man became a living soul. The Bible says that the first man, Adam, was a natural being. (1Co.15:44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [body]. (45) So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (46) Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. (47) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. (48) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. His natural man came from the earth, but his spirit came from God. God breathed into Adam, and the breath, the Spirit, came out of God and went into man. Some theologians like to argue that the “breath of life” is the “breath of lives.” I'm not sure about that, but we know that in the loins of Adam, in the seed of Adam, was all mankind (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). And God breathed into Adam a fresh, clean, pure Spirit to be the spirit of man, but it wasn't long after this that instead of following after his spirit, man followed his flesh and corrupted himself on the earth. (Gen.6:12) And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. (17) And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon this earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. Adam started out innocent before God, but in following his flesh, he got further and further away from God, and Adam's children got further and further away from God, until God had to destroy them. Truly, nothing has changed; we're in the same position today. God gives the natural child a fresh, clean spirit, which is the breath of life that He breathes into them. With this spirit, they have an opportunity to follow their spirit, and your conscience is a part of your spirit, so when you're following your conscience, you are following your spirit. We have to choose. You can follow your conscience, or you can follow your flesh, and as we know, everybody follows after their flesh. (Joh.1:5) And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. This sounds very much like what Peter said: (2Pe.1:19) And we have the word of prophecy [made] more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp (We've learned that the “lamp” is the “spirit of man,” according to Proverbs 20:27.) shining in a dark place (The “dark place” is your soul, which is your mind, will and emotions.), until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts. In the beginning, God gave Adam a “lamp” and it shined forth into his human nature, but Adam's offspring, who all started out the same way, began to follow after their flesh more and more, which corrupted their soul and eventually corrupted their spirit. If we follow after the flesh, the soul is going to be corrupted, and then when we follow our corrupted soul, our spirit will eventually be corrupted. Everybody starts out with a fresh, clean spirit, but they also start out with the corrupt nature that was passed down to them through their parents. “The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” The last Adam, or Jesus, is the one who gives us a new spirit when we are born again and become a new creation. (2Co.5:17) Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. Jesus is the second Adam; He is the Father of a new, born-again creation because the first creation corrupted itself. Except for one thing, babies start out in the place of Adam because they are given a fresh, clean spirit from God, one that's not corrupted. However, their soul is corrupted because their parents passed on their blood. (Lev.17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life. That gives the child a lot to overcome. The Bible says of God, (Exo.34:6) And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, (7) keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. So we see that the sins of the parents are also passed down to the children from one generation to another generation and on and on. So, live holy. (Joh.1:6) There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. (7) The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. (8) He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light. (9) There was the true light, [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world. This should be turned around because the numeric pattern proves that the sequence is wrong. What it actually says is, “The true light was, which coming into the world, lighteth every man.” Jesus is the true light that “lighteth every man.” (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God. As far as the new creation, Jesus' spirit is that new spirit that comes into every man as their lamp to show them the way. It shines in the dark place of their soul in order to dispel the darkness. You can see the same pattern repeated with babies. Like Adam at the beginning of creation, Jesus breathes into them the spirit of life, and they start out innocent when they are born, but they don't stay that way long. And the Bible doesn't teach that it has anything to do with some so-called “age of reason”; theologians have come up with that doctrine. What the Bible does say is, (Isa.53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.... Well, in order to go astray, you had to have been with God in the first place. (Rom.3:9) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin (Of course, the Greeks weren't under the Old Covenant. Paul is talking about the New Covenant.); (10) as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; (11) There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God (He's talking about the Jews and the Gentiles.); (12) They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one. They all turned aside. Jews and Gentiles all turned aside. That means, in some way, they started out with God. In some way, babies start out with God. (Psa.58:3) The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. This says they start going astray from the time they are born, but at birth, they are with God. They go astray because they follow their fallen nature, instead of following after their fresh, clean spirit, which was given from God. They go astray following after their flesh and become more and more corrupt. If you have a clean spirit, but you follow after the flesh, your soul will die. (Job.36:8) And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions; (9) Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. (10) He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity. (11) If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. (12) But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. (13) But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them. (14) They die in youth.... “Their soul dieth” is what it literally says in the original Hebrew and your Bible should have a footnote explaining this. Strong's concordance is based on the Received Text and uses noar, which is a different Hebrew word altogether. (14) They die in soul, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean. (15) He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression. (16) Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness. (17) But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee.] (18) For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside. Therefore, if a person were to listen to the Lord and follow after the Lord, their soul wouldn't die, but the natural process of degeneration sets in as soon as a person is born. They begin to go astray by following after their flesh, but the point is that they don't start out that way; they start out with the Lord. I don't think responsibility has anything to do with reaching an “age of reason.” I think that responsibility has more to do with the degeneration of the spirit than it does with reason. Children who are raised up with Godly parents, parents who discipline them and teach them the truth, don't become as corrupt as quickly as other children. Their conscience doesn't become as defiled as that of other children because discipline is a motivation to do what is right. It's a motivation to obey your conscience and obey your spirit, and not obey your flesh. If a child is raised with discipline, they don't become corrupted as quickly as a child who is not raised with discipline. Little children go bad and become evil very quickly without any discipline, and that's why I don't think that there is any particular age called the “age of reason,” where God imputes responsibility. It's not an age that makes you accountable; it's truth that makes you accountable. The more truth you go against, the more your conscience is defiled. The Bible is very plain: (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. That doesn't mention any particular age. “To him it is sin,” but where there was no law or, in other words, when they didn't know that what they were doing was sin, then sin was not imputed to them. (Rom.5:13) For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Being held responsible has to do with knowledge; knowledge determines whether God imputes iniquity to you or whether He doesn't impute iniquity to you. Yet, knowledge must be incorporated to bear fruit. I believe that whether a child is raised with discipline or whether they're not raised with discipline, they end up in the same place. Eventually, what happens is that their soul and spirit become corrupt. At that time, they need to be born again. I can't say if there's any particular age for that because the Bible doesn't teach it. But somewhere during that time, I believe that a person whose spirit becomes corrupt must be born again; their spirit must be born again. Adam was pure before God when he was in his innocence, even though he was not born again. That was the natural birth that he had. It was when Adam got away from his innocence that he fell. God gave Adam a clean spirit and He gave Adam only one law, but still Adam failed. He followed the flesh and he fell away. Now there is a place of innocence from childhood on up because of ignorance. Let me show you that in the story of Abijah, the son of Jeroboam. Jeroboam was a wicked king over the northern 10 tribes, and he led Israel into apostasy. God had prophesied to him that he was going to be King over Israel (1 Kings 11:29-37; 12:20), but he led Israel in the wrong way (1 Kings 12:26-33; 13:33,34). When Jeroboam's son was sick, he asked his wife to disguise herself and go to the prophet Ahijah to see what was going to happen to their son. God spoke to Ahijah the prophet, who was blind, and told him that Jeroboam's wife was coming, and God gave Ahijah a word of prophecy for her. (1Ki.14:7) Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, (8) and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee; and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes, (9) but hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: (10) therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every man-child, him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweepeth away dung, till it be all gone. (11) Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat: for the Lord hath spoken it. (12) Arise thou therefore, get thee to thy house: [and] when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. (13) And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. Here, this child's parents were some of the most wicked in all of Israel, yet there was something good in this child toward the Lord. I believe the Lord was saying that the child's spirit was still good. Do you remember what happened when the disciples wanted to know who was the greatest? (Mat.18:1) In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (2) And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, (3) and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. What was Jesus talking about? Jesus was showing the disciples how a little child is submissive. In every case in the Gospels, it says “little child” (Mark 10:15; Luke 9:47) because, as you know, some older children are not submissive and trusting of their father; they're not clean on the inside. Another place of innocence is a child who is killed by abortion or dies from miscarriage. (Ecc.6:3) If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth (In other words, speaking of a miscarriage.) is better than he. So a man can live a full life, but not live in the goodness of the Lord, and not be a vessel of honor. This is saying it's better to have been born dead. (4) For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness; (5) moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other: (6) yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place? He's talking about death here, not about going to the same place in Sheol, because this man went to Hades and the child went to Abraham's Bosom, but they both went to Sheol (Luke 16:22-26). This shows us that God at least considers innocency among children or babies. Abijah was a small child and God did not impute iniquity to this small child. That leads me to believe the further we get away from birth, the more dangerous it becomes because we become more responsible as we acquire knowledge. Innocency is not based on some “age of accountability” or “age of reason,” as theologians have told us, because you can't find that in the Bible. Saints, God imputes iniquity with knowledge. (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. God showed His election through Jacob, who manifested a vessel of honor, and Esau, who manifested a vessel of dishonor. This is what they were elected to do. Although every child is born with a fresh, clean spirit, they also receive the nature of their parents, and so they have a choice to make. They can choose to follow after their spirit, or they can choose to follow after the nature of their parents. As we've seen, everyone chooses to go the way of the flesh, and then their soul becomes corrupt, and eventually their spirit becomes corrupt. When the spirit becomes corrupt, that child has to be born again to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I haven't found that there is any particular age at which the spirit becomes corrupt for all mature differently. Some children are raised with discipline and are more conscientious, while others are raised with no discipline, and they become very corrupt, very quickly, but I do believe that when the spirit dies, that person is responsible before God, and they must be born again. Yes, we are given a fresh, clean spirit from God when we are born, but that spirit dies from following after the flesh, and it becomes corrupt. This is what I'm calling “death” here. It's not a physical lack of existence but the spirit becoming corrupt. When that happens, then we are held responsible. Jesus was the one who breathed into Adam the breath of life, and as the Scriptures tell us, (Joh.1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (Col.1:16) For in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; (17) and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. God the Father created everything through Christ. There is nothing created that wasn't created through Christ. Jesus breathed into Adam the breath of life, but the whole race of Adam fell and became corrupt. Then Jesus, the second Adam (1Corinthians 15:47), breathed again; He breathed His spirit of life into His new creation. And, did you know that you still don't have to follow your spirit after being born again? You can, once again, choose to follow your flesh. A born-again person has the opportunity to follow their spirit and go with God, or they can follow their fallen nature and go the way of the rest of creation. We were given a fresh, clean human spirit from God, like Christ's human spirit, but we have a fallen soul because “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” That means after we are born again, we must overcome the disadvantage of the fallen nature that was passed on to us through our parents. The apostle Paul explains to us about his battle against the fallen nature that was passed on to him. He says, (Rom.7:23) I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. (24) Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? He wanted power over the body of death. Paul was a Christian, and he wanted to serve God. Do you know what God did to give Christians power over the body of death? He gave them the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a person doesn't have that power. I'll prove this to you: (Rom.8:7) Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be: (8) and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God (that's the Holy Spirit) dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ (that's your born-again spirit), he is none of his. Christ was man in that He had a human spirit, soul, and body. He was God in that the Holy Spirit dwelt in His spirit. (1:3) Concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness. This in turn affected His DNA. When we are born again, our human spirit is born again. The Holy Spirit comes to do three things. Jesus said, (Joh.16:14) He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare [it] unto you. First, the Holy Spirit comes to give us the Spirit of Christ, which is our born-again spirit, our fresh, clean spirit. Second, as we follow the Holy Spirit, our soul becomes born again. If we bear fruit in the realm of the soul, we will receive a born-again body. This is the manifestation of Christ in you, spirit, soul and body. Even if you have the Spirit of Christ, if you don't have the Holy Spirit, you don't have power over the body. (Rom.8:9) But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. If you don't have the Spirit of Christ in you, or, in other words, if you don't have a born-again human spirit, you don't belong to Him because Jesus had a born-again human spirit. (10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin (That's the situation Paul was in.); but the spirit is life because of righteousness. Before the disciples received the Holy Spirit, even though they had received their born-again spirit, they didn't have the greater power over the flesh. As Jesus said to them, (Mat.26:41) … The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Did they have a born-again human spirit? Yes. Jesus told His disciples, (Joh.15:3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. You can't be clean without a born-again spirit, and they had a reborn spirit through the Word that was spoken into them. Paul says, “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.” So here you have a born-again person who is born-again in their spirit, but they don't have the greater power over their body, “the body of death.” Paul was crying out, “Who shall deliver me from this body of death?” Christians didn't have the greater power over their “body of death” until they received the Holy Spirit. (Rom.8:11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you (that's the Holy Spirit), he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. People think this is talking about the resurrection of the dead, but Paul said, “shall give life also to your mortal bodies.” That's talking about this physical body. Where you had death in your mortal body and had no greater power over it, God gave you life through His Spirit that dwells in you. Paul is talking about two different spirits here. Most religions I've experienced teach that when you are born again, that's when you receive the Holy Spirit. Even the Pentecostal denominations say, “When you are born again, you receive the Holy Spirit, but when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you receive more of it.” Again, that's not what the Bible teaches. You can't find a place in the New Testament where the Christians didn't go on to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as soon as they found out about it. It was never supposed to be optional, the way it is today. I'm not saying that a person is lost if they don't have the Holy Spirit because Paul said a person belonged to God if they had the spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9); they just didn't have the greater power without having the Holy Spirit of God. As a matter of fact, back in the Old Testament, we can find the same New Covenant promise of receiving the Holy Spirit, and one of the clearest places to see it is in Ezekiel. (Eze.36:24) For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. (25) And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean.... This is what Jesus did with His disciples. He told them, (Joh.15:3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. God gave them a born-again spirit through the Word. He said in (6:63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. He spoke life into them. (Eze.36:25) And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. (26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you (Theologians put a lowercase “s” here and I believe they're right. The word “spirit” here should be a lowercase “s” because it's talking about your human spirit.); and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit (They capitalized “Spirit” here, and they're right again. This is talking about the Holy Spirit.) within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.... The Holy Spirit is power from God. (Act.1:8) But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the power to be a witness by walking as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). (2Co.3:2) Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; (3) being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. You see, it's how you live your life, not just what you say, that makes you a witness. (Eze.36:27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them. (28) And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. As soon as the Church started, the baptism of the Holy Spirit came right along with baptism in water. How did the Church go so far astray as to think that people can live the Christian life without everything that God provided? It was never meant to be that way. We are commanded to be full of the spirit of God. (Eph.5:15) Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; (16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; (19) speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. If you obey the corrupt nature that's been passed on to you genetically through your parents, you will begin to fall into corruption: first flesh, then soul, then spirit. The “death” is continually taking place because the more corrupt you become, the more dead you become. It's a spiritual death, not a physical death, but it ends in physical death because our spirit is our connection with the Holy Spirit. When our spirit is given to us at birth, it's clean and pure. In Hebrews (10:22,26,27; 11:15-17), the Bible talks about “defiling” your conscience. Your conscience is a part of your spirit, and it tells you right from wrong, but the more you disobey and ignore your conscience, it will become more and more quiet. Eventually, if we don't listen to our spirit, we come to the place where we don't hear it anymore, and that means we come to the place where we aren't led by it anymore. As a child grows up, they become more and more corrupt because they follow their flesh. I believe that the corruption process may be slower if you raise up a child in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6; 23:13,14), but still they are going to fall into corruption. They will need to be born again because they don't have the Holy Spirit to empower them to follow their human spirit. The devil wants to take possession of our soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions, and he does this through our flesh. God wants to take possession of our souls, but the way He takes possession is through our spirit. So here we are with our soul, or in other words, our natural life, our nature, in the middle. We've been given a spirit, and we've been given flesh. As a born-again Christian, we have a decision to make: Are we going to follow the flesh and die, or are we going to follow the Spirit and live? If we follow the Spirit, we're following God. If we follow the flesh, we're following the devil. When a child is born, they don't have the spirit of God, so they don't have the ability to make a choice. They always follow the flesh, and they always die in their soul but less so with good parenting. When I say “die,” I'm talking about spiritual death while you are alive because you are held accountable when you know to do good. (Jas.4:17) To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Sin is imputed when you know what's right and what's wrong. (Rom.5:13) For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. The older a child gets, the quieter their conscience becomes because they get more and more used to disobeying and rebelling against it. And so they come to the place where they must be born again. Jesus is not saying that a little child must be born again. A little child doesn't have to be born again to enter the Kingdom because their spirit is not dead yet, but the older they become, the more corrupt their soul becomes, and then the more corrupt their spirit becomes until they must be born again in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven. A little child is very open to God. Their spirit is still alive. You can talk to them about God, and they understand, and they easily receive what you teach them, but if you don't teach them anything, they don't have that strength. We have to train our spirit to take the sword of the Spirit. (Eph.6:13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The Word of God is our sword, Saints. Without the Word of God, your spirit is defenseless. You need to educate your spirit by putting the Word of God in there. When I was a little child in the Catholic Church, they told me certain things were wrong that weren't wrong, and so if I did them, my conscience smote me. Even when I was a little child, my conscience told me when I was doing wrong. The Bible tells us that this is true, and we are never supposed to go against our conscience but rather educate it. (Rom.13:5) Wherefore [ye] must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. And here's another example: (1Co.10:25) Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake, (26) for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. (27) If one of them that believe not biddeth you [to a feast,] and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. (28) But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience' sake: (29) conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience? (30) If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? (31) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (32) Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: (33) even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of the many, that they may be saved. When I became born again, I had to re-educate my conscience according to the Word of God in order to have the sword of the Spirit. The sword belongs to the Spirit; it doesn't belong to the flesh. The Word of God empowers your spirit to win the battle against your flesh and the devil. (Eph.6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood (This is referring to fighting with physical weapons against physical enemies.), but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Did you know that it's possible to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit but still not obey the Holy Spirit? Just because you have the Holy Spirit doesn't profit you. What matters is that you are walking in faith and obeying the Holy Spirit because, if you are not walking in faith, you're not going to get anywhere. People who are filled with the Holy Spirit walk closer to God. They have more faith, and they have power over the flesh. Jesus said, (Act.1:8) But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. But you can offend the Holy Spirit and become reprobate, or rejected, by the Holy Spirit. (Eph.4:30) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption. How do you “grieve” the Holy Spirit? (Heb.6:4) For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (7) For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: (8) but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected (This is the Greek word adokimos and it means “failing to pass the test; unapproved; counterfeit”; or, in other words, “reprobated.”) and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. You grieve the Holy Spirit by not doing His works and therefore you don't bear any fruit. The ultimate end of this is reprobation. (Tit.1:15) To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. (16) They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Did you know that just because you are filled with the Holy Spirit doesn't mean you are going to stay filled with the Holy Spirit? I know this is contrary to what many Pentecostal denominations teach, but if you look in the Book of Acts, you'll see that the same people who were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were later filled again with the Holy Spirit. (Act.2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. So they were filled with the Holy Spirit and then after Peter and John were released from prison, they prayed, (4:31) And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, (30) while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. (31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. The same people were refilled with the Holy Spirit. You ask, “David, why would somebody need to be filled with the Spirit more than once?” Jesus gives us the answer. He said, (Joh.7:38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive. The power of the Holy Spirit flows out and is used up as we minister according to the command of Jesus. Notice, it's a river, not a pond. (Mat.10:7) And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (8) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give. I'm not saying that the Holy Spirit ever leaves you completely; I'm saying that it takes staying in fellowship with God to stay filled with the Holy Spirit. It's not just a one-time thing, like some Pentecostals believe. We just read, (Act.4:31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. How can you be filled twice, unless you've been emptied once? If Jesus taught that out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of the Spirit,” then this power is imparted to the need around you. It has to come out, and then it has to be replenished. The point is that we have to maintain our relationship with God because, if we don't, we won't stay filled with the Holy Spirit. Even so, the gifts of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). He won't take the gifts back. For instance, He won't necessarily take speaking in tongues back, but you may speak in tongues and yet not be filled with the Holy Spirit. A person has to stay filled with the Holy Spirit, as the Bible clearly teaches in Acts. The people who were preaching in Acts 2 were the same people who were filled with the Holy Spirit again in Acts 4. Personally, I believe you have the capacity to receive more of the Spirit when you are full of the Word of God. Jesus said, (Joh.6:63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. Therefore, if you receive more of His Word, you will receive more of His Spirit. That's why Jesus breathed on the disciples and in (20:22) … saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit, even though it wasn't manifested until Pentecost, when the rushing mighty wind came.” Most Pentecostal denominations believe that having the Holy Spirit makes you a shoo-in for the Kingdom of Heaven, but having the Holy Spirit doesn't make you immune to sin. Having the Holy Spirit is not what saves you. Some have the Spirit but don't serve Him. Obeying the Holy Spirit is what saves you from sin. (Rom.8:11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Life came out of Jesus. Life came out of His Words when He spoke. Life came out of Him when He laid hands on people. Life came out of His garment and healed the woman who touched Him. Life was in Him and that life was imparted to others, but that's not the case with a person who's not filled with the Holy Spirit. It's more difficult to walk with God, without being filled with the Holy Spirit. From the Book of Acts, you can see that the very foundation of Christianity is to repent, receive a born-again spirit, and then be filled with the Holy Spirit. The typology of the Temple in the Old Covenant makes this very clear. We are supposed to be temples “not made with hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1; Acts 7:47-49) or, in other words, without the works of man. (1Co.6:19) Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; (20) for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body. When Solomon built the Temple, it represented the house “made without hands,” so there couldn't be the sound of tools, symbolizing man's works, while they were building it (1 Kings 6:7). After the Temple was built and they had sanctified it (1 Kings 8:1-9; 2 Chronicles 5:1-10), it still didn't have the Spirit of God in it. But when they had the dedication of the Temple, the Spirit of God came in the form of the Glory Cloud and dwelt in the Temple (1 Kings 8:10,11; 2 Chronicles 5:13,14). You see, the Temple was designed for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. What good was the Temple without the Spirit? I think in this regard, a lot of people are going to fall away because they will not obey the Scriptures and receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power to do what you have to do. There were times when I just didn't think the Holy Spirit was there, but right when it was necessary, the power showed up and completely awed me. And no matter what situation we find ourselves in, the Holy Spirit can manifest Himself in us and enable us to walk as Jesus walked. The Lord also pointed out to me that it was Judah who dwelt in Zion. The name Judah means “praise,” and so Judah identifies the Spirit-filled people, the full-Gospel people. The name Judah separates us from the rest of Christianity, who haven't received the Holy Spirit. The northern 10 tribes of Israel went further astray and “missed the boat” many more times than the tribe of Judah. The northern 10 tribes worshipped the false “Christ,” the two golden calves which they set up. I believe that the Lord showed me this is a type for our day. The northern 10 tribes represent the non-Spirit-filled groups, and Judah represents the Spirit-filled groups, the ones who inhabit Zion. Zion was the city that escaped when Babylon conquered the people of God. A modern-day example of this is the Armenian genocide. The word “genocide” was first coined by historian Raphael Lemkin in 1943 to describe the systematic murder of the Armenians by the Ottomans. Only the Spirit-filled Christians escaped. They fled when they were warned because they believed in prophecy and they believed the prophets God sent to them, but many, many non-Spirit-filled Christians were killed. Some estimates are that as many as 1.5 million lost their lives in that holocaust. The Happiest People on Earth by Demos Shakarian, and John and Elizabeth Sherrill, published by Guideposts Magazine in 1975, tells the story of Demos Shakarian. His grandfather left Armenia for America when the Russian prophet Klubniken foretold that an “unspeakable tragedy” was coming to Armenia. Well, people, now the same thing is getting ready to happen in America, where most of the people who call themselves “Christian” have not yet been filled with the Spirit of God, and they're not giving any heed to all the prophetic warnings that another holocaust is coming. The Spirit of God makes you respect prophets and prophecies. The Spirit of God opens your eyes to dreams, visions, revelations, and the deeper things of the Spirit. We've seen that when the disciples needed more power from God to stand up to and endure the persecution they were receiving, they came together and prayed, and God filled them again with the Holy Spirit. Not only does every Christian need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but we also need to be continually baptized in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A direct rebellion against God's appointed leadership, and a judgment so dramatic it leaves no doubt who the Lord has chosen. Korah, along with 250 leaders of renown, rises up against Moses and Aaron, claiming that “all the congregation is holy” and accusing Moses of exalting himself. The issue isn't Moses' ego. It's the people's refusal to accept God's authority and God's choices. Sermon Notes Numbers 16:1 – 3 Korah & 250 others rebel against Moses and Aaron Numbers 16:4 – 7 Moses tells Korah God will make His choice of them Numbers 16:8 - 11 Moses tells Korah wasn't enough that God was using them Numbers 16:12 – 14 Moses summons those who were apart of the rebellion but had not come to him, but they refuse Numbers 16:15 Moses asks God not to regard Korah Numbers 16:16 –19 Moses tells Korah how the test of God's choosing will take place Numbers 16:20 & 21 God tells Moses to separate from the people because He is going to destroy them Numbers 16:22 Moses intercedes for the people Numbers 16:23 – 30 God tells Moses to tell the people to separate themselves from those who rebelled Numbers 16:31 – 35 God judges the rebellious by the ground opening up and shallowing them alive Numbers 16:36 – 40 God tells Moses to use the censors of the rebellious, which is holy for a different holy purpose, but also used as a reminder This message is both a warning and a call to faithfulness: - Don't challenge what God has established. - Don't despise the ministry God has given you. - Serve with full commitment, regardless of the “size” of your role—because God assigned it.
Epistle Reading: St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
"Trumpeting God's Judgment on His Creation" (Revelation 8:1-13)
Pastor Henry HansenSeries: New Mercies: Hope, Joy, And Renewal For The New YearMatthew 7:1-6
Pastor Mike Rose Genesis 6:1-7
Genesis 6:11-17 and Noah’s Ark The earth was corrupt and filled with violence. God saw the corruption of all flesh. God told Noah the end of all flesh had come. God would destroy them with the earth. Noah was instructed to build an ark of gopher wood, with rooms, and to pitch it within and without. God would bring a flood to destroy all flesh with the breath of life. God would establish a covenant with Noah, his sons, wife, and sons’ wives to enter the ark. Jesus Christ and Salvation Before the foundation of the earth, Jesus was with God. John 1:1 states the Word was God and with God. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, referring to Jesus Christ. Man was created perfect in God’s image but became corrupt through sin in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent, leading to sin entering the world. Everyone needs to be saved. Many people build their “ark” on worldly things, which provide temporary happiness but will ultimately fail. Build hopes on eternal things. Nehemiah’s story is an example of opposition when building for God. Sandalot mocked Nehemiah and those building. Like Nehemiah, Christians face mockery for their faith. Noah’s Ark as a Metaphor for Salvation People likely mocked Noah for building an ark, as they had never seen rain. Similarly, people mock those who worship God. God established a covenant with Noah. Noah preached to get on the ark before the flood came. The door of the ark is open now for those who are not saved. Accept the extended hand of mercy to enter the “ark.” Revelation speaks of the river of life and abundant life in heaven. John saw the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Old Testament covenants required animal sacrifices, which were imperfect. God sought one worthy to come to earth and found Jesus. John wept because no one was found worthy to open the seals, but a lamb (Jesus) was found worthy. Jesus ministered to the world, but his own people did not receive him. The door to salvation is open now, but there will come a time when it is too late. Like Noah preaching before the flood, Christians must share the gospel. A fire drill experience served as an analogy. People are looking for a sign to be saved, but when the trumpet sounds, it will be too late. During the fire drill, people were running everywhere, similar to what will happen when the Lord returns. You can’t find grace from family. Put hope and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus willingly gave his life on the cross for salvation. He could have come off the cross but chose to give his blood. He was placed in a borrowed tomb, signifying his temporary stay. He rose on the third day and appeared in the flesh. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only hope. Without it, preaching would be in vain. Jesus is alive and interceding for us. Testimony of salvation as a 15-year-old boy. Growing up Methodist, the gospel wasn’t heard in the same way as in the Baptist church. Being dunked in the river doesn’t save you, only the blood of Jesus Christ does. The Lord knew the heart and saved the lost soul. The passing of Alvin Davis, a mentor, led to seeking salvation. Alvin Davis was a hero and taught Sunday school for 40 years. It doesn’t matter if you can read the Bible front to back, you must be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. His sudden death was a shock. Crying out to God at Alvin’s grave. Prayed to God for an hour and a half. The Lord saved his soul at the graveyard. All that was needed was to ask the Lord into the heart. If your heart is far from Him, He won’t hear you. If your heart’s intent is to get right with the Lord, He will hear you. Prayed at the altar for any sin to be taken away. Didn’t want to be a hindrance to anyone. Being saved by Alvin’s grave is something that will be carried for the rest of life. It wasn’t the rock or the grave that saved, but God coming into the heart. Noah preached about the coming flood, warning people to get on the ark or perish. The next flood will be with fire, not water. The fiery furnace example. Those who threw others into the furnace were slain by the heat. Faith was strong enough to walk into the furnace, knowing God would take care of them. Judgment and Choice The fiery furnace is where God will throw his enemies. God doesn’t send you to hell; it’s your own choice. The devil tempts, but it’s your own will that decides. The ark (Jesus) has come, and the door is still open. The Lord stands at the door and knocks. There is no hope in anything in this world except Jesus Christ. If you are lost, get saved before it’s too late. Nothing in this life gives hope and joy like Jesus Christ. The covenant with Noah is the covenant through Jesus Christ, who came to be the sacrifice for our sins. Praying for those who are lost to be saved before it’s everlasting too late.
Host Pete Deeley welcomes listeners back to The Jujitsu Mindset, promotes Submission Coffee, the JiujitsuMindset.com store, and a Jiujitsu Mindset Online Academy kids class for ages 7–12, then interviews professor Eddie Fyvie. Fyvie describes growing up in a rough upstate New York neighborhood with a single father in AA, being bullied, and finding direction through sports. He recounts starting peewee wrestling after being drawn to a pro-wrestling ring, using a double-leg takedown and cradle on a neighborhood bully, then discovering UFC 1 and Royce Gracie, which cemented his commitment to grappling and led to enthusiastic early training in 1998 via a club learning from videotapes rather than formal instruction. Fyvie discusses how early exposure to adversity created numbness and forced maturity, and he outlines his view that being "reasonable" relates to one's relationship with force; he also explains how jiu-jitsu can provide controlled "gradient exposure" to stress for resilience without overwhelming students. He contrasts jiu-jitsu skill acquisition with other sports due to close contact and stress as a barrier to learning, and he comments on the shift from self-defense contexts to skill-versus-skill rolling. On competition, Fyvie says his perspective has changed: he supports competing only as a personal choice, noting potential negatives and that some students—especially kids—can be overwhelmed and quit after tournaments. His most memorable fight is his first MMA bout in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall against Jim Miller, describing the surreal reality of the moment, the perceived danger, and the crowd's hostility. He distinguishes different "tranches" of violence (kids, adults, law enforcement, military, MMA) and calls MMA psychologically strange because it involves willful violence without a direct cause. Fyvie explains that after leaving ownership of his academy, he is now teaching full-time in a new business, and he began a focused inquiry into why people quit, plateau, lose motivation, or feel confused—teaching 40–50 classes a week and turning insights into long-form writing. He introduces his book "Understanding Jiu-Jitsu," describes writing as clarifying and therapeutic, and notes topics such as belt imposter feelings and older beginners questioning their place. He discusses the importance of language and communication for teaching and understanding, shares that he disliked school but read extensively (including Russian literature), and recounts a pivotal moment teaching law enforcement: realizing techniques might be used immediately in real encounters and feeling heightened responsibility. Fyvie directs listeners to eddiefyvie.com and his Substack, where he plans to publish an article a day for a year, and he and Deeley close with an invitation to continue the conversation in a future episode. 00:00 Welcome Back + JiuJitsu Mindset Updates (Submission Coffee, Kids Academy) 01:03 Meet Professor Eddie Fyvie: A Mind-Body Commitment to Jiu-Jitsu 02:10 Growing Up Tough: Finding Direction Through Sports 04:05 1998 Training Scene: Learning from Tapes, Fighting Mentality, and Early Wrestling 05:33 The 'Superpower' Moment + Discovering UFC 1 & Royce Gracie 08:42 Maturity Under Pressure: Numbness, Force, and Becoming 'Reasonable' 11:25 Parenting & Stress Inoculation: Teaching Resilience the Safe Way 14:30 Why Jiu-Jitsu Is Different: Closeness, Stress Barriers, and Skill-vs-Skill Learning 18:27 Competition in Development: When It Helps—and When It Hurts 20:49 Most Memorable Moment Tease: The First MMA Fight as a Culmination 21:31 First MMA Fight Reality Check: Walking Out to Face Jim Miller 22:45 When the Crowd Turns: Fear, Pressure, and 'What Am I Doing Here?' 23:59 Different Kinds of Violence: Kids, Street Fights, Military, and MMA 25:50 Why MMA Is Psychologically Strange: Manufactured Animosity & Fighting Without Cause 28:16 From Fighter to Writer-Teacher: Leaving the Academy & Going All-In on Teaching 28:45 The Black Belt Question That Sparked a 3-Year Deep Dive (and a Book) 30:57 Why People Quit Jiu-Jitsu: Plateaus, Motivation, Belts, and Unspoken Emotions 33:22 Love of Language: Communication as the 'Universal Solvent' 38:04 Teaching That Matters: The Moment a Cop Used Last Week's Takedown 40:33 Where to Find the Book & Substack + Closing Thoughts
Today let us journey together through Empathy and why we need to suspend Judgement to make Empathy work. You can email your comments to PahayanTalks@Gmail.com and also connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinodn/Also checkout my other Podcasts Other PodcastsAgile Malayali Malayalam PodcastCinema Malayali Malayalam PodcastVayanalokam Malayalam Book PodcastEnglish Podcast Penpositive OutclassYouTube ChannelsPahayan Talks Youtube ChannelAgile Malayali YouTube ChannelPenpositive YouTube ChannelAgile Positive Your Tube ChannelAgile Indian YouTube Channel
Genesis – Session 5 | Grace in a Corrupt World and God's Covenant of Salvation This session explores Genesis chapters 6–9, focusing on the days of Noah, the spread of wickedness across the earth, and God's redemptive covenant that preserves life through grace rather than human effort As humanity becomes increasingly violent and corrupt, Scripture reveals that every intention of the human heart had turned continually toward evil. Though judgment is announced, God's mercy shines through one man — Noah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he walked faithfully with God. While the world ignored God's warnings, Noah obeyed in faith, preparing the ark long before rain ever fell. The sermon highlights Noah as a preacher of righteousness who endured years of ridicule and unbelief. Just as people in Noah's day carried on with daily life without concern for coming judgment, Jesus later warned that the end times would mirror this same spiritual blindness. The ark becomes a powerful picture of salvation — just as Noah and his family were saved by entering the ark, believers today are saved by entering into Christ, our true refuge. God's precise instructions for the ark show His provision, protection, and faithfulness. When the flood finally came, it was God Himself who shut the door, sealing Noah safely inside. Judgment swept the earth, but those within God's covenant were preserved. After the waters receded, Noah worshiped by offering sacrifices, and God responded with a promise of mercy — never again to destroy the earth by flood. The rainbow became the visible sign of this everlasting covenant, reminding humanity of God's faithfulness even while acknowledging the sinful nature of mankind. The message concludes with God's declaration that the rhythms of creation will remain — seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer — affirming His sovereign control over the world's future. Above all, the session emphasizes that salvation has always been rooted in grace, faith, and obedience to God's Word. Key Takeaway Even in a world overwhelmed by sin, God extends grace to those who walk with Him. Salvation comes not through human strength, but by entering God's covenant of mercy — fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ, our ark of safety.
LEVITICUS 13 — PRIESTLY INSPECTION, UNCLEANNESS, AND HOLINESS GOVERNANCETeachers: Kerry & Karen BattleAhava ~ Love AssemblyThis Torah class covers Leviticus Chapter 13, one of the most misread and mishandled chapters in Scripture.Leviticus 13 is not medicine.It is not stigma.It is not guilt assignment.It is priestly inspection law governing status, restraint, and covenant order for a nation living near the Presence of Yahuah.This chapter establishes how uncleanness is identified, contained, and governed without accusation, without speculation, and without religious abuse.WHAT WE COVER IN THIS MESSAGE1. Inspection Without AssumptionLeviticus 13:1–3Affliction is brought under priestly authority, not privately interpreted.The priest inspects visible signs only and is forbidden to assign cause or guilt.2. Restraint, Waiting, and Lawful ProcessLeviticus 13:4–6Time is part of Torah judgment.Waiting is obedience.Immediate declaration is forbidden when evidence is incomplete.3. Spread Determines StatusLeviticus 13:7–8Uncleanness is determined by progression, not first appearance.Lawful declaration protects the camp.4. Accurate Judgment Protects the InnocentLeviticus 13:9–17Torah guards against false condemnation and false clearance.Calling clean unclean is oppression.Calling unclean clean is rebellion.5. Distinguishing Injury from CorruptionLeviticus 13:18–28Not every wound is plague.The priest discerns disturbance versus spread through evidence and time.6. Visible Conditions Still Require OrderLeviticus 13:29–37Visibility does not remove restraint.Inspection and reinspection preserve holiness.7. Torah Explicitly Protects the InnocentLeviticus 13:38–39Some bright spots are declared clean.Holiness is not paranoia.8. Natural Conditions Are Not CondemnedLeviticus 13:40–44Baldness itself is not uncleanness.Torah separates natural condition from corruption.9. Uncleanness Can Spread Beyond the BodyLeviticus 13:47–59Garments can carry contamination.Holiness is environmental.Containment protects the camp.10. Tsaraʿath as Judgment in ScriptureNumbers 12 | 2 Kings 5 | 2 Chronicles 26Scripture confirms Yahuah may strike as judgment in rebellion or presumption.Priests are never authorized to assign guilt.Inspection governs status. Judgment belongs to Yahuah.11. Messiah and the Restoration of Clean StatusMatthew 8:2–4 | Malachi 4:2Messiah cleanses the leper and restores lawful access.Torah authority remains intact.Healing is covenant mercy, not lawlessness.WHY THIS MESSAGE MATTERS• Uncleanness is status, not automatic sin• Priests are forbidden to speculate or accuse• Restraint is obedience• Judgment belongs to Yahuah• Holiness requires order• Restoration remains possibleLeviticus 13 teaches how a holy nation survives without fear, shame, or disorder.SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR STUDYLeviticus 13Leviticus 10Numbers 5 • Numbers 12Deuteronomy 17 • Deuteronomy 282 Kings 52 Chronicles 26JobHabakkuk 2Haggai 2Matthew 8Malachi 4Every section is taught precept upon precept.ABOUT AHAVA ~ LOVE ASSEMBLYWe teach the Pure Word of Yahuah.No religion.No tradition.No compromise.Our teaching follows the Sovereign Blueprint:Law | Precept | Example | Wisdom | Understanding | Prudence | Conviction | Fruit of the Ruach | Final Heart CheckSUPPORT THE WORK — GIVE VIA ZELLEZelle QR at: ahavaloveministry.comZelle only.No CashApp.No PayPal.FINAL WORDLeviticus 13 is not about fear.It is about order.The priest inspects.The camp is protected.Judgment belongs to Yahuah.Restoration is made possible through Messiah.Final Heart Check:When uncleanness appears, will you submit to Torah order and restrain your mouth, or will you rush to assign guilt where Yahuah has not spoken?
Governing Thesis The necessity of both judgment and redemption – neither makes sense without the other. Everything below serves this claim. Macro-Arc for Isaiah 13-27 Continue reading The post God's Judgment of the Whole World – Why Judgment Must Precede Joy (Isaiah 13–27) Epis I appeared first on Fides et Ratio | Reflections on life from a theological and rational perspective.
We all love the idea of “potential” until it quietly turns into pressure, guilt, and a weird fear of actually trying. Heather Moyse didn't start professional sport until 27 and still became a double Olympic gold medallist. Breaking out of her social safety and truly exploring her potential wasn't easy. We dig into behavioral inertia, self‑sabotage, and the invisible “settings” your environment installs in your brain. Think of this as a mindset update: less motivational quotes, more useful psychology. f you've ever felt stuck in the “nearly” version of your life—nearly starting, nearly committing, nearly backing yourself—this conversation gives you language, mental models, and a few friendly kicks to move. Spot the subtle ways your environment is capping your potential. Replace “be realistic” thinking with experiments that actually feel safe. Build a high‑potential identity without burning out or becoming a robot. Hit play and give your potential something better than another inspirational reel. SPONSORS
“Jesus on the judgment throne will be consternation for His enemies and consolation for His people.” —J. Murray
Habakkuk: A book that is 2700 years old speaks to us in these last days and helps us to just trust that God is in control.
Lawyers have always relied on tools—but AI is different. It doesn't just assist with tasks; it makes decisions, applies judgment, and shapes outcomes. In episode #602 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Damien Riehl about what ethical responsibility looks like when AI starts doing legal work on its own. Their conversation examines how AI systems embed values, why verification matters more than transparency, and how lawyers can responsibly use tools they don't fully understand. They also explore what legal expertise looks like in an AI-powered future—and why intuition, trust, and integrity may matter more than ever as machines take over the “widgets” of legal work. Listen to our other episodes on Ethics and Responsibility in AI. EP. 582 Deepfakes, Data, and Duty: Navigating AI Ethics in Law, with Merisa Bowers Apple | Spotify | LTN EP. 543 What Lawyers Need to Know About the Ethics of Using AI, with Hilary Gerzhoy Apple | Spotify | LTN Have thoughts about today's episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X! If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you. Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 05:55 – Meet Damien Riehl 08:10 – Why AI Is a Different Kind of Legal Tool 11:05 – When AI Starts Doing Legal Work 14:30 – Ethics, Values, and AI Judgment 18:45 – Foundation Models vs. Legal-Specific AI 21:15 – The “Duck Test” and Trusting AI Output 24:45 – Trust but Verify: Reviewing AI Work 28:40 – What Lawyers Are Underestimating About AI 31:10 – What Still Requires Human Judgment 34:30 – Intuition, Trust, and Integrity in Law 37:40 – What This Means for Billing and the Future 40:40 – Closing Thoughts
⭐Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - When "Just Following Orders" Fails (Plot Synopsis) ⭐
This week Elle and Vee have a deep, free-flowing and wide-ranging chat with JC Wilde, writer and director of the film Wild Fire. They speak about emotional affairs and the radical honesty that nearly burned her marriage down, and then what happens when you stop performing “perfect partner” and start saying the thing that scares you most. Inspired by real-life truth-or-dare confessions, Wild Fire sparks a raw conversation about open relationships, people-pleasing, projection, and the freedom of a no-more-bullsh*t kind of love. This is a conversation that will stick with you long after it's finished, from how you approach relationships to noticing how ENM and queer relationships are depicted in film and TV.Evolving Sexuality & Identity Labels: how sexual orientation labels can help us discover ourselves, and how sexuality evolves over time. (1:55)Wild Fire: an ensemble film about seven acquaintances exposing frightening truths, lies, secrets, and emotional affairs in their intimate relationships. (7:55)Truth or Dare & Sexual Desire: What do you want in bed that you're afraid to ask for? (12:20)The “No More Bullshit” Relationship Approach: radical honesty, direct communication, and deeper intimacy. (15:15)Ethical Non-Monogamy in Film & TV: how Friends and Sex and the City got open relationships wrong 20 years ago. (22:25)Realistic Portrayals of Queer Relationships & Non-Traditional Love: The L Word, Easy, The Overnight. (27:58)“Intimate Friends” vs. Romantic Partners: why emotionally intimate friendships matter. (36:52)Traditional vs. Nontraditional Relationship Dynamics: why ENM and polyamory spaces spark deeper conversations. (40:32)What Drives Emotional Intimacy? Why we crave deeper, more vulnerable conversations. (42:29)Projection & Judgment in Relationships: how criticism reveals more about you than your partner. (46:00)Challenging Monogamy: “Why limit love?” Rethinking traditional relationship models. (48:56)Radical Honesty & Radical Truth-Telling: burning away illusions to live authentically in love. (53:01)Sex/God Documentary: JC's upcoming film on sex, God, and spirituality. (56:55)______________________________
Send a textSupport | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | Because You Care Page | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Divine Blessings | Exhort One Another Daily | The Return of Christ | The Joy of Fulfilling the Great Commission | The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold | Lie of the Ages (book) | Soul Damning Sins (small book) | Why We Need not Fear Death | Revelation Bombshell!HOMEPAGE: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/MAKE PEACE WITH GOD NOW: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/peace-with-god/SUPPORT: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/support/STORE: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/store/ABOUT: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/about/email Todd: info@safeguardyoursoul.comBackground Music by: Thad Fiscella https://www.thadfiscella.com/ Support the show
Join Chris Montgomery as he explores the profound lessons from Ezekiel 5:5-17, discussing the reasons behind God's judgment on His people. Through a detailed examination of sin, idolatry, and divine judgment, this sermon delves into the importance of listening to God's warnings and the consequences of ignoring His statutes. Discover how these ancient texts relate to modern faith and the message of redemption through Christ.
Habakkuk: A book that is 2700 years old speaks to us in these last days and helps us to just trust that God is in control.
2 Peter 2:4-11 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin consider angels, Noah, and Lot. They discuss past judgments and God's ability to reserve those who are to be punished for punishment. The discuss God's ability to deliver those He wants to deliver.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24402The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
In this episode of Normalize The Conversation, I'm talking with Cassie Blakely about curiosity, self-compassion, and finding connection even in our hardest moments. We dive into mental health, ADHD, parenting, and how to move from shame to self-love. Cassie shares practical tools for navigating emotions, staying curious without judgment, and building a support system that works for you. Whether you're feeling alone, overwhelmed, or just looking for ways to show up for yourself, this conversation is full of hope, insight, and encouragement.Tune in to learn:How to approach your emotions with curiosity, not judgmentWays to support yourself during depressive or anxious momentsPractical strategies for parenting, ADHD, and mental wellnessHow small human connections can make a big impactCassie's wisdom reminds us that it's okay to feel everything, to keep trying, and to always show up for yourself first.Learn More About Cassie Blakely: https://www.warriorparentconsulting.com/
We are back for the first episode of 2026! Roxy is back in the passenger seat and we are off to discuss books, vampires, and Jr. High melodrama.
Okay, y'all. Buckle up for a full-body reminder: there is nothing wrong with you. In this episode, I'm throwing down the truth about judgment (yours and everyone else's), ego meltdowns, pink hair stereotypes, and what happens when you finally shut up long enough to hear what's going on in your own head. We get real about red pepper anxiety, the silent retreat that changed me, and the quote that's been living rent-free in my brain: “No one will ever love you the way you want to be loved… because that's your job.” Spoiler: there's also a blue breath meditation to clear out your throat chakra so you can speak your truth without all the noise. It's part pep talk, part truth bomb, and all heart. Let's go.
Jordyn Wieber is an Olympic gold medalist and former World Champion gymnast who was a key member of the legendary “Fierce Five” team that won gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Before her Olympic success, she became the 2011 All-Around World Champion and dominated the sport as one of the top gymnasts in the world. Today, she serves as the head coach of the University of Arkansas women's gymnastics program, where she's known for building athlete-centered culture and emphasizing mental performance alongside elite competition.Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Absolutely. It’s up to each one of us, as believers, to reach out a hand of unity and build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Learn more about what that looks like in today’s episode of the Jack Hibbs Podcast.(00:00) The Call to Discernment Without Condemnation(03:18) Unity Grounded in Truth Rather Than Tolerance(05:46) Faith, Evidence, and Receiving One Another in Christ(10:48) Accountability, Judgment, and Standing Before Christ(14:11) Tradition, Division, and the Danger of False Unity(17:19) Humility, Restoration, and What God Truly ValuesCONNECT WITH PASTOR JACKGet Updates via Text: https://text.whisp.io/jack-hibbs-podcastWebsite: https://jackhibbs.com/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2FCyXpO Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WZBWV0 YouTube: https://bit.ly/437xMHn DAZE OF DECEPTION BOOK:https://jackhibbs.com/daze-of-deception/ Did you know we have a Real Life Network? Sign up for free for more exclusive content:https://bit.ly/3CIP3M99
It's Monday, February 9th, and The Rizzuto Show kicks off your daily comedy show the only way we know how: by celebrating Chocolate Day, Pizza Pie Day, and the sacred holiday known as Brown Monday. Productivity is optional. Judgment is not.The crew dives headfirst into Valentine's chaos, breaking down which states are actually romantic (congrats, Alabama… we guess?) and which states are apparently just vibes and isolation. Missouri lands just outside the top 10, proving we almost care. Love letters are back, matching tattoos are a terrible idea, and AI-written romance is officially on Lern's list of marriage-ending offenses.Then things get spicy. A deep dive into cheating stats reveals which states are searching Ashley Madison the hardest (Colorado, what are you doing?), followed by the most unhinged cheating excuses ever recorded by mankind. From “I forgot to break up with you” to “that was my other personality,” the excuses get worse, dumber, and somehow more confident.The Super Bowl recap? Painfully boring. Commercials? Mid. Halftime show? Visually impressive, musically confusing, and guaranteed to make at least one person yell “I don't know this song!” at their TV. But the real Super Bowl tragedy was food.Moon's Wingstop pickup turns into a one-hour hostage situation, ending with half the order missing and everyone silently judging each other in a packed restaurant. Rafe attends a Super Bowl party with the weakest food spread in human history (Pop-Tarts were involved). The crew debates proper Super Bowl etiquette, shames weak contributions, and accidentally invents new snack-based laws.Then… the mystery deepens. Someone is drawing wieners on cars. Not metaphorically. Literally. Windshields across the area are under attack, and no one knows who the Doodle Wiener Bandit is. The crew debates drawing styles, angles, psychology, and somehow turns it into a full-blown art critique.Add in car cleanliness confessions, hoarder tendencies, Super Bowl party politics, awkward butt dials, and the emotional damage of waiting for wings that never came — and you've got another beautifully unproductive daily comedy show episode.Listen now, laugh irresponsibly, and remember: if someone brings Pop-Tarts to your Super Bowl party… they are not your friend.Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshowConnect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShowHear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.Americans to Eat 1.48 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LXThe Life and Times of the Piggyback Bandit‘Piggyback Bandit' sows chaos in Northeast Ohio, prompting police responseChicken wing champs for Super Bowl: Americans to set consumption record during Sunday's gameWhat is the viral Chicken Banana song and why is it so popular?‘Vagueposting' trend sparks social media fury with intentionally confusing postsThis Southern State Was Just Named The 'Most Romantic' In The U.S.What is everyone talking about this week: As Valentine's Day beckons, love letters are making a comebackSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.