Podcasts about keep god

Joshua BoydA Walk Through the Bible - Part 11 - The Tabernacle 6Keep Your Lamp LitA Walk Through the Bible: The TabernacleGod's purpose for the Tabernacle was always about dwelling with His people. Every part of it was built according to the heavenly pattern—a shadow of something greater and more glorious in God's presence (Hebrews 8:5). Today, under the New Covenant, we are the temple of God and His Spirit dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16).In this message, we turn our attention to the golden lampstand—the menorah.Unlike much of the Tabernacle furniture, the lampstand was made entirely of pure gold. Its seven lamps were fueled with pure olive oil and were to be kept burning continually. Most importantly, the lampstand was the only source of light inside the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:31–40; 27:20–21).Revelation gives us a glimpse of the heavenly reality behind this earthly pattern. Before God's throne are seven burning flames, described as the sevenfold Spirit of God (Revelation 4:5).But if we are now God's temple, what provides light within us?Jesus said:“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body.” — Luke 11:34What we continually place before our eyes matters. God's Word brings light into areas that were once dark. At first, our understanding may seem like a small flashlight—just enough light to take the next step. But as we continue in the Word, that light grows brighter.We begin to see God's promises concerning salvation, peace, deliverance, provision, healing, freedom from fear, and every other area where darkness once kept us stumbling.And eventually, the light isn't only helping us see—it begins helping others find their way.The enemy works in the opposite direction. Second Corinthians 4 describes Satan as blinding people's minds so they cannot see “the glorious light of the Good News.” But God has caused His light to shine in our hearts. We are fragile jars of clay carrying an extraordinary treasure: the light and power of God.Darkness cannot overcome light. Even the smallest light changes a dark room.So if there is an area where you're continually stumbling, don't simply accept the darkness. Get some light there. Find the Scriptures that speak to that area and keep them before your eyes. You may begin with only one promise you understand, but keep walking in the light you have.How Do We Keep Our Lamps Lit?1. Read the Bible.Devotionals, books, studies, and other resources can be helpful, but they are supplements. Keep Scripture itself before your eyes. God's Word is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).2. Protect your light.When God gives you understanding in an area, guard it and continue growing in it. Don't allow experiences, distractions, deception, or popular opinions to extinguish what God's Word has revealed.3. Shine your light.Light is meant to be shared. Like one candle lighting another, sharing what God has shown you helps bring light into someone else's darkness—and together our lights become brighter.The world needs points of light. Every church can be a streetlight in a dark city, but so can every believer. You can be a light in your workplace, your family, your neighborhood, and everywhere God has placed you.You don't have to illuminate everything at once. Start with the light you have. Keep God's Word before your eyes. Keep walking toward the light. Help someone else along the way.If you're stumbling, you need some light.Keep your lamp lit, keep walking in the light, and you will be able to see the way clearly, finish your race strong, and help others find their way too.Key ScripturesExodus 25:31–40; Exodus 27:20–21; Hebrews 8:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; Revelation 4:5; Luke 11:33–36; 2 Corinthians 4:4–7; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 4:18; Matthew 25:1–13

Introduction: Why Jesus' Victory is the Greatest Victory (1 Corinthians 15:50-58): He won the greatest PRIZE . (1 Cor 15:50-53) 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. He defeated the greatest ENEMY . (1 Cor 15:54-57) He gives us the greatest PURPOSE . (1 Cor 15:58) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Unified and Purified: We Labor in Victory Jeff Miller Download Audio Transcript 00:05Open up your Bibles with me please to the book of 1 Corinthians and chapter 15.00:12While you're turning there, just take a moment please and pray for me to communicate God's Word clearly and accurately as I should and I will pray for you to have a heart open to receive what it is the Lord wants to teach us in His Word today. Do we have a deal?00:30One of you?00:32Alright, let's pray.00:35Father in Heaven, this church was built on the belief that Your Word does Your work. Your Son made it clear that when Your Word is sown and it falls on good soil, it reproduces. And I'm praying today, Father, that our hearts our good soil.01:06And that we would allow your word to take deep root and change us from the inside out.01:18Father, we thank you for your goodness.01:21We thank you for your promises.01:24Be glorified now through your word.01:26We pray in Jesus' name.01:29And all of God's people said, Amen.01:33Amen.01:34Sports fans, don't you just love the thrill of a really tight game? I know I do. But you know what I love even better than a really tight game? An absolute blowout. I mean, just a good old-fashioned curb stomping, rubbing your nose in it. Like, I love when it's your team that's doing The dominating. I love that. I like that even way better than a close game. But even better than that is when you're actually playing the game where you're doing the stomping. That is delicious. I've had that experience a few times in my life. One, many, many years ago, I used to be decent at tennis. I mean, I wasn't like, Andre Agassi or anything. But I was decent. And I could keep up. But I remember meeting this guy through a friend of a friend kind of thing. And he found out I played tennis. He goes, oh, I play tennis. I'd like to play you sometime. I'm like, great, let's play. But then he started all the smack talking. He's like, well, you know, I'm going to destroy you. I'm like, okay. He goes, yeah, I'm really going to, he goes, I'm really going to beat you.03:04I'm like, aren't we adults? Like, why are you talking like this? But he just like kept us smacked. Okay, so now he's like in my head a little bit. Like, okay, so I'm going to show up and play this guy, and he's going to embarrass me. And I'm like, so I was trying to get in that headspace. Like, how do you walk into that, right? Well, the day came for our big match. And I don't know.03:33I don't know how else to say it. He was horrible. I mean, the word is pathetic. It was at the point that I'm not sure he knew which end of the racket to hold. In fact, if he would have been swinging at it with just a handle, I think he might have done a better. He was horrible. Like, how bad was he? He was so bad that I started playing as if I would play against like a five-year-old.04:03Just like he would get it over the net and I would like rejoice that he even got it over the net and I would just well in that when you're playing it like 10% obviously you're going to make mistakes because that's not how you're supposed to play and I'd like hit it into the net by accident. He started the smack talk up again like yeah what's up now I'm like oh okay like all right. That's when I proceeded to completely the court with him. Unmercifully never saw him again. I think he moved to Nepal or something. But it was so just exhilarating being on the side of a complete, dominating, crushing, one-sided victory. Oh, and speaking of, today we are going to talk about the greatest, one-sided, overwhelming victory, that's ever happened.05:05And that was Jesus Christ defeating death.05:09And he did it by resurrecting.05:14And that's what 1 Corinthians 15 is all about.05:18This whole chapter is about resurrection.05:24And we talked about this through this series.05:26The whole idea of resurrecting from the dead was crazy.05:32to the Corinthians, the Greeks, and Corinth. They didn't believe in a bodily resurrection, so Paul was setting them straight. He goes, no, this is what God said, okay? And there's even people in churches today really don't think about the idea of resurrection, right? Even people in churches today are like, okay, I get like salvation, and I get like heaven, but like this idea that I'm going to bodily resurrect, Yes! According to the Bible, you are literally going to get a new, eternal, indestructible, glorified, resurrected body. You're going to get a brand new body. Some of you should be shouting Amen. I know I am. You know, this is a rental, and I've beat it up pretty bad. So, last week the question we examined was this one.06:32What's the resurrected body like? What's it like? And you can go back and listen to that message, or if you weren't here, it's on our website or the YouTubes. But today, we're going to answer this question. This is where the text takes us. When do I get this resurrected body? When does that happen? And the answer is when Jesus returns.07:03The dead receive theirs first, then the living receive theirs, and that is going to be the day, according to this passage we look at today, that's going to be the day that we celebrate the greatest one-sided victory of all time. All right, some of you might not be convinced, so if you have an outline, why Jesus' victory is the greatest victory. Why Jesus' victory?07:32He just claimed it was the greatest one-sided overwhelming victory of all time. Why? Why is it? Well, number one, He won the greatest prize. He won the greatest prize. Look at verse 50. He says, I tell you this, brothers, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.08:02designs special bodies that are suited for eternity, suited for heaven. We talked about that a little bit last week, right? This body that he gave us that we're living in now, this body is suited for earth, right? The way this body functions, it works perfectly in the earth environment, right? This is suited for here. But this body is not going to work in heaven.08:31There, we're going to need a new body. So we're going to have to be changed. We saw last week, the Bible says that this body is like a seed. And when we die, we are buried in the ground. And like the seed, our resurrection, we are raised up as something new.09:01All right, so here's the question. On the table. Okay, you're saying the people who die are put in the ground, raises something new. What about people that, like, aren't dead when Jesus returns? Like, what about those people? If you have to be buried to come up as a new body, like, what if you're one of the people alive, and it very well could be us, who are alive when Jesus returns? Does that mean that we have to die so that we can be buried so that we can get our resurrected body. Is that what has to happen? And the answer is no. If you're alive when Jesus returns, you do not die. What does happen? Well, he tells us, look at verse 51. He says, behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.10:01Now when he says mystery here he's not talking like you know Alfred Hitchcock or anything like that. He's the word mystery in the Bible just means something that God never said in past time but now he's revealing it for the first time. It's all through the Bible.10:18He says we will not all sleep. That's a nice way of saying die. We will not all die but he says we will all be changed.10:28So when Christ returns believers who are alive Christ comes, will not die, but are going to be transformed.10:38And do you know how long it's going to take?10:41If you're alive when Christ returns, do you know how long it's going to take for this body to be changed into the new body?10:50Do you know how long that takes?10:52He tells us, this is astounding.10:55Look at verses 52 and 53.10:57He says, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable. And this mortal body must put on immortality. It's going to be, your change is going to be instant.11:31Your body is going to change faster than you can even recognize that it was changing. This is so interesting to me. When he says in a moment, you see that in the text, in a moment, verse 52, that word for moment in the Greek refers to something that is so small that it can't be divided. What I mean is this, if your body transforms in two minutes, that's a period of time that can be divided, right? You can divide two minutes into two one-minute periods or four 30-second periods or whatever. He's saying the amount of time it's going to take your body to change, that amount of time is so small that you can't even divide it. It is that small. Like, well, what does that mean? He just means instantly. When Christ returns, if you're alive, instantly, boom, new body.12:31Awesome. He also talked about the trumpet. The last trumpet. Study your Bibles. Trumpets were used all through the Old Testament for what purpose? To call God's people to come and meet God. The day is going to come that God is going to blow that trumpet one more time. He just said, all my people gather together to meet your God. This is exactly what Paul was talking about in 1 Thessalonians.13:014. I encourage you to go home and read this whole chapter because it really complements what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 here.13:09But he says, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And here it is again, the dead in Christ will rise first. This event that he talks about in 1 Corinthians 4.13:30And this event that he talks about in 1 Corinthians 15, you read it in John chapter 14 as well, is called the rapture. What is the rapture? What is this event that happens where we get our resurrected bodies, where the dead come out of the grave and get their resurrected bodies? What is this event? It's when Jesus Christ descends from heaven to gather his people, those who died and those who are living to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air to receive the glorified bodies. Then it's off to heaven. Like, well, when does the rapture take place? Well, I know, you know, when you follow church trends and doctrinal changes and things like that, it's not cool in our day to believe in the rapture, but it's biblical.14:30And I'd be more concerned about being biblical than what's trending. So I believe biblically that this rapture takes place before the seven-year tribulation period as described in Revelation. Okay? I believe that Jesus comes to take His church out of the earth before the seven-year tribulation. Why do I believe that? I'm going to give you three reasons why I believe that.15:01Why do I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture? Why do I believe Jesus is going to take the church out before the judgment events of Revelation? Why do I believe that? Jot these three things down. The first reason I believe that is it's the most straightforward understanding of the biblical language. Read Revelation 3.10. Read 1 Thessalonians 5.9. Jesus promises to keep His church out of the future time of testing the on all unbelievers. That's just the most straightforward understanding of the language. Jesus says, I'm going to keep you from the hour of trial that's coming on the whole world. I'm going to keep you from that.15:45Study that out.15:47That's just the most straightforward language.15:52Number two, why do I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture?15:55The second reason is, speaking of revelation, You know you never see the church during the tribulation in the book of Revelation? I always found that so interesting. People that believe the church is going to be there. Have you read Revelation? Have you read this? Our youth group just went through that recently. Where was that last year? Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The church, the church, the church, the church, the church. And then after chapter 3 when the events of judgment are described, the 70 tribulation, The church isn't mentioned one time. Not one time. The church, interestingly, is mentioned 19 times in Revelation 1-3. Not mentioned at all during the tribulation. And then after chapter 3, the church's next mention in the book of Revelation is chapter 22. Why? I believe because the church isn't there. Here. The church isn't here during those events.16:58The third reason, I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, because people push back on this, and they're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, why do you think the church is exempt from suffering? And I would say, well, open your eyes, I don't think the church is exempt from suffering. But, when it comes to judgment, number three, write this down, God has a track record of removing His people before He judges the wicked. Have you ever noticed that? I mean, God has this incredible track record. Study this out. When God judges wicked, rebellious sinners, when God's going to bring His judgment on wicked, rebellious sinners, the first thing that He does is remove His people. He always does that, right? Like, remember Genesis chapter 6? God was going to send a flood. What was the first thing He did?17:58provided a way to separate and protect his people. Go to Sodom and Gomorrah. When God was going to burn them from the map, what was the first thing he did? Lot, get out of there, right? What about Israel and Egypt during the plagues? God separating his people from his judgment. What about the Israelites from Korah and the other rebels in the wilderness? You see it over and over. God's going to judge people who are rejecting him.18:28The first thing he does is say, I've got to get my people out of there so they're not receiving any of the judgment I'm pouring on the earth. On the sinners, rather. So with the rapture, God will again separate his people from the judgment on sinners by removing the church before the tribulation so that the church will not be the object of his wrath. So when that trumpet blows, understand you're going to finally receive the fulfillment of everything Jesus Christ Forgiveness of sin, eternal life, the promise of heaven, and that glorified body, the things that Jesus Christ has promised and will ultimately deliver to those who love Him. Can you think of a greater prize? Jesus' victory is the greatest victory because He won the greatest prize. And secondly, He defeated the greatest enemy.19:30He defeated the greatest enemy.19:36You're like, what enemy?19:39Well, we studied this earlier, right?19:41Verse 26 says death is the enemy.19:46You get that, right?19:48You felt that, haven't you?19:50Death is the enemy.19:55By nature of my job, I've been to a lot of funerals. You don't have to sell me on what a monster death is. When you're standing beside the casket with friends and family who are just distraught, gone, life on earth will never be the same. This person is gone. Death is such a monster. It takes people from us.20:25a monster that we can't do a thing to stop, right? I mean, as much as we hate death, as much as we hate watching people die, there's nothing we can do to stop it. Realizing also that it's going to happen to me. It's going to happen to me. I'm going to die someday. And you're like, sorry about your luck. You're going to die someday.20:56Have you ever thought about how? Are you going to be advanced in years? Are you going to die over time? Are you going to die suddenly? You're going to die someday. Like when? Is it going to be soon? Is it going to be decades from now? Unless the rapture happens before, you're going to die. But you see, that's what we see in this passage when Jesus does come. And when the resurrection occurs, death, death itself is finally completely conquered for God's people.21:55Jesus defeats the greatest enemy. We can't gloss over that. Look at verses 54 and 55. Jesus wins the victory. You're like, well, to what degree did Jesus win? Well, Paul tells us that Isaiah tells us. He says, when the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to the saying that is written. And here he quotes Isaiah 25. He says, death is swallowed up in victory. Oh, death, where is your victory? Oh, death, where is your sting? I love this because death isn't just beaten. Death isn't just slapped around a bit. Do you see this? Your Bible says that death is consumed.22:55It's swallowed. Meaning gone. He says, death, where is your sting? Where is your sting? You know that word sting, that was a word they used in the Greek for the same purpose that we often use the word sting. It referred to bees. The sting of a bee. You know, death has a sting.23:26And when Jesus Christ comes back for us, that sting is going to be gone. In other words, using this word picture, he says death is sort of like the bee, right? Have you ever been stung by a bee? Have you ever been stung by 30 yellow jackets at one time? I have. Not fun. Because of Jesus' victory, Paul's saying, death is the bee. And when Jesus died on the cross, what Jesus did was remove the stinger from the bee. So yeah, death is still buzzing around, but it doesn't have a sting anymore. And then when Jesus returns, that whole bee itself is going to be swallowed. Like this thing is over and done. Do you see the word picture?24:26what all these things mean. Well, he does. Look at verse 56. He says, the sting of death is sin. And the power of sin is the law.24:41Okay, so death is like a bee. Sin is the stinger. Right? Sin is the thing that causes the damage.24:52And I'm here to tell you today, if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you have not received salvation in Him, death is something that you should be afraid of. You absolutely should be afraid to die and stand before a holy God with unforgiven sin on your record. Because if you do, death is eternally deadly.25:22He says the power of sin is the law. Like what does that mean? Just very simply what Paul said in Romans 7. The law defines sin. The law shows us that we're sinners. We can have some vague idea that maybe I don't always do the things that I should. But you see the law of God lays it out for us. You know what your problem is? Your problem is you have a sinful heart that results in doing these things. That's what the law has accomplished. Showing us that we're sinners.25:52This is the victory that he's talking about here. That the wages of sin is death and Jesus Christ paid that wage with his death. It should have been me. But Jesus stepped in and died on your behalf. He said, I'll pay. You owe and can't pay. I don't owe, but I will pay on your behalf.26:22You see when Jesus did that he satisfied the demands of the law. So when you receive Jesus Christ death to you is the bee without the stinger. Oh it's still around. And it's annoying. And we still might be a little afraid of it but we realize you know what?26:52can't do any damage because it doesn't have a stinger. Look at verse 57. He says, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. You should underline that in your Bible. God gives us the victory.27:22He won the victory. What did He do with it? He goes, here, I'm going to give this to you. Now you are the winner. He defeated death by rising from the dead and gave the victory to us. And every time I read and think about this verse, I always think of the same thing. Jane Hour knows exactly what I'm going to say. I always think of the same thing. 1990, Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan put up 69 points in one game.27:5269 points in one game. It's astounding, right? But on Jordan's team, there was a rookie teammate. And his name is Stacy King. Well, they left this rookie in late in the game. And he made one free throw. He made one free throw. Well, in the post-game press conference, obviously, the reporters were all like wanting to talk to Michael Jordan and they were all swarming him, wanting to hear from the goat, right? Let's hear from Michael Jordan. But Stacey King was able to get in a comment. One of my all-time favorite sports quotes, Stacey King said, I will always remember this as the night that Michael Jordan and I combined to score 70 points.28:55And you realize, in a very real sense, that's exactly what Jesus has done for us. You see, Jesus won the victory. Jesus put up all the points. And He gives the victory to us, so we stand here on Sunday, and we're like, Jesus, we won! Jesus, the enemy is defeated! And it really had nothing to do with us.29:22But we get to celebrate the victory. That's why we can come to church and say, you know, I'm always going to remember Calvary as the day that Jesus and I gained victory over death. He defeated the greatest enemy. Jesus' victory is the greatest victory. Number three, because He gives us the greatest purpose.29:52us the greatest purpose. Last verse. He says, therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Therefore, because of everything that we've studied in 1 Corinthians 15, therefore, because we know Jesus was Therefore, because it motivates our conduct. Therefore, because of the promise that we will be resurrected. Therefore, because of what our resurrected bodies are going to be like. Therefore, because Jesus defeated death. He says, therefore, be steadfast. Steadfast, that word literally means sitting. It means sitting.30:52And people are like, you know, sitting is the new smoking. Have you heard that? Sitting is the new smoking. Sitting is my favorite thing. Okay? Don't ruin it for me. But that's what it means. It's being settled. It's not being distracted. Just like, look, I believe in Jesus. He died for me. He rose for me. He gave me these promises. I'm resting in that. I'm settled. I'm not chasing after.31:22anything else. I'm settled in Christ. He says, be immovable. You know what that word means in the Greek? Not moving. Bless you. It means being rooted. He's saying, hey, because of all of these glorious promises, hold your position. Don't waver. Keep God's promises on the forefronts of your mind as a motivator.31:53He says, always abounding in the work of the Lord, always abounding. Yes, yes, it's going to be difficult at times. Yes, hard times are going to come. Yes, our schedules are going to fill up. But Jesus gave us the greatest purpose in church. Listen, we've got limited time to do it. He says, knowing, knowing, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.32:22And church, this is a promise from God that we need to constantly be reminding ourselves of. Listen, everything that is done for the Lord, in the name of the Lord, empowered by the Lord, everything that is done for the kingdom of Jesus Christ, it all matters. It all matters. It says, your labor in the Lord is not in vain. I was thinking about that this week. That so much of life, is spending time doing things that end up being in vain, right? You know what I mean? We spend so much time on things that we're like, wow, that was a complete waste of time. Like, have you ever washed your car? And then, what happens? It rains, right? You're like, well, that was a waste of time. Or, have you ever, like, got this new recipe? You spend, like, all this time making this, making, oh, this is going to be fantastic, and then you, You put it in the oven and you get distracted with something else. You forget about it and you burn it. Have you ever done that? You're like, well, that was a waste. That was a waste. I spent all that time and it's in vain. You ever spend all day at work on a project and when you're just at the finish line, your boss says, oh, you know what? There have been some changes. I'm going to need you to all that and start over.33:56Has that ever happened to you?34:00It's in vain, right?34:02You're like, all that work meant nothing.34:09So much time is wasted because of extenuating circumstances, but the thing that really convicts me is when I think about how much time we choose to waste.34:25How much time do we choose to waste?34:32And I've got to tell you, church, it always astounds me when I talk to people who are like, well, I don't have time to serve in the church.34:40It doesn't matter that there's rotating teams for all the ministries, and usually service might be like once or twice a month.34:46I don't have time to serve.34:48I don't have time to help out in Harvest Academy.34:50I don't have time to join a small group. I don't have time to come to a prayer service. And then the thing that astounds me is in the same breath, you can like change the subject and talk about something else and find out that the person had plenty of time to doom scroll or to watch or attend sports all week or they'll say, oh yeah, you know, I love that show Stranger Things. You know, I binge watched that twice last week. And like, really?35:20to a prayer service had how many hours to sit and watch and re-watch a TV show? And you're like, hey man, I didn't come here for a guilt trip. Listen, please hear me. I'm not trying to give you a guilt trip. I just want to ask you and I want to ask myself, the stuff that we spend our time on, Can we really step back and say, yeah, yeah, that was worth it. That was worth it. I'm glad I spent all that time. Can we really, church, can we really be content to say, oh, I don't have time, Jesus. I don't have time for small group of prayer services. I don't have time, Jesus. And then fill up our calendars with these other things. Are we okay with that?36:22I was wondering, you know, would you be embarrassed if Jesus looked at your Google calendar? If Jesus showed up and he's like, hey, notice you were on a prayer service. Like, oh, I don't have time. Let me see your calendar. Let's see what you did have time for. And you thought your time this week was better spent doing this than assembling with the people of God and crying out.36:50out for me. Would you be embarrassed? I mean, church, at the end of the day, when you lie down, you put your head in the pillow, can you look back on your day and say, yeah, you know what? I invested my day in things that matter for eternity. Again, I'm not trying to beat anybody up. I'm just saying, when we say I don't have time to serve the Lord. I think we need to be really careful that the real truth of the matter isn't actually I just choose to spend my time doing other things. Because he says here in the Lord, Your labor's not in vain. Whatever's done for Jesus, it matters. It all matters. And some would say, well, wait, wait, wait, wait. You know, once upon a time, you know what? I did this thing for the Lord. It was a complete waste of time. You know, people didn't respond the way I think they should. Actually, nobody showed up. And it was a complete waste of time. I didn't see any results. Well, it doesn't really matter what you see, does it?38:20God has said it matters.38:24God says it matters.38:26So, so, we disciple our children.38:31Why?38:31Because it all matters.38:34We go to small groups to sharpen each other because it all matters.38:38We gather here to serve the Lord by serving people because it matters.38:43It all matters.38:44We witness at work because it all matters.38:47We get involved in LifeWise and Urban Impact and Vision Appalachia. Why do we do that? Because God says it all matters. Because we have the greatest purpose. If our worship team would make their way back up front, you know, we have the greatest prize. It's eternal life.39:17We have the greatest victory because the greatest enemy has been defeated. Death? Where's your sting, death? We have the greatest enemy defeated. We also have the greatest purpose. Because God promised that everything we do for the kingdom is from a position of victory. We've already won. In church, the trumpet is about to blow.39:47Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for that glorified body? Are you ready to be in the presence of your Lord forever? When that trumpet blows, may it be while we are laboring Let's pray. Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for Your glorious promises.40:32You have promised us a body like the body of the resurrected Christ.40:38You have promised us that someday death is going to be history.40:44And Father, today, today, you have promised that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. That Father, everything we do in the name of Jesus for the advancement of his kingdom, it all matters. So Father, I pray that you would reinvigorate all of us, each of us, collectively, individually, Father. Every home, you would just revive us to this idea that it all matters in your eyes.41:14So it should matter in ours. Father, we thank you that we're not scraping by hoping that someday you're going to win. Father, we are operating from a position of victory because Jesus Christ has already won. And his victory is so sure that we operate from the position of already having Having gotten the W. Father, thank you. Father, by your spirit and by your word, move us, motivate us to glorify your name. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 15:50-58What was your big take-away from this passage / message?The believer's resurrection happens at the Rapture (1 Cor 15:52). What reasons do we have to believe the Rapture will happen before the 7 Year Tribulation?Explain 1 Cor 15:56 in your own words.Where is the biggest temptation for you to waste time? Are you doing anything to redeem any time being wasted?BreakoutPray for one another.

September 6, 2026 | Green Pastures Sermon Series | "Keep God Mysterious" | Exodus 32:1, 4-10, Exodus 20:4-5 | Rev. Tyler Wilson by

By Brian Shaw - We are only prepared to keep God's Fall Holy Days in this age when we are preparing for their future fulfillment in the age to come.

Be Strong and Courageous | Joshua 1:6-9 | Pastor Josef Rasheed In this encouraging message from Joshua 1:6-9, Pastor Josef Rasheed challenges both Pastor Dave and the Redeemer congregation to embrace God's command: “Be strong and courageous.” Just as Joshua was called to lead Israel after the death of Moses, believers today are called to trust God's promises, follow His Word, and courageously fulfill His purposes. Key Scripture Joshua 1:6-9 (NIV) 6. Be Strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you ay have good success wherever you go. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Main Challenges and Encouragements Theme: "Be Strong and Courageous" (Joshua 1:6-9) Pastor Rasheed's message centered on God's repeated command to Joshua: "Be strong and courageous." He applied this challenge both to Pastor Dave as a leader and to the Redeemer congregation as followers of Christ. Challenges 1. Accept God's Calling and Leadership Just as Joshua was commissioned to lead Israel after Moses, Pastor Dave has been commissioned by God to lead the church into its next season. Leadership requires faith, perseverance, and dependence on God rather than personal strength. 2. Lead People Across Their Fears The Jordan River represented the fears and obstacles facing Israel. Believers are called to trust God through uncertainty and help others move beyond fear into faith. 3. Obey God's Word Completely Pastor Rasheed emphasized Joshua 1:7-8, calling believers to:  Obey Scripture faithfully. Keep God's Word on their lips. Meditate on it day and night. Allow God's truth to guide every decision. 4. Walk in Spiritual Freedom Christians are called to live free from traditions, habits, and bondages that keep them from fully following Christ. The congregation is challenged to help others experience the freedom found in Jesus. 5. Support and Pray for Church Leadership The church was urged to stand with Pastor Dave through prayer, encouragement, unity, and faithful service. Rather than participating in criticism or division, believers should lift up their leaders before God. 6. Stand Firm in a Culture Moving Away from God The congregation was challenged to remain faithful to biblical truth even when society rejects Christian values. Parents were specifically encouraged to raise their children in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Encouragements 1. God Commissions Those He Calls Throughout Scripture, God called and equipped people such as Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah, Paul, and Joshua. If God calls someone to a task, He will also provide the strength and resources to accomplish it. 2. God Is Always Present The central encouragement came from Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 

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"Ten Conversations: How to Keep God First" by Pastor Quinton Self was recorded on Sunday, July 26th, 2026, during service at The Anchor Church in Rockport, Maine. SERMON NOTES Read sermon notes from other great sermons: https://theanchor.me/sermon-notes/ Subscribe to The ANCHOR Church podcast on iTunes to receive automatic downloads of new episodes and listen to previously recorded sermons. https://apple.co/2u1UBkj

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Welcome to another episode of Invest & Scale! In today's conversation, we sit down with Jimmy Rousey, a seasoned entrepreneur and mentor whose journey from small‑town beginnings to billion‑dollar growth is built on grit, faith, and generosity. He reflects on decades of acquisitions, lessons from both wins and failures, and why values‑aligned partnerships are essential in business.Jimmy also shares the principles guiding his decisions, his approach to mentorship, and the inspiration behind his book Call to Care, which challenges us to integrate faith, purpose, and generosity into every investment. Whether you're an acquisition entrepreneur, investor, or seeking purpose‑driven insights, this episode delivers wisdom you won't want to miss.00:00 Defining the triple bottom line06:32 First time acquiring a business08:38 Building a diverse investment portfolio11:59 Navigating SBA loan programs16:11 Partnering on investment deals18:34 Discussing startup execution challenges20:30 Being bold and handling setbacks25:49 The importance of earning respect27:07 Unexpected impact of book sales31:18 Defining personal financial contentment1. Early Career and Banking - Jimmy grew up in a small town, skipped college, and pursued real estate and auctioneering before meeting Jess Correll. He joined First Southern National Bank when it held $21M in assets; it later grew to $1.2B.2. Culture and Faith - He realized all assets belonged to God, donated 10% of pre‑tax earnings to a foundation, and embraced the triple bottom line. The bank thrived even after his retirement.3. Mentorship - Jimmy distinguishes workplace mentorship from deeper faith‑based mentoring. Guided by Jess Correll and others, he continues mentoring students and prison ministry participants.4. Acquisition Mindset - Inspired by entrepreneurial banking initiatives, he bought and turned around troubled banks, expanded into royalties, land, oil, and equities, and stressed the importance of strong partners.5. Partnership Lessons - Success included a $7.5M investment sold for $120M. Failures became education. He identifies four partner types and emphasizes vetting and spending time with them.6. Debt and Lending - Jimmy advocates financial stability, avoiding excessive debt, and quick repayment of SBA 7A loans. Compass Financial principles guided borrowers toward healthier outcomes.7. Deal Structures - He prefers equal capital plus industry knowledge partnerships, is cautious with sweat equity, and notes differences between venture risk and acquisitions.8. Startups vs. Existing Businesses - His track record: 0 for 13 in startups. Execution and distribution matter more than ideas; superior products failed without strong distribution.9. Faith in Business - Prayer and Christian principles were integrated voluntarily. Employees ran support funds, Compass classes, and generosity initiatives in a non‑coercive environment.10. Call to Care - Encouraged by his wife, Jimmy authored Call to Care, a framework for growing people professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. CARE stands for Calling, Attitude, Respect, Excellence. He shares humility about failures and family traditions teaching generosity.11. Growth and Legacy - He redefines growth by asking “how much is enough?” and focuses on giving rather than accumulating. Conferences on generosity reinforced contentment. His legacy centers on love and spiritual encouragement for family.12. Hope and Encouragement - Mentorship is rooted in hope. Prison ministry examples show transformation. Encouragement is a powerful investment in others.13. Advice for Entrepreneurs - Integrate faith, mission, and business. Avoid money‑only focus; honor God in ventures. Transforming business culture post‑acquisition shows perseverance leads to success.14. Closing Thoughts - Jimmy advises: get facts, ask questions, avoid emotional decisions, and pray. Keep God central in business. The episode closes with thanks and encouragement.

Have you ever shared something with AI that you didn't want to say out loud to someone else, or found yourself feeling comforted by the response? Let's talk about AI and emotional health, and whether it's actually helping or quietly replacing something more important. In this episode, I'm walking through the benefits, the risks, and how to use AI in a way that supports your emotional growth without replacing your relationship with God or a real connection with others. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN [00:00] Is It OK to Use AI to Manage Your Emotions? [03:00] Why So Many People Are Turning to AI for Emotional Support [07:00] What Are the Hidden Risks of Using AI This Way? [10:00] Why AI Can Reinforce Your Perspective Instead of Challenging It [12:00] What Role Does Accountability Play in Emotional Growth? [13:00] Why AI Can't Replace Real Human Connection [15:00] How Can You Use AI in a Healthy, Balanced Way? [17:00] What Does It Look Like to Keep God at the Center of This Process? RESOURCES: If you've been using AI to process your emotions, take a moment to reflect on how you're using it. Is it supporting your growth, or is it becoming a substitute for something deeper? Start by bringing your emotions to God first, and then use tools wisely as support—not replacement. If you want to learn a practical way to process your emotions with God, check out the A.D.D. method in Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture. RELATED EPISODES: Ep 341 — Step #1 to Calming Emotional Spirals: Notice + Name Your Feelings Ep 342 — Help for Emotional Overreaction in Relationships Ep 350 — Why Is It So Hard to Surrender and “Let Them”? Send us Fan Mail

Sunday, April 12, 2026 Discovering Jesus Through the Bible | Keep God at the Center Exodus 31:1-14 Pastor Ben Price How quickly our hearts drift when God isn't first. Like Israel and the golden calf, we often turn to what feels immediate or controllable. This message calls us back to trust, surrender, and keeping God at the center—especially in the waiting. 3 Key Points: Drift happens when we lose focus on God Idols can be subtle (comfort, control, success) God's mercy calls us back to center Connect with us at www.bcn.org! Need prayer? We would love to pray for you, simply submit your request here.

Pastor Terry reflects on Psalm 119:5 and the psalmist's deep desire to keep God's statutes, connecting it to Paul's struggle in Romans 7 and Jesus' teaching that true obedience begins in the heart. He urges believers to walk in the Spirit, rely on Christ's deliverance, and choose daily surrender to experience victory over the flesh.

Travel can be life-giving — and still throw your routine completely off.If you're a woman who struggles with self-doubt, overwhelm, or anxiety around “doing enough,” this episode is for you.In today's video, I am sharing how to stay in routine while traveling without guilt, pressure, or perfectionism. You'll learn how to approach consistency in a way that's faith-centered, flexible, and rooted in peace — not performance.This conversation is for faith-first women who want to:✨ Stay connected to God while traveling✨ Maintain routines without burnout✨ Release anxiety around “falling off track”✨ Experience consistency as joy, not obligationYou'll walk away encouraged that consistency is possible — and it doesn't have to be difficult.

In The War of Words Part 2, we're going deeper into one of the most overlooked spiritual battles: the war over your words.If you missed Part 1, Jay unpacked:How “words that heal and words that hurt” (Proverbs 12:18, 15:1) can either stab like a sword or bring life and peaceWhy guarding your mouth is guarding your life—because what comes out of your mouth reveals your level of self-control and shapes your decisionsHow heaven is recording every idle word, and why your tongue is like fire: it can burn down relationships, reputations, businesses and even your God-given assignmentIn Part 2, Jay takes it further and gets practical about how to win this war:Use words to build, not breakLearn what it really means to let “no corrupt communication” come out of your mouth (Ephesians 4:29) and to let your speech be “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Jay breaks down how to correct without crushing, and how to give strategic encouragement that actually edifies.Align your mouth with your heart (your spirit)Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable…” Jay shows how your words are the overflow of your heart—your spirit—and how misaligned beliefs (“I'll never get over this,” “I'll always be stuck”) become self-fulfilling prophecies. You'll hear powerful personal stories of loss, grief, and how God gave peace in the middle of it all.See the pictures behind your wordsWords are more than sounds—they're pictures impressed on your spirit. Jay explains how wrong mental pictures led to a literal headache, and how simply changing the “inner words” and images made it disappear. You'll be challenged to attach clear, faith-filled pictures to your words about purpose, money, family, and calling.Activate Joshua 1:8 in your lifeJay unpacks Joshua 1:8 as a life framework:Keep God's word in your mouthMeditate on it day and nightDo what it says…and watch God make your way prosperous and give you good success. You'll see how your assignment, your purpose, and your words all connect in the Kingdom.Finally, Jay issues a 3-Day Speak Life Challenge to help you put this into action immediately:No complainingNo gossipGive at least 3 intentional, sincere encouragements every dayIf you're ready to stop letting careless words sabotage your life—and start speaking like a citizen of the Kingdom—this episode is your blueprint.Books and ResourcesNext Level Faith Book - https://a.co/d/9h2mU7RBeyond Tax Strategy - https://a.co/d/2zdDBmDLiving Life on the Next Level Book - https://a.co/d/ePjCOUzSubscribe on Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/account-for-your-life/id1505029992Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5iYSUx3ulmPMxs259MSyQL?si=284abe9a965e435aSubscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thehealthyaccountant

We wrestle with cognitive dissonance, the quiet lies that let us call ourselves good while doing harm. We push into faith, accountability, fatherhood, influence, forgiveness, and how to raise boys who can carry a heavy world• slavery analogy used to explain cheating and self-deception• clear definition of cognitive dissonance and why it sticks• gratitude practice and faith after the blessing arrives• Chicago pride and media narratives balanced with responsibility• influence of circles and the ripple effect of one choice• voicemail on caring for an estranged, ill father and conscience-led action• forgiveness with boundaries and peace you can live with• masculinity myths, validation from men, and truth about “player” stress• losing good partners, therapy, and better communication• boy moms preparing sons through standards, discipline, and competence• happiness as a decision anchored in service and growthKeep God first, man. Keep God first.Join our Patreon Community Buy some merch and ebooks IG: @terryroseland & @amansperspective_

WATCH NOW: https://youtu.be/8SVoIYq2HzEFamily… this episode is different.This is healing, honesty, and God's grace in real time.Nathan Davis Jr sits down with me and shares a story most people would hide. He lost his little brother to suicide. Losing 14 family members. Watching his mother fight for her life in the hospital. Going broke. Feeling alone. Almost giving up.And still… somehow… God met him in his room and changed everything.If you've ever battled depression, grief, survival mode, suicidal thoughts, or the weight of being a Black man in America with no blueprint… this conversation is for you.You're going to hear:• How God grabbed him when he was ready to quit• The moment he heard God say “I love you”• How “Woke Up This Morning” was born out of chaos• How losing everything forced him to surrender• What forgiveness looks like for fathers and sons• Why relationship with God hits different when life breaks you• How men can love, lead, and heal• And why obedience opened doors he didn't even knock onShare this with somebody who needs hope today.Share this with a young Black man who feels lost.Share this with a parent trying to reach their son.We're building safe spaces for real conversations.No judgment. No shame. Just love, truth, and growth.Flatout!00:00 The moment everything changed01:25 Losing his little brother and 14 family members03:02 Depression, suicidal thoughts, and feeling lost04:40 First real encounter with God06:07 Writing “Woke Up This Morning” in chaos07:30 Obedience, surrender, and God multiplying the little09:10 Going viral with no label, no budget10:56 Family suicide, grief, and advocacy12:08 Finding relationship with God vs religion13:50 How friends planted seeds spiritually15:20 Love, relationships, and learning to lead as a man17:33 The type of woman he prays for19:46 Father wounds and reconciling with his dad22:40 Understanding parents as humans24:10 Healing father-son relationship after loss26:22 Forgiveness, growth, and emotional maturity27:58 How his testimony changes others29:42 Building a team around faith and purpose31:00 Encouragement for anybody going through darkness32:45 Final message: Keep God first✨ Connect with us:Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32743148

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

A powerful journey into the depths of God's grace—not as a doctrine to admire but as the very heartbeat of the Gospel. This series exposes the difference between law and grace as two opposing ways of relating to God, warning against the dangers of mixing them, and revealing the freedom, identity, and victory found only in pure grace. Part 4: Grace is not Empowerment to Keep God's Law.

Today's Promise: Joshua 1:8 God's Word is filled with success principles. As you obey His Word, He will bless you and bring about your success. God gave Joshua a three-step process for achieving success and prosperity. 1. Keep God's Word Close to Your Heart. 2. Meditate on God's Word. 3. Obey God's Word. As you discover, meditate, and obey God's Word, the Holy Spirit is able to lead you through your day. The principles of God's Word will become part of your thinking and living.

Work doesn’t always look or feel the way we imagined. Sometimes, the job we prayed for ends up feeling draining, and we struggle to find joy in our daily tasks. Yet, as our daily prayer and devotional on Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, our work is not about our comfort—it’s about trusting God with the assignment He’s given us. When we shift our focus from ourselves to God’s purpose, even the most ordinary or frustrating responsibilities can become opportunities to glorify Him. Our workplace becomes a mission field, where conversations, attitudes, and actions can shine Christ’s light into the lives of coworkers and clients. The key is to acknowledge God in all our ways—to invite Him into our tasks, our meetings, and even our frustrations. As we lean on Him instead of our own understanding, He gives us peace, perspective, and joy to serve faithfully each day. Today's Bible Reading: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) Key Takeaways God places us in our workplaces for a greater purpose. Our jobs become a mission field when we focus on serving Him first. Choosing joy and gratitude can transform frustration into fruitful ministry. Trusting God with our workday aligns us with His greater plan. Let’s Pray Together Lord, thank You for my job and the opportunities it provides. Help me see my workplace as a mission field and my tasks as ways to glorify You. Guard me from complaining or discouragement, and instead fill me with Your peace, focus, and joy. Use me today to shine Your light to those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Related Resources & Articles 5 Ways to Keep God at the Center of Your Workday – Crosswalk.com How to Find Joy in Everyday Work – Christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Paul continues his exhortation to Timothy of what to teach as a faithful pastor for God. Bodily workouts are beneficial in the short term, Paul says, but exerting oneself towards godliness is beneficial both in the short-term and for eternity. Keep God the major priority for life. 1 Timothy 4:6-11 Taught Sunday morning, September 21, … Continue reading Exercising Godliness →

In the pages of your Bible, you may find something mildly surprising. You find holidays, quite prominently, and in both Testaments. Not only that, but they are found observed by the Church in the New Testament. These festivals are called the appointed times of Jehovah and around them flow the entire history of the people of God—from the Israelites, to the Jews, to the Christians of every race and nation. And not only the history of God's people, but their future as well.I first began celebrating the festivals of the Bible nearly 50 years ago, but I can't say that I really understood them in the beginning. What I did was to follow the old rule: When all else fails, do as you're told. So, since God said to do it, and all I had to do was take off work and go to church, I thought, Let's do that. That was a simple first step. And because it was the custom to teach and study the meaning of the days in their seasons, year by year I learned the rich history of God's dealings with his people, especially at those pivotal points in their history, like the original Passover.To those of us who have been keeping the holy days for years—in some cases, for all of our lives—the practice seems so natural, so right. We all know what blessings we get from it, we all know how encouraging it is to us, we know what it means to us to spend that eight days together and how uplifted we can be when we go home from the Feast of Tabernacles. The scriptures supporting the practice seem so obvious. Why doesn't everyone see it? Why, we wonder, doesn't everyone observe the holy days?The most obvious reason, frankly, is that most Christians know little or nothing about the holy days. They just have never heard of them. One person will say Feast of Tabernacles, and another will say, What? They just frankly have no idea. For many of them, the Old Testament is about as uncharted as the Atlantic was for Christopher Columbus. They really don't know where anything is if they wanted to look for it.For those that are maybe a little more familiar with the Bible, the holy days have been dismissed as being Jewish and irrelevant to Christians. That's part of the Old Testament religion, and we have a New Testament religion; and they just make that simple demarcation and never really inquire any further along the line.A few people, on the other hand, have studied the subject and arrived at a conscious decision not to observe the holy days. Why? What is the rational, philosophic, theological, or scriptural basis for people to make that decision?I found to my surprise that studying the reasons that people advance as to why they do not keep the holy days has turned out to be a very useful study. A number of very interesting things have arisen from it—things that I guess I had taken for granted, had not really looked at as carefully as I might have done; and in the process of asking myself the question that I've asked you—Why is it everybody doesn't keep the holy days?—and beginning to look carefully at the reasons advanced by those who don't, I have found some things that have turned out to be rather interesting to me.Note: The article Ron mentions in the conclusion of this message later became an appendix in his book on the holy days, The Thread, titled In Defense of the Holydays. That appendix can be read here.

In the pages of your Bible, you may find something mildly surprising. You find holidays, quite prominently, and in both Testaments. Not only that, but they are found observed by the Church in the New Testament. These festivals are called the appointed times of Jehovah and around them flow the entire history of the people of God—from the Israelites, to the Jews, to the Christians of every race and nation. And not only the history of God's people, but their future as well.I first began celebrating the festivals of the Bible nearly 50 years ago, but I can't say that I really understood them in the beginning. What I did was to follow the old rule: When all else fails, do as you're told. So, since God said to do it, and all I had to do was take off work and go to church, I thought, Let's do that. That was a simple first step. And because it was the custom to teach and study the meaning of the days in their seasons, year by year I learned the rich history of God's dealings with his people, especially at those pivotal points in their history, like the original Passover.To those of us who have been keeping the holy days for years—in some cases, for all of our lives—the practice seems so natural, so right. We all know what blessings we get from it, we all know how encouraging it is to us, we know what it means to us to spend that eight days together and how uplifted we can be when we go home from the Feast of Tabernacles. The scriptures supporting the practice seem so obvious. Why doesn't everyone see it? Why, we wonder, doesn't everyone observe the holy days?The most obvious reason, frankly, is that most Christians know little or nothing about the holy days. They just have never heard of them. One person will say Feast of Tabernacles, and another will say, What? They just frankly have no idea. For many of them, the Old Testament is about as uncharted as the Atlantic was for Christopher Columbus. They really don't know where anything is if they wanted to look for it.For those that are maybe a little more familiar with the Bible, the holy days have been dismissed as being Jewish and irrelevant to Christians. That's part of the Old Testament religion, and we have a New Testament religion; and they just make that simple demarcation and never really inquire any further along the line.A few people, on the other hand, have studied the subject and arrived at a conscious decision not to observe the holy days. Why? What is the rational, philosophic, theological, or scriptural basis for people to make that decision?I found to my surprise that studying the reasons that people advance as to why they do not keep the holy days has turned out to be a very useful study. A number of very interesting things have arisen from it—things that I guess I had taken for granted, had not really looked at as carefully as I might have done; and in the process of asking myself the question that I've asked you—Why is it everybody doesn't keep the holy days?—and beginning to look carefully at the reasons advanced by those who don't, I have found some things that have turned out to be rather interesting to me.Note: The article Ron mentions in the conclusion of this message later became an appendix in his book on the holy days, The Thread, titled In Defense of the Holydays. That appendix can be read here.

God's Word, Bible, Parkwood, Barefield

Pastor David CookeJuly 27, 2025

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

This is what we're yapping about in this 166th episode.   GP's week (01:18) AD"s week (06:27) Time to get angry at Hollywood body shaming and Astronomer Ceo Andy Byron in CALL IT OUT! (11:43) Three Nigerian men doll themselves up as Arab women gets caught up with the idea to make a name for themselves. (28:23) Quick Bits! Where we talk real news real fast! (40:49) Our interview with Mr. Wade Simmons a Chicago based filmmaker and funeral service worker who lives by The Motto to Keep GOD first. (49:49) Our review of James Gunn's Superman. (1:31:13) Our Top 3 current Supermen. (1:54:38) Positive Chakra  (2:03:46) Yell outs before we head out. (2:05:34) #Like #Comment #Rate #Suscribe  Check out Wades short films here. Wade Simmons For all things about the show, check out the link tree linktr.ee/Callitlikeidontseei

Pastor Daniel FrankJuly 13, 2025

Pastor David CookeJuly 6, 2024

Father Hudgins' homily: Don't Keep God Waiting

Struggling with the command to “be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth” when you're still single and childless? This episode will change how you see it—forever. In today's conversation, I'm unpacking one of the most quoted scriptures and showing you how it applies to you—yes, even if you never marry or have kids. You'll learn how being fruitful, multiplying, and replenishing the earth isn't just about diapers and wedding rings. It's about growth, influence, and bringing goodness into the world. If you've ever felt left out of God's plan because of your marital status, I hope you'll listen in. You're not behind. You're not disqualified. You're already living this command—one faithful act at a time.

Are we watching Bible prophecy unfold before our very eyes? Or are the nations following a script designed to mimic the End Times? As bombs rain down between Israel and Iran, the world watches in slumber — desensitized, distracted, and deceived.In this message, I reveal the real identity of Mystery Babylon, using clear scripture that points to modern-day Israel as the “Great City” spoken of in Revelation.We are witnessing fire from heaven, peace deals on the horizon, and a global stage set for the abomination of desolation.

MMA fighter Marina Robles reminds us of God is at the center that everything else will fall in place

In a season of Stillness—but I'm still here. ❤️‍

When questions of faith shake the foundation of one partner's belief, what happens to the marriage built on shared spiritual foundation? On this week's episode, David and Catie Borland share the story of a season of searching that spanned years and how a marriage rooted in open communication, faith and love helped them cleave to one another through it all—and ultimately resulted in stronger faith than ever before. 1:41- Foundations 3:26- An Unintended Destination 4:57- An Open Line of Communication 7:32- An All-Consuming Search For Truth 12:25- The Modern-Day Wrestle 19:54- ‘Where Would Satan Start?' 28:20- All a Spouse Can Do 37:54- Leaning Into the Parts You Love 45:10- Falling in Love 54:00- Encouragement For Others 58:40- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? “This isn't an emergency. Drop your shoulders, exhale. Keep God in this first and foremost. Cut out the distractions…and find out what God thinks and what God wants you to know.”

Cuhmunity Ep 226 w/ Stunnaman02 | Keep GOD In Ya LIFE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send me a Text Message!When Jesus died on the cross, the viel in the temple, which kept everyone away from the very holy presence of God, that curtain was torn in two. We've all thought that the message in that moment was "Come. You're invited. Come into God's presence." But what if God tore the curtain in two as a way of saying, "I will not be put in a box. Walls cannot contain me."  That could change everything.Do you understand? Since the resurrection, any place can be a sacred space, because Christ is let loose and His presence brings the sacred to every space He touches. There is no box that can keep God in!

Today I'm sharing 5 practical ways for working moms to create a Christ-centered home—even when life feels overwhelming. As busy moms, we often feel stretched thin, but it's possible to cultivate an atmosphere of faith, peace, and grace in the midst of our hectic schedules. Tune in for simple, actionable tips to build a home where God's presence is felt daily. In this episode, you'll learn: Start with Your Heart and Mindset Learn how the foundation of a Christ-centered home begins with you! Discover the importance of being spiritually anchored in Christ to build a home that reflects His love and peace. Set the Spiritual Tone with Daily Rhythms Explore easy ways to weave faith into everyday routines, including morning prayers, mealtime gratitude, and bedtime scripture. Create a spiritual rhythm that aligns with your busy schedule. Create an Atmosphere of Peace and Grace Find out how to transform your home into a refuge of peace, grace, and encouragement. Discover how letting go of perfectionism and establishing boundaries can foster a peaceful home environment. Keep God at the Center of Decision-Making Learn how to surrender your daily decisions to God and ensure that your choices support the nurturing of faith within your family. Model Faith in Everyday Life Hear how your actions speak louder than words and how modeling faith through everyday moments can leave a lasting impact on your children. A Christ-centered home isn't about perfection. It's about inviting God into the chaos and allowing His presence to shape your family life. Start small—whether it's praying with your kids, playing worship music, or surrendering your home to God in prayer.   #ChristCenteredHome #WorkingMoms #FaithAndFamily #MomLifeBalance #FamilyFaith #ChristianMoms #PeacefulHome #FaithOverFear   If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review! Share this episode with a fellow mom who could use some encouragement in building a Christ-centered home. Join the conversation! What's one way you keep Christ at the center of your home? Reach out to us in our community (link down below)  

Keep God first in your life. Everything else will play out as it should. Pull up the anchors that hold you back and figure out where God wants you to be.Send us a text A 501C3 to combat the mental health struggles which come with service to the United States Support the showInfo@dailyamericanpodcast.com

Learn to keep God in the centre of every part of your life and see Him work in your life.

Keep God First In Your Life Every Single Day | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord.They shall be like a tree planted by water,sending out its roots by the stream.It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green." - Jeremiah 17:7-8Blessed are those whose trust IS the Love ❤️ He's already there.It's already done.It's like your prayer is the past.He's already answered you.As soon as you become aware of the prayer that is seemingly needed in the moment, from this moment on, you will smile and simply say, 'Thank you, God.'It's like the Light comes on in the middle of that needy prayer, and you smile, and thank Him. It is finished. Why worry?Float on 'em! ;) I love you, nik--Find playbacks of our Live Stream Rosary HERE on Youtube!--Blessed Rosaries will be back soon!--Our new book, 'Wake Up to Love' is HERE! Get your copy. Share a copy. Be the Love you wake up to.--Support GoOD Mornings on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/goodmorning________________QUOTESSurrender Novena Day 6"You are sleepless; you want to judge everything, direct everything and see to everything and you surrender to human strength, or worse – to men themselves, trusting in their intervention, – this is what hinders my words and my views. Oh how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you; and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me, surrender to me in everything. O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you I always want to belong completely to Jesus.Amen" - Father Ruotolo ******************"When you pray to God, do not make a list of the things you want, as you do for the supermarket. Leave your shopping list behind. Be alone, be hungry, and be awake. Take these three kinds of attentiveness with you and pray only to God. Keep God within your inner heart, be within God, and pray. Then all the forces ruling from within will leave you. In that state, the lone treasure becomes one with the Lone Treasure, and that is true worship."-M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen"I and the Father are one." - John 10:30 "The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive...Let that which He has ordained from all ages happen to me." - St. Faustina Diary, 386"When you pray, you only have to ask for two things: You should ask for the light to see the will of God, and you have to ask for the courage to be able to do the will of God." -Venerable Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz"Clinging to money is a lack of trust in God." - Maharajji, Neem Karoli Baba "We are in a worry culture. Every week what you stress about will shift to the next big thing If you choose to be ordinary, but you can choose to be different. When the situation arises, respond with, I don't know, but God does, and somehow this will all work out. Worry is a choice. Trust is the antidote. Choose to be different. The reward is peace."- Grace Yasmine"If you thank your mind, it will relax. If you thank your heart, it will open. If you thank your past, it will integrate. If you thank your symptoms, they will heal. If you thank your shadow, it will vanish. If you thank your life, it will transform. If you thank yourself, the light will dawn."- Matt Kahn 44 Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 | have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." - John 12: 44-46"He's there before he sends instructions. He's there before he puts that dream in your heart. He's there before he sends you to unfamiliar places. He's there. He's already there. He's there in the place of your worries. He's there in the place of fear. Long before you think about it, he's already there. So dear, proceed anyway. The step that you are afraid to take might be the step that you need."- @noellegallo_

Keep God At The Center Of Your Day (ALWAYS) | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook

When You Keep God First He Will Fight For You & Strengthen You | A Blessed Morning PrayerSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeTwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook

"It's Mailbag Friday! You've got questions, we've got answers!” Segment 1: • Faith Clubs at Public Schools? – Can a student-led Bible club really meet at a public school? • Witnessing in a Christian Bubble? – Is it possible to witness effectively in a Christian college? • God-Honoring Dating Tips? – How can I best honor God in my dating relationship? Segment 2: • Faithful Dating Advice – What does honoring God look like in dating? • Using Time Wisely in Love – How can men respect and honor women in relationships? Segment 3: • Manhood and Faith – What does real Christian manhood look like? • Prayer Power Boost – How can I make my prayer life stronger? Segment 4: • Struggling with Sin and Salvation? – When I sin, I doubt my salvation. Is my faith misplaced? • Do the Departed Watch Over Us? – Can loved ones in heaven see our lives on earth? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green." - Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed are those whose trust IS the Love.    He's already there. It's already done. It's like your prayer is the past. He's already answered you. As soon as you become aware of the prayer that is seemingly needed in the moment, from this moment on, you will smile and simply say, 'Thank you, God.' It's like the Light comes on in the middle of that needy prayer,  and you smile, and thank Him. It is finished. Why worry? Float on 'em! ;) I love you,  nik nikki@curlynikki.com Please support the show: ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings __________________________________________ I will be on hiatus for a week while I record the Audiobook for 'Wake Up to Love'! In the meantime, I'll be re-running the first Surrender Novena beginning on Monday. Please share it with a friend, pray it with them, change a life, change yours... more! ____________________________________ My new book, 'Wake Up to Love' is a lifetime in the making (and now a Top New Release, thanks to you!). Divinely inspired. Love led. And WILL bring forth the ‘more' in you. ❤️‍

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green." - Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed are those whose trust IS the Love ❤️   He's already there. It's already done. It's like your prayer is the past. He's already answered you. As soon as you become aware of the prayer that is seemingly needed in the moment,  from this moment on,  you will smile and simply say, 'Thank you, God.' It's like the Light comes on in the middle of that needy prayer,  and you smile,  and thank Him.  It is finished.  Why worry? Float on 'em! ;)  I love you,  nik  nikki@curlynikki.com Please support the show: ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings __________________________________________ Surrender Novena Day 6 "You are sleepless; you want to judge everything, direct everything and see to everything and you surrender to human strength, or worse – to men themselves, trusting in their intervention, – this is what hinders my words and my views. Oh how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you; and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me, surrender to me in everything.  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times) Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you I always want to belong completely to Jesus. Amen" - Father Ruotolo  ****************** "When you pray to God, do not make a list of the things you want, as you do for the supermarket. Leave your shopping list behind. Be alone, be hungry, and be awake. Take these three kinds of attentiveness with you and pray only to God. Keep God within your inner heart, be within God, and pray. Then all the forces ruling from within will leave you. In that state, the lone treasure becomes one with the Lone Treasure, and that is true worship."-M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen "I and the Father are one." - John 10:30  "The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive...Let that which He has ordained from all ages happen to me." - St. Faustina Diary, 386 "When you pray, you only have to ask for two things: You should ask for the light to see the will of God, and you have to ask for the courage to be able to do the will of God." -Venerable Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz "Clinging to money is a lack of trust in God." - Maharajji, Neem Karoli Baba  "We are in a worry culture. Every week what you stress about will shift to the next big thing If you choose to be ordinary, but you can choose to be different. When the situation arises, respond with, I don't know, but God does, and somehow this will all work out. Worry is a choice. Trust is the antidote. Choose to be different. The reward is peace."- Grace Yasmine "If you thank your mind, it will relax. If you thank your heart, it will open. If you thank your past, it will integrate. If you thank your symptoms, they will heal. If you thank your shadow, it will vanish. If you thank your life, it will transform. If you thank yourself, the light will dawn."- Matt Kahn  44 Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 | have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." - John 12: 44-46 "He's there before he sends instructions. He's there before he puts that dream in your heart. He's there before he sends you to unfamiliar places. He's there. He's already there. He's there in the place of your worries. He's there in the place of fear. Long before you think about it, he's already there. So dear, proceed anyway. The step that you are afraid to take might be the step that you need."- @noellegallo_