Podcasts about kingdom of god

Read Online“Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 7:16–17“So by their fruits you will know them.” This is how our Gospel passage for today concludes. It offers us an exceptionally practical way by which you can discern the working of God in your own life and in the life of others.When you look at your own life, what good fruit, born for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God, do you see? Some people may find little to no fruit born, either for good or bad. Such complacency is, in and of itself, bad fruit. Other people may see an abundance of fruit, thus producing many consequences in this world. They influence the lives of many, and their public actions make a true difference. Sometimes for good...and other times for evil.When discerning the actions of God in our world, we must first be very objective. The evil one is always very deceptive and regularly presents his bad fruit as good. For example, the legalization of abortion is often presented by many within our world as a “right to choose” or a “health service.” But the intentional death of any unborn child is clearly “bad fruit” from a “rotten tree.” There are even many so-called “humanitarian groups” or very wealthy “philanthropists” who present their work as “good fruit,” when it is anything but good. And on the contrary, there are many who work hard to bring forth a greater respect for life from the moment of conception to natural death, or strive to uphold the sacredness of marriage as God designed it, or work to promote the freedom to worship in accord with the will of God, but are labeled by the secular world as prejudiced, bigoted, fearmongers and even hateful. But their work, done very sacrificially, truly does bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God.How about your own life? When you examine your actions and the fruit born of those actions, from where does that fruit originate? Does it come from a false sense of compassion, a misguided “charity,” and a fear of being criticized for standing for the truth? Or does it come from a deep love of God, an awareness of the truth God has revealed to us, and through a courageous proclamation of the pure Gospel?Good fruit, born from the heart of the Father in Heaven, will always mirror the truths of our faith. A false sense of compassion, false accusations, persecutions and the like will flow from the rotten trees in our world. We must work diligently to be those good trees that bear the good fruit coming from God. This requires a radical commitment to do what is right in the face of the evil all around us. Reflect, today, upon these images Jesus presents. Do you see clearly both the good and bad fruit around you? Is your life helping to foster the lies of the evil one or the truth and love of God? Look at the fruit your life bears, as well as the fruit within our world, in an objective way, comparing it to the clear and unambiguous teachings of Jesus. Seek out that good fruit with all your heart and do all you can to bring it forth, no matter the cost, and you will not only save your soul, you will also help feed others with the good fruit of Heaven. My Lord of all truthfulness, You and You alone define the good and evil in our world. Your truth reveals the good fruit that is born to nourish the growth of Your glorious Kingdom. Give me courage and clarity of mind and heart so that I may continually do all that You call me to do so as to bring the good fruit of the Kingdom to all in need. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image - Jesus tells the Parable of the Barren Tree by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where together we journey through the pages of Scripture and warm our hearts by the fires of God's love. In today's episode, Host Hunter guides us through powerful stories from 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and 1 Timothy. We witness the dramatic rise of young King Joash, hidden away during a time of evil, and learn how God is always working behind the scenes—even when darkness seems to rule. As we explore the restoration of the temple and the steadfast hope of God's advancing kingdom, Hunter reminds us that grace is never transactional; it is given freely, before we've done a thing. Settle in as we seek encouragement, realign our hearts with God's truth, and remember together: you are deeply loved—no strings attached. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Seven years is a long time. That's how long Athaliah, the evil queen, ruled over the land and the people of God. Seven years had gone by since she committed unspeakable evil, murdering her own grandchildren. She wore the crown, her power seemed unshakable. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and the darkness of her reign must have felt never-ending for God's people. It can often feel, in our own lives, that evil is entrenched—that things will always remain as they are, with pain, injustice, or sorrow wearing the crown. But the story of Joash shows us something different: things are not always as they seem, and they will not always be as they are. Even when it looks as though evil is sitting on the throne, God is quietly at work, hidden away, preparing something new, something hopeful. Inside the temple, out of sight, there is a boy—a son. And at just the right moment, when all hope might seem lost, he is revealed. Joash's crowning is a signal: God's kingdom is advancing, even when we cannot see it, even when evil appears enthroned. The crown is placed on Joash's head, the true king is revealed, and the evil reign comes to an end. But Joash, as faithful as he may have been, is not the perfect king we ultimately need. His story, though hopeful, is unfinished and flawed. Our true King is Jesus, God's own Son, who does not falter or fail as Joash did. Jesus is the hidden King, waiting for the right time to be revealed in glory. He is at work—accomplishing all the Father asks, reigning forever. The evil that seems so strong will not last. The kingdom of God will be seen by all. The pages of Scripture remind us that God is always at work behind the scenes. His real King is alive and coming. In times when darkness lingers, when evil seems to rule, do not despair. Hold fast, by the Spirit's power, to the hope of His coming. See and hear this truth—your King is coming. That is my prayer for myself, my family, and for you, dear listener. May we hold on to the hope of Christ's reign, and may we remember: God is at work, even now, in ways we cannot see. Let this hope strengthen us and fill us with courage, as we wait for our King. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Jesus is my shepherd. You have called me by my name into the life of the Beloved. Here in the stillness, I remember that I am not alone. I belong to you and to the great communion of saints and sinners held together in your love. Remind me, Lord, that every breath is grace, every encounter is a chance to give what I have received—mercy without measure. When I forget who I am, when I lose my way, lead me again to still waters. Restore my soul. Renew my hope. Reroute me in the joy of simply being yours. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Is it OK to feel good about what God does through us? Can we take pride in the work we do for the kingdom of God? On The Bible Study Hour this week, Dr. James Boice looks at what Paul has to say about his work and ministry. Who gets the glory for the good things? Who gets the credit for the accomplishments? Join us this week for The Bible Study Hour. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29

This Is How It Ends unpacks the powerful truth behind Bible prophecy, spiritual warfare, and God's final plan. Discover why you don't have to fear the end—because God already wrote the story, and it ends in victory.Join us Sunday's 8:15 | 10:00 | 11:45 Authentic Church 2416 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601 (Beside Planet Fitness) GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

Children's Come Follow Me PodcastA Podcast for Children who go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints This week we study:Worth … the Riches of the Whole Earth”June 23–29: “Worth … the Riches of the Whole Earth”Doctrine and Covenants 67–70The Lord gave the revelations in the doctrine and covenants to Joseph Smith to help set up the kingdom of God on the earth in the last days. The Doctrine and Covenants is different from the Book of Mormon and bible, because it is not a translation of ancient documents; the Lord gave the revelations in D&C to His chosen prophets in our modern days in order to restore His kingdom. We learn all sorts of important things in the doctrine and covenants, like this week we learn kids should be baptized at the age of 8, we should center our homes around Jesus Christ, and that true and faithful friends help us follow Jesus Christ. If you want to hear the voice of the Lord, read the doctrine and covenants! You're listening to Come Follow Me Kids! A Come Follow Me Podcast. We are an interactive game play podcast for kids. This is a Doctrine and Covenants Podcast for Kids! Our podcast is called Come Follow Me Kids. Come Follow Me for kids that are primary aged 2-12 in the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We follow the come follow me manual from the church but are not officially affiliated in any way. Some audio segments come from the friend magazine and other church sources. On this podcast we play interactive games while learning about the gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ. If your children would like to be guests on this podcast, please email us at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com They can share their testimony about the restoration of the gospel, or share an experience they had with prayer, the Holy Ghost, or Missionary Work. Make sure they include their name and where they are from in the audio recording. And don't worry about your recording being perfect, we can edit out mistakes. Any sound file should work. If your children would like a baptism shout out, email us their name, and where they are from and we will add them to an upcoming episode. Use the same email listed above.

Rather than spend our time on useless worry, Jesus directs his disciples to "seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness." (Lectionary #370) June 21, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

In this episode, Aaron McManus and his father, Erwin McManus, dive into a deeply engaging Q&A, taking on listener-submitted questions around theology, scripture, and spiritual formation. They begin by opening up the format, inviting the community into the conversation, and encouraging engagement beyond the podcast through live discussions and the Mind Shift community platform. Aaron shares the structure for the episode, giving Erwin space to unpack major theological ideas while also fielding more personal and philosophical inquiries about belief, interpretation, and spiritual leadership. Their dynamic sets the tone for an open, curious, and deeply reflective exchange of ideas.A core question raised early in the episode is whether the Bible is infallible. Erwin answers by distinguishing between the perfection of truth and the imperfection of its human messengers. He explains that though written by fallible individuals, the Bible's intent is not deception but revelation—it is true in what it reveals about God and humanity. Drawing parallels to scientific principles, he likens scripture to the discovery of infallible truths by imperfect people. This launches a broader conversation about the purpose of the Bible—not just to know scripture, but to know God through it.As the episode deepens, Aaron and Erwin explore resources and tools for better understanding scripture. Erwin emphasizes learning in community, where questions are not only allowed but necessary for growth. He reflects on his own early study practices, which included studying Greek and Hebrew and relying on commentaries and physical books. Their discussion touches on how historical and cultural context shapes interpretation and how staying connected to the original languages can preserve nuance often lost in translation. They also reflect on the influence of decisions made at the Council of Nicaea and how certain texts were excluded from the canon.The episode also tackles big theological concepts, including the Trinity, the nature of heaven and hell, and the role of Satan in Genesis. Erwin breaks down the idea of the Trinity with metaphors and references to scripture, highlighting the relational and dynamic nature of God. When asked why Satan was allowed in the garden, Erwin suggests that love demands freedom and trust. Regarding the afterlife, he stresses that the Kingdom of God is a present reality, more pressing than abstract speculation about heaven or hell. He offers a bold view on Jesus' descent into hell and the possibility of it being “emptied,” emphasizing grace over fear.Finally, they touch on more speculative areas like the Nephilim and the Book of Enoch, while anchoring their theological foundation in the canonical scriptures. Erwin encourages curiosity but warns against letting non-canonical texts distract from what's central to faith. They also explore differing views on salvation and the dangers of weaponizing theology for control. Throughout, Erwin underscores the radical freedom of grace and love as the most transformative forces. The episode closes with a glimpse into Erwin's sermon prep routine, shaped by decades of immersion in scripture, and an encouragement to approach theology not as a fixed system, but as a living conversation with God, guided by humility and wonder.

SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abram Bicksler, agroecologist and leader of ECHO, to explore how science, faith, and stewardship intersect in the world of sustainable agriculture. As part of our Voices from the Workplace series, Dr. Bicksler shares how his calling has led him from rural farms to the United Nations, all rooted in a commitment to creation care and serving the poor. Together, we discuss what faithful scientific work looks like, the church's role in supporting those in the sciences, and why every occupation—including agroecology—can be a gospel-centered vocation. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS On Your Skills "We need every occupation to be a gospel-center occupation and to use your skills, your god-given gifts, the way that god has wired you to bring about the kingdom of God, right here and right now." On the Role of the Church "I'd love to see the church get more worked up about what's right in front of our faces, in terms of how is our pollution, how are the greenhouse gasses which we are polluting in the world, affecting our neighbors in Bangladesh? How are they affecting the ecosystems and the species that we are losing everyday? How are they leading increased droughts and unpredictability of rain that are causing famine and starvation of our global neighbors." Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."     RESOURCES Download the Episode Transcript Here Join us on July 19, 2025 in Denver at the American Scientific Affiliation public event to hear more from Dr. Bicksler. Open to all! Check out Biologos for more resources to support the integration of faith and the sciences Other Organizations mentioned: World Relief, World Vision 

Welcome to Grace Community Church on demand, the weekly podcast from the Sunday services at Grace Community Church in Rupert, Idaho. At Grace we believe in building the Kingdom of God one person at a time. We are passionate about loving God, loving people, and following Jesus. Visit www.graceid.org to get involved. Join us on Facebook live Sundays @ 845am MST and 1045am MST and Wednesdays @ 630pm MST at www.facebook.com/gracechurchidaho

How do servant leaders in Lutheran schools model leadership for future church workers? The Rev. Mark Bushuiakovish, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Nashville, TN, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his journey into pastoral ministry, how his faith was formed as a child and through Lutheran schools, the servant leaders who served as models through his years in Lutheran school, his experiences at seminary, and how his congregation forms and encourages both youth and adults to consider full-time church work. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

This episode is also on the IPH YouTube podcast.5D mystic POV stories on mindfulness, educational podcasts & being yourself

Welcome to Day 2656 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Once and Future Kings” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2656 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2656 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we begin a new focus on this 3rd of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book Supernatural, written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor, the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter two: ‘Once and Future Kings.' We've had a brief introduction to God's heavenly council—his unseen family and task force. There's a lot more to all that—we need to look, especially, at how major players like Jesus and Satan fit into the picture. But before we return to what goes on in the unseen world, we need to think in a fresh way about ourselves. God's rule in the unseen spiritual world through his council is a template for his rule on earth—what theologians call the kingdom of God. All of that began in Genesis, in the garden of Eden. Eden—God's Home Office What's the first thing you think of when you hear “garden of Eden”? Most people I've talked to think of Adam and Eve. Eden was their home. That's where God put them (Gen. 2:15–25). But Eden was also God's home. Ezekiel refers to Eden as “the garden of God” (Ezek. 28:13; 31:8–9). No surprise, really. What might be surprising is that, right after calling Eden “the garden of God,” Ezekiel calls it “the holy mountain of God” (v. 28:14). In many ancient religions, luxurious gardens and inaccessible mountains were considered the home of the gods. The Bible uses both descriptions for Eden. Eden was God's home and, therefore, where he conducted business. It was his headquarters, or home office. And where God is, his council is with him. God's Imagers One of the most important verses in the Bible tips us off that both God and his council were in Eden. In Genesis 1:26 God says, “Let us make humankind in our image” (leb, emphasis added). God announces his intention to a group. Who's he talking to? His heavenly host—his council. He's not talking to the other members of the Trinity, because God can't know something they don't! And here the group he's addressing learns what God has decided to do. The announcement is easy to understand. It would be like me saying to some friends, “Let's get pizza!” Let's do this! Clear enough. But there's something else we don't want to miss. God actually doesn't include the group in bringing about his decision. Unlike other divine council sessions we've seen, the members of God's council don't participate in this decision. When humankind is created in the next verse (Gen. 1:27), God is the only one creating. The creation of humanity is something God handled himself. Going back to my pizza analogy, if I followed my announcement by driving everyone to the pizza place and insisted on paying, I would be the one doing all the work. That's what we see going on here. It makes sense that God would be the only one creating humans. The divine beings of his council don't have that kind of...

The culture we live in can easily shape our attitudes and values. But if we are going to be true followers of Christ, all other allegiances must be renounced, and we must become assimilated into the Kingdom of God.

This phrase is often quoted, but what does it really mean to not be weary in well-doing? When burnout, discouragement, and fatigue creep in, how do we keep going? John looks at some of the most powerful language about the kingdom of God and what it means for us today.

Overcomer Covenant Church exists to advance the Kingdom of God, locally and globally, by preaching the Gospel, partnering with other ministries, and planting churches. To support Overcomer and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: If you've just made a decision for Christ, click the link today - If this is your first time joining us, click the link today - https://overcomercc.org/newhere —— Stay Connected! Website: YouTube: Instagram: Facebook: https://facebook.com/overcomercc

This episode is also on the IPH YouTube podcast.5D mystic POV stories on mindfulness, educational podcasts & being yourself

Today on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, we’re learning what it means to be chosen. Earlier in the week, we began a new series called, When You Believe … Everything Changes … and we’d been learning about what it means to Take Your Place in the Kingdom of God. Last time, we learned what it means to be blessed … and today, Mark’s going to show us how and why we’ve been chosen. Bold Step Gift: Lies Boys Believe: And The Epic Quest For TruthBecome a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldstepsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You weren't just saved from something—you were saved for something. In this episode, Daron unpacks the sweeping gospel story that reveals not just forgiveness, but transformation. Jesus came to make you new—and to invite you into a Kingdom that changes everything. Key Takeaways: • Jesus didn't come to improve your life—He came to make you new. • You are part of a greater Kingdom with eternal significance. • Spiritual rebirth marks the start of your true identity. • The new covenant is personal, but its mission is global. • Life in Jesus isn't just belief—it's daily participation in redemption. Quotes: “The gospel isn't about religion—it's about resurrection.” “Jesus doesn't upgrade your life—He rewrites your story.” “Your spirit will exist forever—don't waste it on things that don't matter.” “You were made new to help renew the world.” “The Kingdom of God isn't someday—it's here and now.”

Pray for God's Healing Grace Because Jesus “spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus knows the aches and wounds of your soul, and He wants to bring you healing. Jesus does not want you living in pain, heartache, or emptiness. The Apostle Luke tells you, in Luke 9:10-11, that Jesus wants to cure those who need His healing: “On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.". We are in an “instant society”, but healing is a process; and your healing may take a long time. Sometimes God wants you to wait, or He may see your need for healing differently from your perspective. However, in your personal relationship with God, you must pray and ask for His healing. In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!". Pray for God's healing grace for your soul and your body.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, fill me with the simple trust that even out of the most awful evil around me, you are able to bring great good — for me, for others, and for your great glory. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 91). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I can do what he asks of me. (Philippians 4:13). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 9:10-11; Revelation 22:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14-16; Psalms 146:1-10. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

On this episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, I explain why I've shifted to a neutral stance on the Israel-Iran conflict. While mainstream media pressures us to “pick a side,” Scripture tells a deeper story, one that's not bound by modern borders or politics.Christians are the true Israel, not by race or nation, but by faith in Christ. The Church is the chosen people of God, not a geopolitical state. So why are we being told that standing with the a government equals standing with God?We'll unpack the phrase “Judeo-Christian”—what it really means (and what it doesn't)—and discuss how religiously manipulative narratives can cloud our judgment. Supporting everything any group does (whether Jewish, Christian, or Muslim) is not biblical discernment. It's idolatry.None of us are perfect. Not every Christian represents Christ well, and not every Jew or Muslim represents their faith's ideals either. So let's step back, seek the truth, and refuse to be emotionally blackmailed into blind allegiance.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee

NOTAS DE ELENAMaterial complementario de la escuela Sabática para adultosNarrado por: Patty CuyanDesde: California, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchJUEVES, 19 DE JUNIOLA MARCA DE LA BESTIASe necesitará valor moral para actuar en la obra de Dios sin ceder ni un ápice. Los que así lo hacen no admiten la vanidad ni el egoísmo, ni la ambición ni el amor a sí mismos y a la comodidad, ni toleran ningún deseo propio de evitar la cruz. Se nos manda: "Clama a voz en cuello, no te detengas; alza tu voz como trompeta". Isaías 58:1. ¿Nos esforzaremos por hacer del nombre de Dios una alabanza en la tierra? ¿Obedecemos la divina voz, o escucharemos la diabólica, dejándonos arrullar hasta caer en un fatal letargo en vísperas de las realidades eternas? La verdad lo es todo para nosotros, o no es nada. Los que quieran hacerse un nombre en el mundo, que sigan al mundo; pero los que quieran servir a Dios, que obedezcan a Dios y no a los hombres. En el gran conflicto entre la fe y la incredulidad, todo el mundo cristiano estará involucrado. Todos tomarán parte en él. Algunos no se comprometerán aparentemente en el conflicto en ninguno de los partidos. Puede que no parezcan tomar partido contra la verdad, pero no saldrán audazmente en defensa de Cristo, por temor a perder bienes o sufrir reproche. Todos los tales se cuentan entre los enemigos de Cristo; porque Cristo dice: "El que no es conmigo, contra mí es; y el que conmigo no recoge, desparrama" (The Review and Herald, 7 de febrero, 1893, "Seek First the Kingdom of God", párr. 12). Solo puede haber dos clases. Cada grupo está marcado claramente, ya sea con el sello del Dios viviente o con la marca de la bestia o de su imagen. Cada hijo e hija de Adán elige como su general a Cristo o a Barrabás. Y todos los que se colocan al lado del desleal están bajo la negra bandera de Satanás, y se los acusa de rechazar a Cristo y de proceder malignamente con él. Se los acusa de crucificar deliberadamente al Señor de la vida y de la gloria. Cada uno tiene una pregunta importante que responder por sí mismo: ¿Estás del lado de Satanás, transgresor de la ley de Dios, o eres leal a ese Dios que se declaró a sí mismo: "¡Jehová! ¡Jehová! fuerte, misericordioso y piadoso; tardo para la ira, y grande en misericordia y verdad; 7 que guarda misericordia a millares, que perdona la iniquidad, la rebelión y el pecado, y que de ningún modo tendrá por inocente al malvado; que visita la iniquidad de los padres sobre los hijos y sobre los hijos de los hijos, hasta la tercera y cuarta generación". Éxodo 34:6, 7. El carácter de Dios se manifiesta aquí como su gloria. Dios ha entregado todo el juicio en manos de su Hijo; y como juez justo, Cristo debe dictar sentencia sobre toda obra, sea buena o mala. La justicia es tanto una expresión de amor como de la misericordia (The Review and Herald, 30 de enero, 1900, "Christ or Barabbas?" párr. 4, 5). El sábado será la gran piedra de toque de la lealtad; pues es el punto especialmente controvertido. Cuando esta piedra de toque les sea aplicada finalmente a los hombres, entonces se trazará la línea de demarcación entre los que sirven a Dios y los que no le sirven (El conflicto de los siglos, p. 591). VIERNES, 20 DE JUNIO: PARA ESTUDIAR Y MEDITARMi vida hoy, 5 de marzo, "Tres jóvenes valientes", p. 72. El Deseado de todas las gentes, "Los primeros evangelistas", pp. 315-325. 

By Mary Lindow Hello to all of you who are listening via podcast today or who are reading this message! I just finished being a part of our weekly prayer gathering this evening, and I have to tell you, the presence of the Father was so absolutely strong and evident in our time together! I am literally to the point that I anticipate all day long on Thursday evenings, getting together with the group that we pray with.    We have been blessed week after week, month after month with the sweet and strong presence of God as we intercede for our nation, for the globe, and for so many other things that the Lord lays on our hearts to pray about.   I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PODCAST THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. I am still trying to get it to compile and come together and I know that if I rush this, I will not share it in the light of how the Lord wants it to be presented properly.   BUT, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ANOTHER MESSAGE AND WORD FROM THE LORD STIRRING DEEP WITHIN MY SPIRIT, AND SO THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. Hearing God accurately in the mess and chaos that the world is in right now, is of huge importance!  May the Lord continue to use you all to proclaim and speak truth, no matter what the cost. It is so worth being called a servant of the Lord during hard and challenging times.   TODAY, I'M GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN A PLACE OF SAFETY, A PLACE, OR A “HAVEN” OF BEING SHELTERED BY THE LORD. Especially during very, very difficult and hard times. I'll share how to discern and hear His voice in the chaos of the nonstop noise the dark world bombards us all with. It's ratcheted up to crazy levels, and shouts loudly to attempt to distract us from discerning the times, and hopes to discourage us and knock us off balance with fear, and then rob our peace.   IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE EARTH IS IN ONE MASSIVE UPHEAVAL, AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU TURN RIGHT NOW, THE CRISES CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND BOIL! And so, people begin to put aside spending time in the word of God, and certainly in his presence, to spend time with the love of the Internet and scrolling through their telephones through social network information and high charged doomsday podcasts and videos. This can absolutely create stress and anxiety, and it also creates a terrible problem with comparing ourselves to other people and where we are at in life.   PRAYER IS NOT A BORING HARD THING WHEN YOU REALIZE  THAT YOU ARE FACE-TO-FACE, OR LITERALLY,  “PRESENCE TO PRESENCE” WITH THE FATHER.   A tremendous man who walked daily in the Presence of God, Andrew Murray, said in a book that he wrote,  “It's one of the terrible marks of the diseased state of the Christian life in these days that there are so many that are content, and remain passive and content, without the distinct occasion of having experienced answered prayer. They pray daily, but know very little of direct, definite answers to prayer as the rule of their daily life.”    Psalm Thirty verse four says, “I sought the Lord and he answered me.”   We must understand that it's the Father's will that WE SEEK HIM OUT to daily have dialogue with his will, and it's his will to have his children to listen to him and then, he listens to his children and agrees to their requests. It's his will that we should come to him day by day, with specific requests, and he will every day, do for us great and wonderful things! What we ask sometimes might be a case where the specific answer is that he refuses our request, but our Father lets us know when and why he can't give us what we request. It's like his Son Jesus, and so we will withdraw our petition or our request.   When did Jesus do that? Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If this cup could pass from me, but not my will, but your will be done.”  He said this to the Father.   WHETHER OUR REQUEST IS ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL OR NOT, GOD WILL BY HIS WORD AND BY HIS SPIRIT, TEACH THOSE OF US WHO ARE TEACHABLE, and he will give us time to withdraw our requests if they're not according to God‘s mind or purposes.   LET'S PRESS IN. LET'S JUST STAND FIRM UNTIL THE ANSWER COMES! PRAYER IS GIVEN TO US TO OBTAIN AN ANSWER! It's in prayer and its answer, that the exchange of love between the Father and we his children takes place.   MY QUESTION IS, “ARE YOUR  PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED?” During the last hours of the age that we're in, there will be two opposing groups or alliances in the world.    The First group are those whose hearts are absolutely overwrought with bitterness, resentment and hatred.   The Second group is those whose love has actually increased, and are experiencing the power of the Kingdom of God, now!   Jesus told us about this in Matthew in chapter 4:10-13. He said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” And then in Matthew 24:14 he added, “This gospel (good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations and then the end shall come.”   SO, THE BIG QUESTION IS... ...“WHAT IS THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?”  It's the whole truth Jesus came to bring, not only that part that saves us from our sins, but also that part which creates us in his image! It's the full message, the full good news with all its requirements and all of its rewards!  It's is the full price for the full power! It's the most glorious pearl that a person can possess. The presence of God in His glory, revealed, made known within and among us!   IF WE WANT TO GAIN THIS GREAT LOVE, WE WILL CONTINUALLY BE FORCED TO MAKE CHOICES TOWARD MERCY, OR, TOWARD UNFORGIVENESS, and if we don't walk in a forgiving attitude, we will certainly become prey to an embittered spirit, if it's in fact, God‘s plan to allow wickedness and holiness at the same time,  so they grow to full maturity.   We must guard our hearts ahead of time from reacting in bitterness or unforgiveness because the increasing anarchy will certainly give us occasions to lose love, with the attempt to make us hard so we can survive in this cruel world.   WE OFTEN WITHDRAW FROM THE GENUINENESS OF PURE LOVE! We can't choose cautious, selective love, and also walk in the power of God's kingdom, my friends! To defy pain, we sometimes unconsciously shut down our love, because after all, its love that makes us vulnerable.   GOD WANTS US TO BE A PEOPLE WHOSE LOVE IS GROWING HOT, NOT COLD. Jesus didn't say that we had to trust our enemies, but he did say that we had to love them anyhow. You might be asking why!  One reason God allows difficulties is to test us! ( I know! I know! We don't want to hear that! ) He wants to see if our Christianity is just an intellectual pursuit or just thoughts and feelings of the mind, or if following him is truly the highest passion of our hearts. So, he tells us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Wow!    SOME OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH REJECTION AND BETRAYAL MOST LIKELY. The Lord says to you today, “You did not fail, you have continued to love, and although you went through great pain, yet you have forgiven, those who have hurt you.”  My friends you have passed the test.   THERE ARE HOWEVER, SOME OF YOU LISTENING OR READING THAT STILL HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR LIVES THAT YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN, AND WHOM YOU DO NOT LOVE.  Maybe you're right, they don't deserve your forgiveness, but what you don't realize is the consequence of your anger. You see, as long as we refuse to forgive, a part of this is trapped in the past where you will always be reminded of your pain, and until we forgive, we will not be fully released to go on with our life. Even the time of year in which you were hurt will bring depression.   THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN HAVE TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND THAT IS IN THE HERE AND NOW, RIGHT NOW, LIVING IN THE PRESENT. But if our mind is in conflict with others, we're neither here nor in the present. When we live in the past, we are cut off from God! What people did to us to hurt us is over! It's done; it doesn't have any real existence or life of its own, except in your mind.   SO THERE WITHIN US, THE DEED CONTINUES TO LIVE AND FESTER AND AS LONG AS IT LIVES, WE'RE STILL BEING HURT BY IT. The person or the people who wounded you may have long since died. They can't be blamed because it's us who keeps our wounds alive. Not only is the quality of our spiritual life affected, but often our physical health pays a price as well!   As long as we keep holding onto the burden of what someone has done to us, every time we think about it or think about that person, the stomach acids start to churn and anxiety increases, and then of course our body is continually put under stress.   If we don't forgive those who have hurt us, we lose a measure of our capacity to love and whether they deserve forgiveness or not, we deserve a better life! God wants to give you a better life but you can't enjoy abundant life and carry unforgiveness, because we're shackled to something that was hurting us. Did you know that our own unforgiveness tortures us?   SO HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF THAT PRISON?  HOW DO YOU FIND THE PROTECTION OF GOD FOR YOUR SOUL?    Well, God calls us to forgive. You have to see the hands of God reaching to you in the midst of your pain. He wants to redeem that conflict using that specific crisis or hardship to develop and perfect character in you. It will be this experience that he will use to make you like Jesus. To become like Jesus is to dwell, to live, in the place of rest and the safety of God. Every time we say, “Father, I choose to love. I choose to forgive. I choose to forget and not hold it against this person”, we are taking on the nature of Jesus. Friends, rejoice that Jesus is taking over your heart. You are entering into the strong, safe haven of God's shelter.   I DO MANY THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED ME TO DO IN LIFE NOT ONLY AS A MINISTER, BUT ALSO AS A PASTORAL COUNSELOR. I also host and facilitate a group called “The international Prophetic Women's Mentoring Council.” This is a group of women from all walks of life several cultural groups and different backgrounds. We meet through zoom video sessions and individually. The thing that is “the glue that bonds us” is the fact that each of us have been called into ministry, and each of these women flows in a different expression of the prophetic gift. This past week we had a zoom session and our conversation and subject matter was regarding, the power of intercession and what it takes to approach the Face of God, in a right attitude.   One of the things that stood out so strongly in our time of dialogue and accountability to one another was the fact that in order to hear clearly from the Spirit of God, we need to have the inward witness, or the “inside part of us that communicates with God”, clearly in a place of submission and humility before him, and, that we first come into a place where we have asked the Lord to cleanse us. That means cleanse our hearts before we try to come to Him in prayer.   MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD. They seek it through quick daily devotionals, or they seek the voice of God through other people every day, instead of seeking the Lord himself. The scripture tells us clearly in John 10:4-5, “His sheep know his voice, and strange voices, they will not follow.”   SO WHAT ARE THE STRANGE VOICES? The voices from the external world that are constantly pumping us full of data, fear, rhetoric and forced compliance to social conditioning. If we choose to listen to the voice of strangers, then we move further away from being sheep in the pasture of the Lord.   SO HOW DO WE KNOW HIS VOICE? How do we discern that it's him? The number one thing, is that God always speaks life. He always speaks truth. And when God speaks, it brings peace, even in the midst of hard difficulties or hard decisions. An absolute solid peace comes and says, “This is the way, and this is what you have to do!” Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. That's Isaiah 30:21.   THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU. God absolutely wants to direct your life through your decision-making. The Holy Spirit guides us in our spirits (not through our physical body). The Number One way The Holy Spirit leads and guides us is through what the Bible calls, the “Inward Witness.” Proverbs 3:6 says,  “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”   WHAT IS AN INNER OR INWARD WITNESS? An inner witness is an impression, or a sense or perception on the inside of you. Romans 8:16 tells us, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit, to affirm, to confirm, that we are God's children.” Jeremiah 7:23-24 says this to us,  “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.'  Yet, they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward.   AS KINGDOM PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT LED BY OUR SENSES. We're not led by our ears or our eyes. We're led by our spirit. When we talk about hearing God, we're not talking about hearing God with our physical ears. We're talking about hearing Him in our spirit.  Here's a great example:  The Apostle Paul had been arrested and he was headed to his trial. Before he took the journey he sensed something in his spirit. He wasn't the captain of the ship, but he sensed something in his spirit.  In Acts 27:10, Apostle Paul said, "Men, I perceive we're going to face a disaster and heavy losses on this voyage. This disaster will cause damage to the cargo and the ship, and it will affect our lives." It wasn't long before the ship hit a cyclone, but an angel appeared and guaranteed Paul that everyone would make it, and they did! What was it that what Paul said in the beginning? “I perceive".   This is what we're looking at right now. We're talking about being led by the Spirit of God, no matter what circumstance or difficulty we might encounter.   BEING A PERSON WHO IS CALLED TO A PROPHETIC MINISTRY, I AM CLEARLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT 90% OF WHAT I DO, ALSO COMES FROM TEACHING PEOPLE FROM THE WORD OF GOD REGARDING HOW TO  “HEAR” THE VOICE OF GOD.   My job is not to be a telephone for people to connect to God with, nor simply through prophesying. This is not going to change lives long term if the word of God is not taught and also if people don't act on it and obey it.   I HAVE HAD SOME STRANGE ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT I HAVE SOME KIND OF HOTLINE OR SATELLITE CONNECTION TO GOD TO HELP THEM GET ANSWERS. They need something or want to hear what the Lord has for them by asking me for a prophetic word. My friends this is not how the prophetic word of knowledge or word of wisdom works!  I had a lady when we were Pastoring a local fellowship come up to me after the service and she asked me if I would please, “do whatever I do, do that thing that I do”, and see if God would show me where she had put her wedding ring. She had lost it. I remember feeling very uncomfortable and a cold chill went through my body! My thought process was, “this woman wants me to be like a palm reader, or a magic eight ball! She wants me to use divination to find her wedding ring!“ Very kindly but firmly I told the woman, “You can ask the Lord to show you where it is yourself, or just simply go on looking for it. Pray that the Lord would lead you to it, but to ask me to ask the Holy Spirit to show me where it is, is basically trying to use another voice to speak to God for you when you can speak on your own to him.”   THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN GOD WILL SPEAK A WORD, AND IT IS DONE THROUGH A PROPHETIC UTTERANCE, and it gives us a word of knowledge about something or a word of wisdom about a specific event where we need to have insight, but it will always confirm with the Spirit of God what he has already put down on the inside of us that we can't seem to quite untangle, until the prophetic word comes and brings a clarity to it.   SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HAVE SOMEONE BRING A PROPHETIC WORD THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF LOVING CORRECTION, BUT IT IS STILL CORRECTION, AND PEOPLE GET ANGRY AND SHOUT, “HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME! Who are you to judge me?!”   Of course what this is a reaction to being caught out in bad behavior or hidden sin, and the Lord gently, lovingly, brings a word of warning.   ALL OF US KNOW WHEN WE SLIP AWAY FROM SPENDING TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. We know when we slack off from reading the scripture and from meditating on it, letting the Holy Spirit speak through the word to us. This is where the areas of bitterness and lack of purity in our walk with the Lord get all tangled up.   FRIENDS.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE LED BY HIM. (By the way, you might need a refreshing of your commitment to only follow his voice.) You don't need a prophet to hear from God for you, or have a constant prophetic word to make decisions. Simply say these words. “Holy Spirit, teach me how to be led by you.” Then, before you make any major decisions, acknowledge God. Say, “God, this is what the situation is,  >  insert your situation  

In the first century, women played an important role in the spreading of the gospel and general kingdom work. The same can and should be true today. Join us as we discuss relevant passages to the roles of women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John 3:5-10,14-175 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel's teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?  14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

This episode is also on the IPH YouTube podcast.5D mystic POV stories on mindfulness, educational podcasts & being yourself

Today,we're focusing on verses 14–16, which say, "When the hour had come, He,Jesus, sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'Withfervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.For I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in thekingdom of God.'" Most Bible scholars believe that the following verses17–20, which describe the institution of the Lord's Supper, take place at theend of the supper, so we'll come back to those verses. Toget the full glimpse of what is taking place we remember that that it is Thursdayevening, which would have been the Jewish Friday, because sundown begins thenext day for the Jewish people. We also believe these events took place in theupper room in the city of Jerusalem. Whenever I have visited Israel we always goto this location I Jerusalem, not the same building, but an upper room where wetake the Lord's Supper with our tour group. Webelieve that's what takes place in verses 17–20. But before Jesus institutedthe Lord's Supper, the Lord has the Jewish Passover supper with His disciples. Rememberthat Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to prepare for this supper. The lamb hasbeen slaughtered and roasted. Some tell us that the lamb was roasted with apomegranate stick stuck through the middle and another crossway through thelamb, then roasted over the fire for the Passover meal—a picture of the crossof Christ, suffering on a cross, crucified for our sins and your sins. Inverse 14, it says, "When the hour had come," and we've talkedabout the hour that Jesus knew would be on that day, an hour that He would goto a cross and suffer. During this time, the Passover supper takes place inthis upper room. If you want to read the details of what was said in the upperroom, go to John chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and possibly even chapter 17, whereJesus prays His High Priestly Prayer. We know that prayer could have takenplace in the upper room or on the way to Gethsemane when He left, because John18:1 says, “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciplesover the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciplesentered.” Somethingelse to notice in John chapter 13: the first thing Jesus did when they enteredthe room, as the host of the Passover dinner, was kiss each of the disciples,which means He would have kissed Judas, whom He knew would betray Him. Somebelieve Judas sat on His left and John on His right, as described in John12:23. In the upper room, Jesus washes the disciples' feet giving them anexample of humility. Which apparently the disciples didn't learn from it. Becauselater, after the Passover meal, the disciples argue over who's going to begreatest in the kingdom (Luke 22:24-30).  InJohn 14, Jesus tells the disciples not to let their hearts be troubled and givesthem the promise of heaven, the promise that He will come again, and thepromise of the Holy Spirit. In John 15, Jesus gives the message of abiding inHim—He is the vine, and we are the branches. In John 16, He goes into detailabout the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who will come and be with them. Jesusknows the hour has come and says, “I will no longer eat of it until it isfulfilled in the kingdom of God."(v.16). Jesus no doubt said this because He knew this Passover time would fulfillall the Old Testament scriptures of the Passover Lamb. Jesus, that PassoverLamb, is the last Passover. In verses 17–20, we see the institution of theLord's Supper, which is now left for us, the church. Theseare very interesting scriptures. I trust you will get a glimpse into thesuffering of our Lord and understand what He did for you and me in a specialand unique way. Godbless!

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 28 Paul and the shipwreck survivors arrive in Malta, where the islanders display remarkable kindness. A viper bites Paul, but he suffers no harm, which leads the people to regard him as a god. He heals many, including the father of the chief official, Publius, creating opportunities to share the gospel. After three months, they set sail for Rome. Upon their arrival, Paul is allowed to live under house arrest, where he meets with the leading Jewish men. He recounts his story, and they show special interest in learning about “this sect” of Christians they have heard so much about. Using the Old Testament, Paul explains the kingdom of God. Some believe, while others reject the message. Paul then focuses on teaching the Gentiles and remains in Rome for two years.  The people of Malta are welcoming to those who have been shipwrecked, serving as a wonderful example of kindness for us all. This generosity fosters a relationship with Paul, allowing him to perform signs and teach them about Jesus. Acts of kindness toward strangers, the essence of hospitality, open doors for spiritual blessings. It is amazing how God utilizes the shipwreck to disseminate the gospel in Malta. God operates in unexpected ways to reach receptive hearts with the truth. While Paul encounters opposition in Rome, he also discovers many who joyfully embrace the name of Jesus. In every setting, circumstance, and audience, it is God's desire for His followers to share “the kingdom of God concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.” God of Wisdom, thank You for guiding our lives to deeper faith and to reflect the light of Jesus in all situations. Storms in life are inevitable, and sometimes shipwrecks occur. However, the sun always rises on a new day, bringing fresh opportunities to honor the King. Father, we pray for safety and peace. More importantly, we pray for Your will to be accomplished in our lives. Use us to bring help and healing to others. Lead us to ears that are willing to hear. And thank You for the amazing kingdom of Your beloved Son!   Thought Questions: -       Why were the natives kind to a group of sailors and prisoners? What was the result, and how should that affect how you treat others? -       God used a shipwreck to bring the gospel to Malta. Can you see unpredictable paths in your life where God has led you to share Jesus? -       Scripture taught that many would not listen. Paul turned to those who would. How can that encourage you in your evangelistic work?

Pastor Ray Bentley points out how to reach others most effectively. The Holy Spirit is speaking in a thousand different ways every single day. To those who here invest in the Kingdom of God and grow in your faith, because then come what may. You will have better than gold shining within you. You have peace that passes understanding, and that's what we'll be able to share with others, even in difficult times.

Donna Winship left the American dream with her husband, Jamie and their three boys and spent 25 years raising their family in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This was a journey that would forever change her life.Living overseas in a predominantly Muslim country, Donna discovered the principles of the Kingdom of God as demonstrated by Jesus and learned to live fearlessly in her true identity. When put into daily practice, these principles result in peace that surpasses understanding and truth that results in genuine freedom, even in an atmosphere of war, terrorism and death.Donna Winship is the CEO of Identity Exchange and the wife of Jamie Winship, who is the author of Living Fearlessly. What I learned from Donna in our conversation:It is not about the severity of the trauma or life event, it is the response to it. The response often triggers a deep lie and belief that takes root. There is no power in the lie unless you come into agreement with the lie. Listening Prayer is asking God questions that point you back to your true identity. People worship their theology and fear changing because of what would happen if Jesus really transformed me. People are stuck in false identities and get their identities from their various "right" beliefs. Start here, ask God: Who do you say I am? What do you want me to know? What do you want me to do?Try this in your organization: Truth Tell about what you are afraid of right now? Mind Change what is true? Form Change, what will you do?Start here to get a foundation of what living in your true identity could do for you, your family, and your organization. Identity Camp by Jamie Winship --To start working with Lantz as your professional coach, go to www.lantzhoward.com and take the free assessment. --Did you find this conversation useful and encouraging?Share it with a friend that you care about. --Follow Lantz on LinkedIn.

On this episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, I explain why I've shifted to a neutral stance on the Israel-Iran conflict. While mainstream media pressures us to “pick a side,” Scripture tells a deeper story, one that's not bound by modern borders or politics.Christians are the true Israel, not by race or nation, but by faith in Christ. The Church is the chosen people of God, not a geopolitical state. So why are we being told that standing with the a government equals standing with God?We'll unpack the phrase “Judeo-Christian”—what it really means (and what it doesn't)—and discuss how religiously manipulative narratives can cloud our judgment. Supporting everything any group does (whether Jewish, Christian, or Muslim) is not biblical discernment. It's idolatry.None of us are perfect. Not every Christian represents Christ well, and not every Jew or Muslim represents their faith's ideals either. So let's step back, seek the truth, and refuse to be emotionally blackmailed into blind allegiance.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee

Daily Dose of Hope June 17, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 13:1-23   Prayer:  Holy God, We start by praising your name.  You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God.  Work in our lives.  Speak to us.  We need you, Lord.  Over and over again, we need you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church.  As you all know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are starting Matthew 13.   Picture this: Jesus is sitting by the lake (Sea of Galilee). Large crowds of people have gathered around him, so many in fact that he got into a boat and started teaching from the boat while the people stood on the shore. And he begins to tell stories, parables. These were stories that people could relate to, they understood about farmers and seed,t hey could picture them in their head as he talked, but they pointed to deeper spiritual truths about living under the Kingdom of God.   Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds. But the farmer doesn't worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. He seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing. He is literally just throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. So the birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn't enough root for the plant to survive. Some of the seed fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop---100, 60, or 30X what was sown.   First, I think it's important for us to not dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. I think one of our first temptations is to go, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. We'll get to the soil but I want us to start with what is most important. Who is the star of the story? Well, the farmer or the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere–he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What's the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? Well, the Good News of Jesus.    The Good News is for ALL. We aren't supposed to decide who to share our faith with. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren't just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation, with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people - people who don't look like us, people who we don't know, and people we do know. This is one thing we know about God's Kingdom: If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting---we trust that there isa greater purpose. We always should be on the lookout for ways to have spiritual conversations, to share the Good News.   I want you to think about your past week. Think about the places you went, the people you spoke to, the things you did. I want you to think about each of those situations. What would it have looked like if you had sowed some seeds at each of those places?   We aren't responsible for what happens to the seeds. We are just called to sow. Sow with joy wherever we go. Sow with love. Sow obediently and abundantly. Then, we trust that God will do the rest. Trust God with the harvest. For me, this takes the pressure off...we are not responsible for the harvest, we are simply sowers.    As the sower, we truly have the desire for all the soil to bear fruit. That's why we keep throwing those seeds, having those conversations, offering to pray for someone, telling people how much Jesus loves them. God loves all people, we are called to love all people. Remember that love of God and love of others cannot be separated. They are intricately linked.   But we have to recognize that some soil has had people trample on it. It has not been nourished, it might be filled with rocks. It may take years to get to the point in which the soil can bear fruit. I read that to get soil just right, really nourished, it can take years. And it usually means continuing to add nourishment to it, continuing to add things to it to develop it and enrich it so that it can be fruitful. People are no different. We love on people, we pray for them, we tell them Jesus loves them. We listen to their stories. We ask questions. And this could go on for years. But we never give up on anyone. We trust that God is at work in ways we can't see or understand. We trust that God is working behind the scenes to nourish the fields, to strengthen the roots.   Is there someone you have given up on? Remember, God isn't done with any of us yet. Who is it you have gotten discouraged with? Maybe you've stopped praying for them. Maybe you are simply angry with them because they have made bad choices or turned away from the faith. Let's ask God to bring that person to mind. Say a prayer for that person, specifically that God gives you the wisdom how to continue sowing in their life.    We can trust that God is working in the most difficult places, in difficult people, in difficult circumstances. And God gives us beautiful glimpses of hope.  I recently learned about the church in Iran and how it is growing under the harshest and most difficult of conditions.  But God is there, growing his church.  These are rays of hope in the midst of hardship. When God is involved, when the Kingdom is at work, there is ALWAYS HOPE.   Now, let's talk soil.  The soil is an important element in this story. There were three ways the poor soil was described, “hardened”, “shallow” and “cluttered.” And then, there was the well-nourished soil. As Floridians, we live in a climate and environment in which you really have to amend the soil if you want anything to grow. We basically live in sand. There is no nourishment in sand. Weeds seem to grow well but not a lot of other desirable plants. My mother-in-law is an avid and successful gardener and she constantly is amending her soil, putting nourishing elements in it to ensure that the plants will grow and be healthy.   Friends, we have to pay attention to our soil. We need to enrich the soil in others' lives but we have to ensure that our soil is cared for as well.   How is the soil of your soul? Is it hardened? Is it shallow? Is it cluttered? Or is it nourished? How is your soil?  How is our soil here at New Hope?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

This episode is also on the IPH YouTube podcast.5D mystic POV stories on mindfulness, educational podcasts & being yourself

This episode is also on the IPH YouTube podcast.5D mystic POV stories on mindfulness, educational podcasts & being yourself

Today, we're looking at Luke chapter 22. This chapterdescribes the events that took place on Thursday of Passion Week. Remember, onThursday evening, when the sun went down, it was actually the beginning of theJewish day, Friday. This is the day the Passover lamb would be killed. Twothings stand out in this passage to me that I've noticed over the years, and hascaught my attention. I'd love to share it with you today. In verse 7, it says, "Thencame the day of unleavened bread when the Passover must be killed."Now, remember, from the beginning of time, Jesus Christ is the Lamb that wasslain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). God's plan was that oneday His Son would take our place on an old rugged cross in Jerusalem. Yearsago, I had my attention drawn to the passage in Job 1 that tells us ithappened on a day when Satan appeared before God and accused the brethren.God said, "What about my servant Job?" Satan got God's permission totake Job's wealth and to cause his ten children to be killed in a wind storm(Job 1:6-22). In Job 2, it begins again, "Now there was a day” whenSatan got permission to take away Job's health. Job went on to say, "NakedI came into the world, and naked I'll leave the world. Though the Lord slay me,yet will I trust Him." My friend, this all happened on a day. Everythinghappens on a day. It happened on a day when you were born. You were born in aweek, but it happened on a day. It happened on a day when we trust Jesus Christas our personal Lord and Savior. The day Luke 22:7 is speaking of, is a daythat all eternity looks forward to and looks back to—the day when the Passover,Jesus Christ, the precious Son of God, the Lamb of God, would die on a cross, beingcrucified for our sins. Alsointeresting, in Luke 22:14, it says, "When the hour had come."Not only was it a day, Friday, when Jesus would be killed as our Passover Lamband crucified on a cross, laying down His life voluntarily for you and me, butthere was the hour when this would take place—an exact time that God hadplanned from eternity past.  Didyou ever notice how John points out that up to this hour, Jesus could not beharmed or killed. It says in John 7:30, "No one laid a hand on Himbecause His hour had not yet come." In John 8:20, again, itsays they did not lay a hand on Him; they would have liked to stone Him in thatchapter, but “His hour had not come”. Buy then, in John 12:28,just as Jesus goes into the upper room with His disciples, the Scripture says,"The hour has come that the Son of Man should beglorified." Jesus knew when that hour had come. Herein Luke 22:14, when the hour had come, He sat down with the twelve apostles andsaid to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passoverwith you before I suffer. For I say to you, I'll no longer eat of it until itis fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Jesus knew when His hour hadcome. In John chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, it describes what happened inthat hour in the upper room with His disciples and the hour that He would go tothat cross and die in our place for our sins. In John 17:1, in His HighPriestly prayer, Jesus said, "Father, the hour has come." Oh,my friend, Jesus knew the exact time that He would die and be glorified for oursins in our place.Today, you can trust Jesus totake away your sins. Today is the day of salvation. “Behold, now isthe accepted time” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2), the hour for you and me to makethat decision to live our lives for Jesus Christ. I trust you'll do that today.Everything happens in a day and in an hour. Ilove these Scriptures: “The day of Passover came, the hour hadcome”, and Jesus gave His life and was glorified!  Godbless!

How should Christians approach immigration, justice, and faith in today's cultural climate? In this episode of the Voxology Podcast, Mike and Tim dive into "Joyful, Peaceful, and Gracious Noncompliance," exploring what scripture teaches about welcoming the stranger, showing compassion, and advocating for justice. Drawing on the work of experts like Matthew Soerens and their own reflections, they tackle the complex intersections of cruciformity, faith and politics, and the role of the church in society. Through real-life stories, scripture analysis, and discussions on cultural challenges, they address the dehumanizing language often used in immigration debates, the tension between legality and justice, and the church's responsibility to embody the teachings of Jesus. What does it mean to love our neighbor, especially when they are vulnerable? How can the church navigate these issues with humility, courage, and hope? Engage with thoughtful insights, critical questions, and a call to action to advocate for justice in peaceful, gracious ways. Feel free to email your questions, share your perspectives on social media, and join the conversation as we pursue faithfulness to Jesus in a complex world. Together, let's reflect on how Christianity can shape a more just and compassionate society. #news #newstoday #greencard #biblestudy #faithandjustice Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context of Immigration Discussion 02:50 Personal Stories and Anecdotes on Immigration 06:06 The Role of the Church in Immigration Issues 09:05 Current Administration's Immigration Policies 11:58 Language and Rhetoric in Immigration Discourse 14:51 Understanding Different Types of Immigrants 17:46 Legal Status and Its Implications 21:01 Biblical Perspectives on Immigration 23:54 Theological Arguments for Compassionate Immigration Policies 27:12 Conclusion and Call to Action 51:12 The Call to Welcome Strangers 52:34 God's Heart for the Vulnerable 53:30 The Church as Foreigners and Exiles 58:12 Christian Identity and Immigration 01:01:51 Citizenship in the Kingdom of God 01:08:34 The Role of Government and Justice 01:15:21 Advocacy and Non-Compliance 01:21:47 The Church's Responsibility in Advocacy As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store!  As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV. Our Merch Store! ETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothyETSY Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

What did Jesus teach about? Do you attribute success to yourself or God? How does God establish his kingdom? In today's episode, Keith shares how 2 Samuel 8 foreshadows the kingdom of God that Jesus would ultimately bring. If you're listening on Spotify, tell us about yourself and where you're listening from! Read the Bible with us in 2025! This year, we're exploring the Historical Books—Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. Download your reading plan now. Your support makes TMBT possible. Ten Minute Bible Talks is a crowd-funded project. Join the TMBTeam to reach more people with the Bible. Give now. Like this content? Make sure to leave us a rating and share it so that others can find it, too. Use #asktmbt to connect with us, ask questions, and suggest topics. We'd love to hear from you! To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @TenMinuteBibleTalks. Don't forget to subscribe to the TMBT Newsletter here. Passages: 2 Samuel 8

You may feel like God is silent—but what if the battle isn't on earth, but in the unseen? In this powerful message, we dive into the story of Daniel, spiritual warfare, and why your breakthrough might be delayed, not denied. Stay strong. Keep praying. The fight you can't see is already being won.Register now for AWKN 2026- www.AWKNCONFERENCE.comJoin us Sunday's 8:15 | 10:00 | 11:45 Authentic Church 2416 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601 (Beside Planet Fitness) GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

THE VALUE OF YOUR SERVICE AND GOD'S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE | MAN OF PEACE PODCAST

In the kingdom of God the broad path that seems so spacious actually leads to suffocation and death. And the narrow path that seems so restrictive and compressed, actually leads to an incredibly vast, wonderfully spacious, and freeing life.

THIS EPISODE In this special edition episode, Rob and Danny interview Prof Ross Wagner to discuss the present situation in Israel and Gaza and to ask, "What should the church be doing?" This episode is the audio version of a live stream that can be found on the Determinetruth YouTube channel under the Playlist "Israel-Gaza War."    FOLLOW THE PODCAST Subscribe to be notified of our new episodes (each Monday).  Want to help us expand the Gospel of the Kingdom? Leave a review, “like” the podcast, or share it with others.   CONNECT WITH DETERMINETRUTH MINISTRIES The Determinetruth Podcast is a ministry of Determinetruth Ministries. We offer free resources to equip pastors, leaders, and the body of Christ in the US and worldwide for service in the kingdom of God. You can visit us online at www.determinetruth.com Check out our YouTube Library, where we have even more content!   SUPPORT DETERMINETRUTH MINISTRIES Determinetruth is a non-profit 501(c)(3), and relies completely on the financial support of our partners around the world.  • • If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation and help partner with us, please VISIT US HERE

In this sermon, Jordan Funderburk delves into the meaning of "Your kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer. He begins by explaining that the kingdom of God is not a physical location but rather the rule of God in people's lives. Funderburk highlights that Jesus spoke about the kingdom as both present and future, quoting Luke 17:20-21 and Matthew 24:14. Funderburk outlines three ways we can experience God's kingdom: conversion (accepting Christ as Lord), commitment (being a "kingdom builder" by using our time, talents, and treasure for God's purposes), and completion (the future return of Christ and establishment of His eternal kingdom). He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God's kingdom over worldly pursuits, despite the challenges of living in a society that often pulls us away from God. Funderburk concludes by encouraging listeners to change their citizenship, live out their commitment, and eagerly await the completion of God's kingdom.

Sermon On the Mount: The Good News of the Kingdom of God

In Your Personal Relationship with Jesus, Fast and Feast with Jesus to Drink Heartily of His Word as Jesus Satisfies and Nourishes You MESSAGE SUMMARY: Most of the time when you are fasting, you are thinking about what you must give up in the fast. Rather, in your fasting, than focusing on “going without” you should think of fasting as a call by Jesus to come to Him and feast with Him. Paul's example for us, in Acts 14:22-23, occurs after he had been stoned and left for dead after preaching the Gospel in Antioch. Rather than leaving the field of discipleship in fear, Paul returned the next day to preach the Gospel and: “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.". In your feast with Jesus, you can drink heartily of His Word to let Jesus satisfy and nourish you.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Loneliness. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Presence. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 2:36-38; Matthew 19:16-30; 2 Samuel 12:15-17; Psalms 145a:1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Lesson 058 of Heart Dive's Heartbeat of God, where we are finding how God's heart beats throughout His Word so we can find Him in the world. Today, we are studying Numbers 8-10 in the Old Testament.0:00 INTRO02:00 -  Opening Prayer03:27 - LOGOS Overview06:57 - Numbers 820:50 - Numbers 930:08 - Numbers 1037:07 - Closing PrayerVISIT OUR SHOP: heartdiveshop.com2024 videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdqyC_w_7Gwgd93fCHH-OZdxB3fYuPXIW&si=nvsUzGRu71ISQ8bsFREE RESOURCES: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/mobile/folders/1Tvms_gB-OWMum61DiCXvFV8R8jKXpIVIMy Bible Notes: https://heartdive.org/daily-notes-with-kanoe/2025 Digital and Print Planners: heartdiveshop.comFacebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/heartdiveAmazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/kanoegibson/list/1ED3COSB79TAQ?ref_=aipsflistLOGOS Software affiliate link: http://www.logos.com/heartdiveFree Reading Plan and Daily Newsletter sign up: http://heartdive.org/newsletterLink to recommended Bibles: https://heartdive.org/recommendations/ Support the Ministry: https://heartdive.org/support/ 

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 27, 2025) In our study of the Book of Nehemiah, we are continuing to look at the closing days of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and in particular examining the ways in which the enemies of the Kingdom of God launch their desperate assaults. We...

Welcome to Generation! ⛪︎What does Jesus really say about divorce, and how does the gospel meet us in the mess? In this honest and hope-filled message from Mark 10, we unpack God's beautiful design for marriage, the heartbreak of broken relationships, and the mercy of Jesus for real-life pain. Whether you're married, single, divorced, or somewhere in between, there's grace here for you.

Read OnlineShould anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” Matthew 5:41–42As the faith of Israel developed over the centuries, prior to the coming of Christ, there were various stages of advancement in morality. Prior to the establishment of moral laws in the Old Testament, it was common for families to inflict severe vengeance upon other families when harm was done to them. This caused ongoing violence and feuds. But advancements were made when the law of retaliation was established which said, “When a man causes a disfigurement in his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has disfigured a man, he shall be disfigured” (Leviticus 24:19–20). This was a new form of justice that forbade the vengeance from being more severe than the crime that was retaliated against. At the time, this helped end ongoing family feuds that continually escalated.It is this law of retaliation that Jesus addresses in our Gospel today. The new and much higher form of morality that Jesus taught called His disciples to “offer no resistance to one who is evil” and to turn the other cheek when evil was done to them. Though strict justice requires satisfaction for sin, Jesus' new teaching was that mercy pays every debt. First, His mercy bestowed upon us, for the forgiveness of our sins, pays the debt of our sins when we truly repent and change. But if we desire our debts to God for our sins to be forgiven and repaid, then we must do the same to others, holding nothing against them.But Jesus goes even further. In the passage quoted above, Jesus exhorts His disciples to a new and radical form of charity and generosity. This new moral code was how the children of the Kingdom of God were now called to act. It was not enough to only forgive and to forget the debt one owes you because of their sin. Mercy now requires us to “Give to the one who asks” and to walk “two miles” with one who only asks you to walk one mile with them. In other words, Christian charity far exceeds every concept of strict justice and even goes beyond basic forgiveness. This was certainly a new and radical teaching from our Lord.Think about this new moral law in your own life. What level of “justice” do you most commonly live by? When someone wrongs you, do you live like those prior to the Old Testament laws by seeking to get back at them to an even greater degree than the harm done to you? Do you live by the law that seeks the equal justice of an eye for an eye? Do you seek to forgive and offer mercy as a payment for the debt another has incurred by the sin they have committed against you? Or, ideally, do you strive to go even beyond the act of forgiveness and bestow mercy in a new and generous, superabundant way? This last level of love is difficult to obtain and live, but it is the way our Lord treats us and it is the way that He calls us to treat others.Reflect, today, upon any hurt you may currently be struggling with. And consider the way in which you have been dealing with that hurt. As you seek to understand this new law of love and mercy given by our Lord, pray to Him that He will give you the grace you need to give to others the same level of mercy that God gives to you.My generous Lord, You offer Your mercy in superabundance. You not only forgive when we repent, You also restore us to far greater heights of holiness than we could ever deserve. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to offer this same level of mercy and love to those who have sinned against me. I forgive all who have hurt me. Please help me to also love them with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Eugène Burnand, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

KJV 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Our Mothers Knew It with Maria EckersleyA Creative Study of Come, Follow MeD&C [D&C 64-66]“The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind”June 16 – June 22, 2025WEEK 25 SUMMARY=================In Doctrine and Covenants sections 64 to 66, the Lord provides guidance and counsel to the early members of the Church. Section 64 emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and the need to be patient and faithful, as the Lord will forgive whom He will forgive, but we are required to forgive all. It also discusses the law of tithing and the blessings of obedience. Section 65 is a revelation that serves as a prayer, calling for the kingdom of God to roll forth and fill the earth. Section 66 is a personal revelation to William E. McLellin, encouraging him to continue in faith, repent, and preach the gospel. These sections collectively highlight themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the spreading of the gospel.SPARK 1: SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN================OBJECT LESSON: “Ye Ought to Forgive One Another”: Floating ForgivenessSPARK 2: RUN AND NOT BE WEARY===================================OBJECT LESSON: “Be Not Weary in Well-Doing”: Water Bottle WellsSPARK 3: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS=============================OBJECT LESSON: “The Gospel Shall Roll Forth”: Self-Rolling RocksCHAPTERS=========00:00:14 INTRO00:03:03 QUICK GLANCE00:07:12 SPARK 1 INSIGHTS00:16:34 SPARK 1 OBJECT LESSON00:21:02 SPARK 1 QUESTIONS00:23:25 SPARK 2 INSIGHTS00:29:50 SPARK 2 OBJECT LESSON00:34:27 SPARK 2 QUESTIONS00:36:44 SPARK 3 INSIGHTS00:45:17 SPARK 3 OBJECT LESSON00:49:11 SPARK 3 QUESTIONS00:51:29 WRAP UPLINKS=====WEB: https://www.gather.meckmom.comETSY: https://www.etsy.com/shop/meckmomINSTAGRAM: Instagram @meckmomlifePODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST DISCLAIMER=================================This podcast represents my own thoughts and opinions. It is not made, approved, or endorsed by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any content or creative interpretations, implied or included are solely those of Maria Eckersley ("MeckMom LLC"), and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Great care has been made to ensure this podcast is in harmony with the overall mission of the Church. Click here to visit the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.