Podcasts about Knowing God

I. Core Concepts of God's Nature God as "Abba Father": Meaning of "Abba": A Hebrew word meaning "daddy," signifying an intimate and close relationship. Biblical Basis: Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians. Implications for Relationship: God does not withhold good things or do evil against His children. It implies full adoption rights, including the same inheritance as Jesus (co-heirs with Christ). Contrast with Human Perspective: The concept challenges traditional views of God as distant or formal. God is Love (Agape): Definition of Agape Love: Unconditional, independent of human actions, unmerited, and undeserved. Biblical Basis: 1 John 4:16 ("God is love"), John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world..."). Intensity of God's Love: Emphasized by the word "so" in John 3:16, leading to the ultimate sacrifice of His only begotten Son. "World" in John 3:16: Refers to the people of the world, not just the planet. Eternal Life (Zoe): Defined in John 17 as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. It is a person, not just a concept or a place. God's Love in the Old Testament vs. New Testament: Old Testament Context: Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5): "O Israel, the Lord our God is one." The word "one" (echad) is a "uni-plural" word, implying a unified plurality (like "group" or "herd"), which the Jewish people often misunderstood as a strict singular, creating an obstacle to seeing Jesus as Son of God. Greatest Commandment: Love the Lord with all heart, soul, and strength. No one could perfectly keep this, highlighting the need for a Savior. Purpose of the Law: To make people conscious of sin and point them to a Savior (Romans 3:20, Law as a schoolmaster). Perception of God: Portrayed with anger and wrath (e.g., Flood, Sodom & Gomorrah, deaths under the Law). New Testament Context: New Commandment (John 13): Love one another as Jesus loved us (demonstrated through servant leadership like foot-washing). This supersedes the Old Testament law. Love as an Action Word: Not merely a feeling, but something demonstrated and done (e.g., Timothy caring for others in Philippians 2:20-21). Impact of Love: Fulfills the law (Romans 13:8), covers/obliterates a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), and drives out fear (1 John 4:18). The Finished Work of Christ: Jesus absorbed all God's wrath and judgment on the cross (John 12, Isaiah 53-54). God promises never to be angry with His people again (Isaiah 54). God's Provision: Everything needed for life and godliness is already provided (2 Peter 1). Faith receives what God has already provided, it doesn't move God. God's Nature in the New Covenant: God does not cause sickness, disease, or natural disasters; these are not "acts of God" in the sense of divine judgment against His children. He is for us, not against us (Romans 8). II. The Power and Practicality of God's Love Love Fulfills the Law and Covers Sin: Romans 13:8: Love fulfills the law, meaning there is no law against one who lives in love. 1 Peter 4:8: Love covers/obliterates a multitude of sins – God "remembers your sins no more" (Hebrews 8:12). God's Perception of Believers: Sees them as perfect, complete, lacking nothing through Christ. Love Drives Out Fear: 1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment." Receiving God's Perfect Love: As we receive His love, fear and anxiety are dispelled. Overcoming Fear: Through active participation (singing songs of deliverance, asking in faith). Perspective on Demons: They are powerless "maggots" that can deceive but not defeat. Our Identity and Acceptance in Christ: Accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6): The Greek word "charito" (highly favored/blessed) is applied to believers, just as it was to Mary. We are "the Beloved." Ephesians' Emphasis: Shows our identity, how we are blessed, forgiven, redeemed, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and seated with Christ in heavenly places. Knowing God's Love: It surpasses knowledge; it's an experience in the heart, not just a mental concept. Love Compels Our Actions: 2 Corinthians 5: The love of Christ compels us; our lives are no longer our own. Motives for Action: Not for personal gain, financial benefit, or praise of men, but out of care for others (like Timothy). Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15): A profound picture of the Father's unconditional love, compassion, eagerness to forgive, and restoration. The father ran, embraced (epipto – a bear hug), kissed (continuously), restored (ring, robe, sandals), and celebrated. He would not let the son even finish his repentant speech. Love is Preeminent: 1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us." God initiated the relationship. God's Foreknowledge and Orchestration: God knows who will choose Him and orchestrates their lives from the womb (Psalm 139). Goal: Discipleship: God's goal is to make disciples who can operate in His love and bless others (like the good ground in the parable of the sower). Remembering God's Interventions: Keep a "book of remembrance" of how God has supernaturally intersected your life. The Greatest of These is Love: While faith and hope are important, love is eternal and central to God's defining characteristic. How Love is Expressed (Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23): Joy in the Lord, Peace, Longsuffering (Patience), Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. Gentleness: A gentle answer turns away wrath. Self-Control: Speaking life, controlling appetites. Love Surpasses Understanding: Ephesians 3: God's love has immeasurable width, length, depth, and height, surpassing all knowledge. It is infinite in all directions, as is His forgiveness. Being Filled with the Fullness of God: Living out of our spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit within us to flow out in supernatural ways (healing, deliverance). Our Perfection in Christ: Our spirit is perfected the moment we are born again; sin cannot penetrate it (Hebrews 10:14, 1 John 3:9). This perfection is our witness to the world. God as Our Daddy: 1 John 3:1: "Behold what manner of love the Father (Abba) has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God." Receiving His Love: It is a gift to be received. II. Quiz What is the significance of the word "Abba" in understanding our relationship with God, and where in Scripture is it primarily found? Explain the concept of "agape" love as described in the source material. How does it differ from a conditional or earned love? How does the speaker differentiate the meaning of the word "world" in John 3:16, and what does he say eternal life (Zoe) truly means according to John 17? According to the source, what was the primary obstacle for Jewish people in the Old Testament to recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, related to their understanding of the Shema? What was the ultimate purpose of the Old Testament Law, and how did it demonstrate humanity's need for a Savior? Describe how Jesus's "new commandment" in John 13 supersedes the Old Testament law, and what specific action did Jesus perform to demonstrate this new commandment? How does the "finished work of Christ" change the perception of God's wrath and anger, particularly in relation to natural disasters? Explain the concept of "faith" as receiving what God has already provided. How does this differ from the idea of "moving God" through prayer or other actions? According to the source, how does God perceive believers after they accept Christ, and what happens to their past sins? Describe at least three actions of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son that illustrate God's unconditional love and forgiveness. III. Quiz Answer Key "Abba" is a Hebrew word meaning "daddy," signifying an intimate and close relationship with God. It is primarily found in Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians, emphasizing that we have received a spirit of adoption, allowing us to cry out "Abba, Father." "Agape" love is described as unconditional, independent of human actions, unmerited, and undeserved favor of God. It means that we don't have to do anything to receive it; it is freely given once we become His child. The speaker states that the word "world" in John 3:16 refers to the people of the world, not just the planet. Eternal life (Zoe) is defined in John 17 as a person: knowing God the Father and Jesus whom He sent. The primary obstacle was their misunderstanding of the Hebrew word "echad" (one) in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4). While a singular word, it has a plural meaning (like "group" or "herd"), but they interpreted it as strictly singular, preventing them from seeing Jesus as the Son of God. The Old Testament Law's purpose was to make people conscious of their sin (Romans 3:20) and to point them to a Savior. Its impossible standards, such as being perfect as God is perfect, demonstrated that no one could keep it, highlighting the universal need for a redeemer. Jesus's "new commandment" in John 13, "love one another as I have loved you," supersedes the Old Testament law, including the Ten Commandments. He demonstrated this by washing His disciples' feet, showing what it meant to be a servant and to love others through action. The "finished work of Christ" means that Jesus absorbed all God's wrath, anger, and judgment on the cross once and for all time. Therefore, God is no longer angry with His people and does not cause sickness, disease, or natural disasters as a form of judgment. Faith, in this context, is described as simply receiving what God has already provided for us through the finished work of Christ. It differs from "moving God" because God has already moved and provided everything; faith is our act of reaching out and taking hold of what is already available. God perceives believers as perfect, complete, and lacking nothing, through Christ. Their past sins are not remembered by God; they are "covered by the blood of Christ" and "obliterated," as if God has no recollection of them. Three actions of the father in the Prodigal Son parable illustrating God's love are: (1) He saw his son "still a great way off" and had compassion, running to meet him; (2) He "fell on his neck" (gave him a bear hug) and began continuously kissing him, not allowing him to complete his repentant speech; and (3) He immediately restored his son with a ring, cloak, and sandals, and celebrated his return, refusing to treat him as a servant. IV. Essay Format Questions Discuss the speaker's emphasis on God's love being "multifaceted" and "like a mosaic." How does this perspective challenge a "one-dimensional" understanding of God, and what are the practical implications for believers? Compare and contrast the Old Testament and New Testament portrayals of God, focusing specifically on the concept of God's wrath and judgment versus His unconditional love. How does the "finished work of Christ" serve as the turning point in this theological understanding? Analyze the role of "love as an action word" in the Christian life, drawing on examples from the source material such as Timothy's character and Jesus's "new commandment." How does this active love relate to fulfilling the law and addressing sin and fear? The speaker states that God's love "surpasses knowledge" and is an experience of the heart. Explain what this means in terms of intellectual understanding versus spiritual reception. How does this concept connect with the idea of being "accepted in the beloved" and filled with the "fullness of God"? Examine the speaker's discussion on the nature of faith as "receiving what God has already provided." How does this understanding impact a believer's approach to prayer, healing, and general reliance on God, and what common misconceptions about God's responsiveness does it challenge? V. Glossary of Key Terms Abba: A Hebrew word meaning "daddy" or "father," used to denote an intimate, affectionate, and close relationship with God. Agape: A Greek word for unconditional, selfless, and benevolent love, often used to describe God's love for humanity. Charito (Accepted in the Beloved): A Greek word meaning "highly favored" or "blessed," used in Ephesians 1:6 to describe believers' status in Christ and also used by Gabriel to Mary. Discipleship: The process of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, mimicking His character and putting faith into action, going beyond simply being a "believer." Echad: A Hebrew word for "one," which in the context of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) implies a "uni-plural" unity (like a group or herd), rather than a strict singular, which the speaker argues was misunderstood by some Jewish people. Epipto: A Greek word meaning "fell on" or "embraced," used in the parable of the Prodigal Son to describe the father's bear hug and in Acts to describe the Holy Spirit "falling upon" believers. Finished Work of Christ: Refers to the complete and perfect salvation achieved by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection on the cross, through which all of God's wrath and judgment for sin were absorbed. Law (Old Testament): The Mosaic Law given to Israel, which, according to the speaker, served to make people conscious of sin and point them to a Savior, rather than being a means of salvation itself. New Commandment: Jesus's command to "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13), presented as superseding and fulfilling the Old Testament Law. Perfect Love: Refers to God's flawless and complete love, which, when received by believers, has the power to drive out all fear. Portrait of God: The speaker's method of presenting God's multifaceted nature, similar to assembling pieces of a mosaic, to provide a comprehensive understanding beyond simple definitions. Prodigal Son: A parable from Luke 15 used by the speaker to illustrate the Father's unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and restoration towards those who return to Him. Royal Law of Love: A New Testament principle emphasizing love as the guiding law for believers, fulfilling all other laws. Zoe (Eternal Life): A Greek word for eternal life, which John 17 defines not as a concept or a place, but as a person: knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Knowing God's word is the key to knowing God.

Deb Davis shares Wednesday's devotional podcast from Bible Fellowship Church. 

Delivered by Evelyn from the Parish of Holy Spirit in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Exodus 3: 13-20; Rs psalm 105: 1.5.8-9.24-25.26-27; Matthew 11: 28-30.KNOWING GOD BY HIS NAME The title for our meditation today is:Knowing God by His Name. Yesterday we reflected on the identity of God throughthe pronouncement of the name of the ancestors of Israel to Moses. By this wayMoses could immediately associate himself with his own ancestors and then beable to imitate their examples of the faith. Today, the book of Exodus leads us toknow God in His own name. This knowledge touches the very personal being ofGod, that is by mentioning His own name. To Moses God mentioned his name withthe expression: I am who I am. In this identification God revelas himself as asingle Godhead, a personal principle of God. The pronoun "I" refersto the wholeness in oneself and cannot be put together with something else toexplain or clarify it. For example, for me, I must say myname is Maria, I am a woman, I am a nun, I am a professional, I am part of thisfamily and so on. There are so many elements attached to me to explain what andwho I am. But God does not use these complementary elements because He isalready perfect, complete. So God calls himself "I" means that He isperfect and total. He is eternal. For the name "I" whichaffirms the principle of self, it does not refers to the selfishness of God.Only God can maintain this principle because He is almighty and omnipotent.With this superiority, Moses and all of us make as an opportune of bringingGod's superiority to face evil enemies and those who oppose His will, even todefeat those enemies. For us humans, an affirmation of oneself only, the ego orselfishness, it is actually a great weakness and evetually failure. Whendealing with works, challenges or even threat from enemies, this weakness isnot a big deal to face the problem. It is obvious our human ego is so differentfrom the ego of God. The "I" affirmation of Godis also carried out by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, especially when He alwayssays: Amen, I say to you. Here Jesus continues to declare the name of God inHis Word. Jesus never says in His teachings, saying: “Jesus says to you.” Thisaffirmation of "I" for Himself also means to bring all those who hearand believe come to Him, stay with Him and follow His way of life. Today, Jesusinvites us to come to Him to draw from His great mercy in this expression:"Come to Me, because I am meek and humble." Let us always believe andrely on God's name as I AM WHO I AM. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O good Lord, thank you so much for showing yourself to uspersonally, may we always rely on your love and power. Glory to the Father andto the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...

SummaryIn this episode, Heather Bunch discusses the 'Feeling Trap' that many Christian women entrepreneurs face, particularly the feelings of unworthiness and imposter syndrome. She emphasizes the importance of understanding that faith is not a feeling and provides actionable steps to break free from these limiting beliefs. Through the story of Moses, she illustrates how feelings can hinder our purpose and encourages listeners to take courageous action despite their emotions. The episode concludes with a call to practice the opposite of negative feelings and to live fearlessly free.TakeawaysYou don't have to feel it to live like it's true.Imposter syndrome creates a gap between who God says we are and how we show up.Knowing God's Word is not enough; we must act on it.Faith is not a feeling; it's a choice to trust God.Obedience comes before feelings; take action regardless of emotions.Moses felt unworthy but still obeyed God's call.We must let faith lead our actions, not our feelings.Courageous action is essential for overcoming fear and self-doubt.Practice the opposite of what your feelings tell you.Living fearlessly free requires consistent action and trust in God.Sound Bites"Faith isn't a feeling.""Obey before you feel it.""Live fearlessly free."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Feeling Trap05:04 Understanding Imposter Syndrome09:34 Trap Response 1: Understand Faith Isn't a Feeling12:29 Trap Response 2: You gotta obey before you feel it15:06 Three Trap Responses to Overcome Feelings16:33 Trap Response 3: Let Faith Lead Your Feet19:24 Recap How You Can Respond to the Feeling Trap20:34 Courageous Action Steps22:55 Conclusion and Next Steps

Ed Gerber joins us to share his story of becoming a pastor theologian. How can the Lord use even a significant break up to prepare someone for ministry? How can those who prepare future ministry leaders be both preachers and teachers to their students? What is the balance between head and heart for those who study theology academically? This and more on today's episode! Living Church - Awe and Presence

Sunday Sermon from the book of Psalms from Eric Ashley on July 13, 2025. Our hope for you is that you will know, love, and follow Jesus Christ -- leading to personal transformation, intimate community, and a life of radical mission. You are always welcome to join us for worship at West End Community Church.For more info, please visit the WECC website at westendcc.org

Romans 14:22-23

Romans 14:22-23

2 Corinthians 12:1-13 Christ's Power Made Perfect in Weakness Please turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 12. That is on page 1152 of your pew Bibles. We are on the home stretch in our 2 Corinthians study. We'll be wrapping up our series over the next 4 weeks. This morning, we'll cover chapter 12 verses 1-13. It has one of the most well-known verses in the book. And it's a great one. The Lord said to Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What a tremendous promise. As I read, listen for the context of that promise. Also listen for the unique experiences and gifts given to the apostles. Reading of 2 Corinthians 12:1-13. Prayer “To live is to suffer.” That well-known quote has been attributed to a couple of people in history. Again, “To live is to suffer.” Whoever said it has captured one of the common experiences of all mankind. To be sure, it doesn't capture all the things we share, but it does capture the fact that we live in a fallen world. And part of that fallenness, which we all experience, is suffering. We each endure pain and suffering. Some to a greater extent and others to a lesser one. Some of our suffering is physical, other suffering is emotional. Some of it has been inflicted upon us by others. Some of our suffering is due to the imperfections of our minds and bodies. To use the words of Romans 8, the whole creation has been groaning… and we groan inwardly. You may struggle with chronic illness or live with the results of an accident. Or endure the effects of a disease that you had, or perhaps you were born with a condition of some kind that affects you every day. Maybe you have or have had cancer, or endure debilitating headaches, or struggle with vertigo, or seizures or mental illness. Or maybe the burden you carry is the suffering that a loved one is enduring. All of it is hard. All of it weighs on us. We lose sleep. We shed tears of heartache. Like Paul, we plead for the Lord to relieve our pain and suffering. We cry out for help. We long to be comforted and we long to be whole. Out of all the verses in the entire Bible, I think 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 brings the greatest comfort and hope to our souls. It directs us to the source of our comfort and it reveals from where we can draw strength in weakness. And that is, in Christ. I hope and pray that you will leave here today with a renewed strength in God as you endure suffering and sickness. But before we get to those precious verses, verses 7-10, let's first figure out what this third heaven is and who experienced it, and then ponder Paul's thorn in the flesh. I think understanding those things will in fact increase your comfort from this Word. By the way, I did get an outline in the bulletin this week. It's there on page 4. We're first going to look at Paul's calling as an Apostle (you know, capital A, Apostle), including the things unique to his role, as well as the things we share with him. And then second, we'll apply God's grace in Christ in our own weaknesses. 1. Paul's unique calling and our shared struggle So, #1, Paul's unique calling and our shared struggle. Remember, the whole reason that Paul has entered into the foolishness of boasting is because of the so-called super-apostles. They're mentioned here, again. They had elevated themselves. They taught a false Gospel. And they undermined Paul and his teaching. All of it threatened the stability and future of the church in Corinth. Therefore, Paul needed to demonstrate his trustworthiness and the truth of the Gospel he proclaimed. So, Paul had to boast, but it pained him. It pained him because he knew that any and all of the ministry that has happened through him was not because of himself. No, it was all attributable to God. Paul had a special calling as an Apostle, but he knew he was unworthy of that role, yet God had called him to it. So, he's been boasting over these last 2 chapters only to counter the super apostles. And now, in chapter 12 verse 1, he continues to boast and says, “I will go on to visions and revelations.” And then look at verse 2. He begins, “I know a man” and then describes the revelations that this guy experienced. Who is that guy? Well, it's Paul himself. He basically says so in verse 7. “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations [you know, the thing he just described], a thorn was given me in the flesh” This is like saying today, “Asking for a friend.” Like “is it ok to wear the same pair of socks two days in a row? asking for a friend.” You say “asking for a friend” because you really don't want to admit you are the one asking. But everyone knows, it's really you. Paul referred to himself in the third person because he just can't bring himself to boast about the amazing revelations he's seen. This man, AKA, Paul, has been caught up into “third heaven.” What in the world is the third heaven?  Well, at that time, there was a well-known way to describe the different levels of the heavens. The first heaven was the realm of the clouds and the blue sky; if you will, our atmosphere. The second heaven was the realm of the sun, moon, and stars, what we call outer space. And the third heaven was the spiritual realm, what we just call heaven – in the presence of the Lord. Paul describes it in verse 3 as “paradise.” So, Paul, as an apostle had been given a revelation of heaven. It was so real to him, he didn't even know if he was in the body or out of the body. Had God physically taken him to heaven to see its wonders, or had God only brought his spirit to see and hear? Paul didn't know. But he did know… it was unspeakably amazing. Now, in the book of Revelation, we are given a glimpse into this kind of revelation. The apostle John was taken up into heaven and Jesus revealed to him many things. John was told to write down what he saw and heard. Paul, on the other hand was told not to. In some way, it was to assure him of the truth and of God's promises. I mean, think of all the suffering that Paul had to endure as an apostle. Think of all those things that we considered in chapter 11. The beatings, the shipwrecks, the dangers. Would not the visions revealed to Paul give him confidence in God. Would they not inspire and motivate him to persevere as an Apostle despite the suffering that he would endure? Of course they would. They would do all those things. But he couldn't boast about the revelations as himself. He could only boast about them in his God ordained role as a true apostle. Now, jump down to verse 12. It's very similar in this regard. He writes, “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.” Same thing. In verse 12 Paul can't even name himself as the one who performed the signs. So, he uses a passive voice. But the Corinthians were there. They knew full well that it was Paul that performed the signs and wonders… which, by the way, were likely healings and miracles. Besides Paul, other apostles performed them. We have record of several in the book of Acts. Consider this. Out of all the arguments about Paul's true apostleship, these are the strongest - visions and revelations and signs and wonders. Yet in all of it, Paul minimized himself and exalted God. Now, we don't share in those special things. We're not apostles…  Those things were given to the apostles. But there is something we do share with them. We share in their weaknesses. All throughout 2 Corinthians, we've studied the emphasis on suffering. To be sure, Paul has demonstrated his unique roll as a suffering servant for Christ. But he's also expanded God's teaching to includes all believers. Chapter 1: remember, we share in the suffering of Christ and in his comfort. Chapter 4: we have the unbreakable treasure of the Gospel in our breakable jars of clay bodies. Chapter 5: we groan in the tent that is our earthly body, and we long to put on our heavenly body. And now in chapter 12. Christ's power is made perfect in weakness. And furthermore, just like Paul, we each have thorns in our flesh. We share those things. OK, you are probably wondering: what was Paul's thorn? As you can imagine, there have been dozens of proposals through the centuries. Some have suggested Paul's thorn was a physical ailment such as migraines, or a speech impediment, or an eye condition, or some kind of disfigurement. That's possible. Others have suggested it was more opposition to his work. That view sees the messenger of Satan as an individual or group opposed to Paul. They were  “thorns in his flesh” so to speak. That's also possible. Personally, I think it was more likely a physical condition given that he calls it a thorn in his “flesh.” But in the end, it doesn't matter. The Holy Spirit saw fit in his wisdom to not identify the thorn. We don't need to know. And in many ways, it is helpful for us not to know. In fact, look at verse 10. Notice that the types of suffering listed are broad.  “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.” Those are basically all the kinds of suffering that we experience. All of it is a result of living in a fallen world. Our thorns in the flesh could be many things. Let me share one of my “thorns in the flesh.” 18 years ago, I was teaching a class. It was an intensive 5-day class in my field of work at the time. In the middle of the class on I think the second or third day, I lost my ability to say certain words. I would be in the middle of a sentence, and I couldn't say the next word. I had never experienced that before. It was a kind of stuttering. There were certain consonants that just wouldn't come out. I would get locked up. I had a hard time speaking. It was overwhelming. I was afraid and I didn't know what to do at first. At the time, I was only maybe 10 seminary classes away from finishing my degree. A career change was on my mind in the future. And I thought, if I can't talk clearly, I can't teach the Bible or preach. I prayed for healing and for the Lord to give me strength. Amy, of course, was a big encouragement. I was able to get some help. There are ceratin strategies to navigate those moments. It's mostly gone, but occasionally it comes back. Even today, I have to pause or take a breath before I can say certain words. And you probably don't notice it. Honestly, I don't remember if 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 came to mind in those difficult days. But certainly, its truths have become real to me. It was humbling, like Paul experienced with his thorn in the flesh. And it's been a constant reminder to rely on the Lord and his strength and his grace in my weakness. I know many of you have a different thorn, but we share the same strength and grace. Strength in Christ and grace in him. 2. God's grace in Christ and his power in our weakness Which brings us to main point number 2. God's grace in Christ and his power in our weakness. We'll spend the rest of our time applying these truths to our suffering and weakness. The first thing to note is that there are two causes here. Besides the thorn being in God's sovereign plan, Satan was also present to tempt Paul. Maybe the apostle Paul has Job in mind. We read from Job chapter 2 earlier. God allowed Satan to afflict Job. Satan thought that Job would curse God, but Job stood firm through that temptation. So did the apostle. I think every single one of us understands the temptation of weakness. God, where are you? Why have you not brought healing or restoration? Have you forgotten me? Have I done something to deserve this? Those are the questions we struggles through. And let me say, if there's nothing else you remember from 2 Corinthians, remember that God ministers to us in our suffering. He understands our suffering, he is with us in it, and he uses it for his purposes. One big thing that 2 Corinthians has taught us is to reorient our theology of suffering. We've learned that God uses suffering in our life for his purposes. And, throughout the book, we've been given hope and strength to endure. But what are those purposes? Well, to name a few… In chapter 1, we learned that affliction helps us to rely on God more. That's certainly true. Suffering should drive us to Christ. God also uses our affliction so that we can minister to others who similarly suffer. Remember, we are able to comfort others with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God. In Chapter 4, God directed our attention in suffering to the eternal weight of glory. Our suffering points us to heaven and the amazing glory that we will experience. And here in chapter 12, God used Paul's thorn in two ways. (1) to keep him from being conceited -to humble him. Suffering certainly does that. And (2), to remind Paul of God's grace as he endured his suffering. Suffering helps us to lay hold of God's grace. That really encapsulates the first subpoint in point #2 - Knowing God's purposes in our weakness (12:7-8) God is at work in your suffering. Do you believe that? Do you believe that God is conforming you more and more to the image of his Son. It's true. Through suffering, God may be releasing your reliance on the world or the world's things. That's possible. He may be getting hold of your attention. Or maybe it's all of those things or something all together different. Whatever it is, know this: God is at work accomplishing his purposes in your suffering. Number 2, the second subpoint. If you are a believer in Christ, you have God's grace. You have God's undeserved mercy in Christ. And that grace, as verse 9 reminds us, IS sufficient for you in your weakness. It is sufficient because the power of Christ has come through weakness. Jesus suffered in this life. He endured the trials and pain and torture unto death. It was through those things, through that affliction and weakness, that God has brought salvation to the world. Isn't it amazing to consider how the weakness and suffering of our savior ultimately demonstrated his power? That is the power that verse 9 is talking about. In the cross of Christ is the power to save, and the power to sanctify, and the power to overcome sin and Satan. It is that power, the power of Christ which rests upon us, as verse 9 puts it. So, beloved in Christ, in your weaknesses and trials and suffering, remind yourself of that grace which he gives. It is eternally sufficient to sustain you. That brings us to the third sub-point listed there. Contentment. Paul says in verse 10, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.” None of us, by nature, are content with any of those things. We could go through that list and talk about how in each of those things we can become resentful. For example, take that last one – calamities. This last week has been so very hard with the flooding in Texas. Our hearts ache for the families who have lost loved ones, especially those little girls. Yes, we should be crying out to God, but our hearts should at the same time not become resentful. We can grieve and ask God why, but we can do that with a humble contentment in God's promises and what he is doing through that disaster. By the way, that word contentment, in the Greek, means to take pleasure in the implications of something. We can be content because we know that God's purposes are being fulfilled in those things. As Romans 8:28 says, we know that all things work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes. It doesn't say all things are good. It says, all things work together for the good of those who love him. The difficult providence of suffering is not what we would choose for ourselves or others, but God uses it. He uses it to accomplish his purposes as he has in Paul. The question is whether we will allow our suffering to drive us away from Christ and cause us to become resentful or whether we will allow our suffering to drive us to Christ and be content in him through it. The last subpoint, #4. Embracing his strength in our weakness. Really the second half of verse 10 summarizes it all. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This is totally contrary to our sensibilities. Strength, according to the world, is being firm and leading with confidence. It's being self-reliant and influencing others through our position. Strength in the world is about achievements and successes. In other words, it's all the things that the super-apostles were about. But none of those things will help you in the trials and tribulations of life. Rather, strength comes through weakness. That's the paradox of the Gospel. We are strong through weakness when we humble ourselves and rely on Christ alone by faith. We are strong when we submit to him no matter the suffering we face. It doesn't mean we can't lament. Many of the Psalms are Psalms of lament. We are strong when we allow God to mold and shape us in our suffering. All that strength in weakness comes through Jesus Christ. Though he possessed the full glory of God as God, yet he set aside that glory and became weak. He took on the weakness of human flesh. He endured the sufferings and afflictions of this life. He bore our sin on the cross. But he was raised in power and exalted on high. You see, his grace IS sufficient because his power IS made perfect in weakness. And because he shares in our weakness, we share in his strength. That strength will sustain you through all the suffering in this life. The devil may tempt you. Your fear and pain may at times may be overwhelming, but in those moments, renew your faith in Christ. Look to him knowing that his purposes are being fulfilled in you, and know that nothing will separate you from him. Back to Romans 8 one more time. “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” May we grasp on to that great truth through whatever weakness and suffering we endure. Amen.

Pastor Fletcher begins our other summer sermon series on theology.

God created mankind to be one with him, he seeks an intimate relationship with everyone of us. This is made possible through his Spirit which he deposit in us at salvation. His Spirit creates this possibility of intimacy through the revelations of God's word to us and we enter into this intimacy by not only reading God word but by incorporating it into our lives, by becoming a doer of the word. Jesus promises to be a friend that is closer then a brother and to never live us or forsake us, we may chose to leave him by he will never live us.

How do you see things? Do you see them from the right point of view? Seeing things in faith. Knowing God has made the way, we just have to walk it out.

A — What is this about? This passage is a divine call to lament over sin and impending judgment. God commands professional mourners to wail, symbolizing the depth of spiritual ruin and social collapse due to Israel's unfaithfulness. Despite external religiosity, their hearts remain uncircumcised. God reminds His people that true glory is not found in wisdom, strength, or wealth—but in knowing and delighting in Him. B — Best verse to summarize this passage: Jeremiah 9:24 – "But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord. C — What are we called to do? We are called to grieve over sin, turn our hearts to God, and glory only in truly knowing Him. We must examine whether our hearts are spiritually circumcised, delight in what God delights in—His righteousness, justice, and steadfast love—and walk as faithful citizens of His kingdom.

Deb Davis shares Wednesday's devotional podcast from Bible Fellowship Church. 

Pastor Andy teaches that faith is more than belief—it's the deeply personal knowledge of God that brings victory and spreads His presence like a fragrance wherever we go. Victory in Christ isn't just for our benefit; it becomes an aroma of God's reality to others, sometimes convicting, sometimes life-giving, but always revealing Him. Knowing God better involves not only prayer and fellowship but reevaluating how we were first introduced to Him and fully committing every area of our lives to Him. If you would like to support WOCC financially you can give by clicking here: https://www.worldovercomers.church/give/ Scripture References: John 14 2 Corinthians 2

Launch Code for 7A daily zoomNotes:(vs 7)It Is Not For You to KnowThey ask a good question and Jesus doesn't rebuke them for asking it, he simply tells them it isn't their business to know. There are some things (many) that knowing will not do us any good and may harm us. The tree of knowledge is not the tree of life. Accepting God at his word and waiting upon him is better than analyzing rationalizing and predicting what God is up to. It is enough to know that our God knows. Knowing God is always better than knowing information.(vs 8) IdentityThe Holy Spirit is power if a new and different kind than any power ever entrusted to men. It is a received power not an earned power or a built power.  He is the power and it cannot be separated from his presence.At This TimeJesus's teaching about the kingdom must have been like his other teaching: plain in some aspects and completely opaque in others. After 40 days of teaching about the kingdom the followers of Jesus are anxious for the kingdom to come but mistaken about what the kingdom meant.  Is it God's fault we don't understand his teaching?  Sometimes I tend to subconsciously place the blame for my misunderstandings at the feet I God. And there is some evidence that Jesus taught the crowds in ways they could not understand (mt 13:10-17) but not these people. They are the ones who have the keys and he tells them plainly about the kingdom. And still they are struggling to understand.  Why?  God's teaching is clear but our paradigms are not changed. In order to have God teaching we need God hearing. These followers heard kingdom and thought of power exercised through men. But God was telling them about a kingdom where power would be exercised through a Spirit.

In this message on Ephesians 1:17, Eric Gentry reminds us that the deepest need in our lives is to truly know God—not just facts about Him, but personal closeness with the Father of glory. Using the metaphor of a telescope turned the wrong way, he shows how easily we shrink God in our minds and let life's problems grow too large. Paul's prayer is a powerful one: that God would give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we might know Him better. This kind of knowing is a gift, not an achievement—something God longs to give if we'll only ask. Knowing God transforms our perspective, fills us with peace and courage, and shapes every part of how we live. It's time to turn the lens, enlarge our view of God, and pray for the Spirit to do what only He can.

Summary: We continue in our Sunday Seminary series as we've been learned about the knowability of our Triune God as well as our own human creation and fall. Today we learn that our God is both merciful and just in view of our human predicament. GOD'S ETERNAL MERCY Merciful from eternity Merciful apart from works GOD'S ETERNAL JUSTICE GOD'S HISTORICAL GRACE

Knowing God's Way in All of His Acts Pt. 2 (2025-7-2) Live Wednesday Evening Service with Pastor Curtis Hutchinson

Knowing God's Way in All of His Acts Pt. 2 (2025-7-2) Live Wednesday Evening Service with Pastor Curtis Hutchinson

# Miracles and Messages: Understanding Divine Communication In the fifth week of our "Miracles" series, we delve into the profound spiritual dimensions that challenge the materialistic view of the world. We explore the concept of "thin places," where God's divine presence breaks through, affirming the reality of a spiritual realm governed by His sovereignty. However, these encounters come with a caveat: God's actions may not always align with our desires, yet they are always for our good and His glory. ## **Daniel 5: The Handwriting on the Wall** The sermon centers around the story from **Daniel 5**, where King Belshazzar witnesses a miraculous event—a divine hand writing on the wall. This event serves as a confirmation of God's previous warning through Nebuchadnezzar, emphasizing that God's messages are consistent and align with His revealed truth. ### Key Themes - **Spiritual Reality vs. Materialism:** - In a world that often prioritizes the material, the sermon reminds us that our faith calls us to recognize and seek the spiritual dimensions where God operates. - **God's Consistency:** - The miracles we read about in Scripture, like the handwriting on the wall, consistently reinforce God's truth and character. - **Isaiah 55:8-9** reminds us that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, urging us to trust Him even when His actions seem contrary to our desires. - **Testing the Spirits:** - When seeking divine guidance, not every message we encounter comes from God. The sermon advises testing these messages against Scripture to discern their origin. - **1 John 4:1** instructs believers to "test the spirits" to ensure they align with God's revealed truth. - **The Role of Faith:** - Faith is pivotal, especially when God's guidance leads us into discomfort or sacrifice. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace exemplifies unwavering faith—they trusted God regardless of the outcome. ### Lessons from Belshazzar's Downfall - **Arrogance and Disrespect:** - Belshazzar's downfall was precipitated by his arrogance and disrespect for God's holiness, as he desecrated sacred temple artifacts. - **Consequences of Ignoring God's Warnings:** - Despite knowing Nebuchadnezzar's story, Belshazzar failed to heed the warnings, resulting in his kingdom's downfall. - The sermon underscores the importance of learning from past divine messages and aligning our actions with God's will. ### Practical Application - **Be a Student of the Word:** - To discern God's messages, immerse yourself in Scripture. Knowing God's Word is essential to understanding His guidance and resisting deceptive messages. - **Seek Godly Counsel:** - Like Daniel, seek wisdom from those who walk closely with God, as they can provide clarity and insight into God's messages. ### Conclusion Ultimately, the sermon calls us to trust in God's consistent character and His plans, which may not always align with our own but are always for our ultimate good. By living in alignment with His Word and seeking His presence in the thin places, we can navigate the challenges of life with faith and confidence in His divine purpose. --- For further reflection, consider reading **Daniel 5** and **1 John 4:1** to deepen your understanding of the themes discussed in this sermon.

Developing A Strategy to Cope How can we, as 21st century Christians, keep from falling away. I would call it the COPE strategy: Consider, Persevere and Encourage. Keep Considering! (Hebrews 3:1-6) The first thing we do is to consider Jesus or as the NIV here puts it "fix our thoughts". Now remember, that these are Hebrew believers. I guess we would call them Messianic Jews today. They believed that Jesus was their Messiah, Saviour and Lord. They were obviously coming under pressure from their Jewish friends and leaders to deny this Jesus and return to the fold. They would have been told how great Moses was. In the previous chapter we read how Jesus is greater than the angels, because He is God, but was made a little lower than the angels when he became a man. Moses was cool In this chapter, we read a comparison between Jesus and Moses. Moses to the Jews was like a super-hero. Moses was revered because it was to him that God revealed His will. Moses was the key figure in the establishment of Israel as a nation - God's chosen people! Moses suffered persecution and rejection from the rest of the family of Israel. He had great zeal for God and was willing to sacrifice everything for God. He had fellowship with God. Yet all this is merely a shadow and a prophetic sign of what was to come in Jesus. Moses, we read in Numbers 12:7, was faithful to God's house, God's people. The house of God is the people of God. It was this Moses who was held in such high regard by the Jews, that some might well have been tempted to renounce Jesus and go back to the old ways. God's Messiah would need to be greater than Moses, and Jesus is and was this Messiah. Later on in the book of Hebrews, we discover that Jesus is greater than Aaron through whom the law was ministered; but here we see that Jesus is greater than Moses, the lawgiver, the servant of the house of God. Moses and Aaron represented God's house in Israel; Moses was the Apostle or Prophet and Aaron was the High Priest. Jesus, an Apostle and Prophet as well as being the High Priest, joined the two together. By Apostle, I mean as a Messenger - that's what an apostle is - a messenger or representative. As the Apostle of our faith, Jesus was faithful. Jesus was God's representative for us, making God known to us. Jesus was totally faithful, means to be both trusting and to be capable of being trusted. Moses was the one to whom the Law was given - the Mosaic covenant under which the Jewish people lived. This covenant with Moses commenced with the stipulation "Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me." (Exodus 19v5). This covenant was to Israel in order that those who believed God's promise to Abraham, could know how to live rightly in accordance with how God wanted them to live. This covenant with Moses covered the three areas of life: The commandments were given so they would know how to relate socially to God (Exodus 20v1-6) The judgments were given in order that they could relate socially to each other (Exodus 21v1 - 24v11) The decrees dictated their religious life so that God could be approached by humanity on His terms (Exodus 24v12 - 31v18). This covenant that God made with Moses and the ancient nation of Israel was never meant to be as a means for providing salvation. It was given so that they could realize the helplessness and futility of their own efforts and their need of God's help. It was to serve only as a protective fence until the promised Messiah came; the long waited for Saviour of all humanity, so that the whole world, Jew and Gentile, could be made right with God through faith and faith alone. In Comes Jesus And that is where Jesus comes in. As their Messiah and Saviour, Jesus ushered in the New Covenant, which was promised by God through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. What are the features of this New Covenant or promise? Four features of this covenant are: Regeneration -God will write His law on the hearts of people. Restoration - God will be their God, and they will be His people. Promised Holy Spirit - God will indwell people and they will be led by Him Justification - Sins will be forgiven and removed eternally This new covenant is sealed only through the perfect sacrifice of the God-Man Jesus on the cross. His blood ensures the truth of this New Covenant. His death pays the penalty for the sins of all people who say yes to God and are ready to run the race and travel the course. This New Covenant finalizes what the Mosaic Covenant could only point to: the follower of God living in a relationship with God conforming to God's holy character. That is one very specific way of Jesus being superior to Moses! The original readers of this letter being God-fearing Jews would be aware of all this. They would also be aware that it is sin, which separates humans from God and as a consequence leads to both a spiritual and physical death (Romans 3v23, Romans 6v23, Isaiah 59v2). In the Old Testament, sins were dealt with by blood sacrifices of atonement as coverings for sin (Leviticus 17v11), for without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9v22). A blood sacrifice is God's way of dealing with sin. These blood sacrifices of the Old Testament signified several things: It provided a covering for sin. It showed the great cost of sin. It was an exchange or substitution. It was only always going to be a temporary measure, as it pointed forward to Jesus' death and it needed to be done over and over again. So how is Jesus better than Moses? The answer lies in the solution to sin. The ultimate solution to sin lies not in the continual animal sacrifice under the Covenant with Moses, because as the writer later in Hebrews 10v4 stipulates the blood of animals cannot take away sin but was only ever going to be a veneer or a covering. That was why it was necessary to repeat time and time again! It is only through the victorious death of Jesus, that sin is permanently taken away (Hebrews 9:v11-15, 26-28), because Jesus is the permanent sacrificial substitute! It is as if the writer is saying give up on Jesus, stop considering Him and you would still be in your sins - that's the way the original readers would have understood it! Right mouse click or tap here to save this as mp3 And as for us? As followers of Jesus Christ we are built together so that the Spirit of God may join us together in love. Both individually and as a group, we are the house of God. Jesus said, "We will come and make our home in you". We know Jesus has been faithful as a Son over God's people. We celebrate His faithfulness at Easter, when we acknowledge and rejoice at the sacrifice He made for us. We remember it in the act of Communion, which we will have later. Jesus suffered persecution and rejection from his peers. We know Jesus was godly and full of zeal for God, and was willing to sacrifice everything for God and his people. We are the house of God. And yet, do we not reject Jesus sometimes, or do we keep on considering? Do we give Him and trust in His faithfulness to complete the good work he has started in us? This NIV translation has "fix your thoughts". Here is how the New King James Version puts verse 1 "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus". I personally think that that is a better way of putting it. And not only because it has the word partakers in there! To "consider" has a much broader meaning than just "fixing your thoughts" as the NIV puts it. It means to seek, to fully understand or comprehend as well as fixing thoughtfully. To consider means to contemplate, to think about, to persevere with, to concentrate on and to fix eyes and thoughts upon. We have to allow Jesus Christ to permeate every aspect of our life, if we are to be partakers of Him. To consider not just how Jesus would do something, but how Jesus would think. What attitude would Jesus take? What would Jesus not do? Just as the Hebrews receiving this letter were told to do, in their race of the life following Jesus, we too are to hold fast to our courage, but only by considering Jesus and trusting in Him relying on the Holy Spirit to help us as we ask Him. This phrase "to consider" is perhaps the central theme of the book of Hebrews. We are to consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Jesus was faithful to the purpose of His Coming to be among people. His purpose in coming to earth, as a mere man, was to die for sins and be raised up on the third day so as to be victorious over death and sin. This Jesus perfected our human nature in His life of simplicity, suffering, devotion and obedience. He now lives at the right hand of the Father in heaven, to communicate to us His life and blessedness through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We must therefore consider Jesus in everything we do, every thought we think and in every attitude. This is the aim of the writer to persuade these Hebrew Christians that if they knew Jesus to be the faithful, compassionate Almighty apostle and priest in Heaven, then they would find everything in Him that they needed for life. Moses couldn't help them, but Jesus could! Moses had died, they could perhaps visit his tomb if they wanted to. But Jesus, well, Jesus' tomb was empty! Jesus is alive! The life of these Hebrew Christians would be united with their faith, and united with the life of Jesus whom their faith would glorify God. To these Hebrew Christians their salvation was based on Jesus, but to renounce Jesus and go back to following Moses was apostasy. Moses couldn't offer salvation because the Law was not meant as a means of salvation! But what about you? Are you trusting in this Jesus for salvation or are you even subconsciously relying on your own good works or something else? That was what these believing Hebrews were to do - consider how vastly superior Jesus is to Moses. We also are to consider how superior Jesus is to all other things that would try to entangle us and allure us away with false promises. Keep Persevering! (Hebrews 3:7-12, 15-19) And then after considering Jesus, these Hebrew Christians were to do something! They were to persevere in believing. The writer now warns these Hebrew believers against the sin of unbelief, which is the hardening of their hearts. The writer quoting from Psalm 95 reminds them of the way Israel rebelled against God in the desert. He warns them not to be like their forefathers, who did not trust fully in the Lord their God. From Psalm 95, he proceeds to remind them of their ancestors' deeds of unbelief. The privilege of the house of God is in hearing God's voice. By choosing not to listen to God's voice, peoples' hearts grew hard and cold. These words are of course written to believing Christian Hebrews, not unbelieving Jews, and are as appropriate for us today, as it was for them when they received it. As the people of God today, the Church, we need to be ready to listen to God's voice. As we see God working in us, our trust and belief in Him grows. If we do not believe in Him to help us, then of course our hearts will harden against him. As we grow and run the race, willingly sacrificing what needs to be sacrificed, we realize the glory and majesty of God, His holiness and perfection, His love and tenderness, and gladly listen to hear what He says to us, and willingly receive what He gives us. When you pray, do you have your Bible open? When you read your Bible, do you do so prayerfully and considerately? Bible reading and prayer go together! Unbelief stops a person from holding fellowship with God. Our God is alive, not a dead idol on the shelf or in the bank. This church of Hebrew believers, for all their Christian profession and religious exercises, were in danger of falling away from God, due to their not believing totally in Him. God would not abandon them, but they would abandon God! We need to take care, in case we also fall into unbelief. Unbelief and falling away act upon and react to each other. If we have any unbelief in our hearts tonight, then let us ask God to give us a heart that believes in Him so that we may not fall away from Him. And what is one of the main ways we can stop from falling away or letting others fall away into unbelief? Keep encouraging! Hebrews 3:12-14 So we keep on considering Jesus. We persevere in our believing in Him. Now thirdly, to show we are considering Jesus and are persevering in our believing Him, we are to encourage and be encouraged! In verse 12, we read, "See to it, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God". This means, that we are not only to take care of our own hearts, but as verse 13 goes on to say, we are to encourage and ensure no one is in danger of falling away. We who are believers, have to make sure that each one of us is staying on the path that leads to life, that is, the race towards Jesus. This group of Hebrew Christians were to help and encourage each other! And so are we! For us, maybe it is by phoning somebody you haven't seen in a while or to phone somebody you get a random thought about! If we see a brother or sister that we know is starting to fall out of the race, we need to do all we can to stop them falling away. We need to encourage them, to continue considering Jesus and believing in Him. We all know of people who are new believers, full of joy and zeal for God, that end up falling back into unbelief, unable to hold fast to the end. To some degree, it is because the Church body has failed to encourage them to continue on in the race. It is our duty, and our daily responsibility to encourage people on in the race or the journey. However, to encourage is not just these easy things. To encourage can also mean to rebuke, to correct in love. I look back at my tutor, during my first stint of Bible College back in the 1980s. His name was Ed. Ed the head we called him. We had weekly tutorials then. Every week he would get me to read a chapter of Knowing God by JI Packer and a chapter of Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. Then during our tutorial I would have to try and explain what I learnt from both those chapters. It was a slog at times I tell you. But it gave me a good grounding for my Christian thinking and life of discipleship to Jesus. Or I think back to my dear friend Rose, a kind and dear elderly lady from the church I used to attend back in the 80s. She would have us young adults back to her house overlooking the ocean for coffee after church on a Sunday evening. She would always be showing love, caring and encouraging to all people - ready to lift them when they were down and eager to cheer from the sidelines. She was also a tough cookie at times and if we got out of line, she would say so in no uncertain terms! When we see somebody sinning or contemplating Therefore in considering Jesus, believe in Him and encourage others to do the same. That is the purpose of encouragement mentioned here. Let all of us give ourselves to the service of Jesus to watch over other people: let all the fresh grace and deeper knowledge of Jesus we see, be for the service of those around us. Where will you and I be spiritually next year, in 10 years' time, in 25 years' time? Will you be able to honestly say to yourself at that time, I have grown spiritually and haven't fallen away? If you would call yourself a Christian, and you are unsure where you are, then do this. Look back and remember what Jesus has done for you. Consider Him as you look back to your first profession of faith in Him. Consider that just as He died, you died in the waters of baptism. Consider that just as He rose to physical life, you rose from the waters of baptism and will also rise again when you physically die. Consider that just as Jesus will be glorified, so too will you be glorified before the Father - if you hold out until the end. Be assured of who you are - you are a child of the living God - hold out to the end. He has a firm grip on you, so maintain your grip on Him! Remember who you are! The way to cope with the rigours of 21st century life as a Christian believer, is to keep considering, keep persevering and keep encouraging. Right mouse click or tap here to save this as mp3

Big Idea - We are awestruck by the God who is all-knowing. Connect with us! https://www.lifebaptistchurch.com/connect

When we are bogged down with feelings of inadequacy, or when we are burdened by expectations, it's a great time to pray. But sometimes it can be hard for us to know what to pray or even how to pray. In this message, Jill walks us through the Old Testament prayer process that was followed within the temple and compares it to New Testament times to help us understand the importance of prayer and learn how to deepen our prayer life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29

Revelation // Ezra Okoti

CrossWay Church - Queen City, Texas

CrossWay Church - Queen City, Texas

Following God's Call with Guest Mark Sheldrake

Remember that God is your perfect heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally.

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:9-16Rylee leaned back to see the top of the huge saguaro cactus next to her. Its spiny arms reached out and up toward the sky. "With so many big arms, this thing should be holding something. Try sitting on one of its arms, Easton," Rylee said with a grin."No way!" said Easton. "I'm not sitting on those prickly things!""Those arms," said Dad, "are holding what is probably the most valuable thing in the entire region.""And I know what it is," Easton said. "Water! Cactus plants can live in the dry, hot desert by storing water inside their trunk and arms.""That can't be right," said Rylee, looking around at the sand and rocks. They extended as far as she could see. "There's no water here!""Easton is right," said Dad. "Cactus roots don't go very deep into the earth. Instead, they go down only about three feet and then spread out about a hundred feet in all directions. The spread-out roots draw in every drop of rain, sending it to a hidden storage area in the arms and trunk of the cactus. That inner water supply is what keeps this cactus alive and growing. These big fellas can soak up as much as two hundred gallons of water--enough to last them a whole year!""Yeah, that's why they're pleated like an accordion," Easton said, eager to show his knowledge. "The pleats expand as the spongy material inside absorbs water.""That's incredible!" said Rylee. "Well, Mr. Cactus, I can see you're a pretty smart guy!"Dad smiled. "One with a good lesson for us about the importance of storing things.""About storing water?" asked Easton. "I don't really mind carrying a water bottle--and I like the size of my arms the way they are!"Dad laughed. "I wasn't thinking of your arms, Easton. Let's try your heart! I hope both of you will store God's Word in your heart and mind. Then when things get difficult, you can draw from those words of hope, comfort, and guidance. Knowing God's Word helps us remember what Jesus has done for us and that He's always with us. Like water in a dry desert, it will nourish you and help you grow in your relationship with Him." –Trudy Vander VeenHow About You?Have you been growing spiritually? Are you storing God's Word in your heart by reading the Bible and memorizing verses? Storing God's Word in your heart will help you understand how much Jesus loves you and who you are in Him. Read and study it so He can use it to guide you in your life, comfort you in hard times, and remind you of His promises. Today's Key Verse:Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (NKJV) (Psalm 119:11)Today's Key Thought:Soak up God's Word

Remember that God is your perfect heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally.

Remember that God is your perfect heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally.

Embrace the encouraging privilege of calling God by His most comforting name—Father.

Embrace the encouraging privilege of calling God by His most comforting name—Father.

Embrace the encouraging privilege of calling God by His most comforting name—Father.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer as he shares about his recent book, Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion. How can Christians encounter Jesus on every page of the Bible? What can we learn from how the earliest Christians read Scripture, and connect seemingly disparate stories in the text? What is distinct about this style of reading as opposed, for example, to 6-week Bible studies or academic study? This and more on today's episode!

In this final discussion of Hegel and Anselm, the contrast between the two in the personal and propositional is brought out, with the idea that God's person is given to us in Christ (poured out in kenotic love) and in this sense can be known.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

 How many of you find that you are in the presence of God regularly? If so, how does that affect your life? If you are not in the presence of God, why is that so? "Praising in the presence of God is precious."

Knowing God who cannot be thoroughly known. Knowing God who can be truly known.

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.comRomans 1 The apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome in the name of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, commending their faith and expressing his desire to visit them. Thus far prevented from doing so, Paul wishes to see them and strengthen their trust in the gospel, which is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. This gospel reveals God's righteousness and calls believers to live by faith. However, Paul laments that many have rejected God's truth. Despite God's power and divine nature being evident in creation, many have turned to idols, forsaking the Creator. God has allowed them to follow their sinful desires, resulting in immoral practices and corrupt behavior. Knowing God's will, some continue to engage in these acts and encourage others to do the same. Christ Jesus, God's Son, appoints Paul as a preacher to the Gentiles. Paul's message aims to inspire “the obedience of faith” among believers in Jesus' name. We are called to believe and to follow God's will; the two cannot be separated. The gospel possesses the power to save while revealing the righteousness of God, guiding us to live by faith and strive for righteousness. This explains why so many refuse to acknowledge the authority of God: it requires allegiance to His word. He has given us countless reasons to believe, but for many in the world, the desire for sexual immorality and self-indulgence is simply too enticing. We must beware of how far darkened hearts can stray from God.  Benevolent Father, thank You for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank You for the assurance of salvation and the hope of eternal life. We pray for the gospel to thrive in us as we live by faith and pursue righteousness daily. The devil tempts us to suppress the truth, seeking to divert our gaze from the overwhelming evidence of Your Majesty in creation. Many have exchanged Your glory for their own, chasing unnatural and ungodly desires. Help us remain devoted to You and faithful to the truth. Please grant us wisdom to influence those who have turned from You.  Thought Questions: -       Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, describe the “obedience of faith” that must naturally grow out of this belief. -       The text says those who suppress the truth have no excuse. Why not? How has God clearly revealed His authority to us all? -       Why is it impossible to live an immoral life and be saved by God? Is homosexuality a form of immorality that must be cast away?

It is easy to forget what is most important. Truly, everything in our Christian life flows from our relationship with God. We don't want to take for granted the gift of having a personal relationship with God. Knowing God and praying is a two-way street, and there is no substitute for time alone with God. The closeness of drawing near to God is the source for everything good in life. 

Send us a text Dr. Holly Catterton Allen reveals that spirituality is crucial to childhood resilience. She explains that children are born as spiritual beings with an inherent capacity for deep relationships with self, others, and God. She challenges traditional approaches to children's faith formation by emphasizing contemplative practices and "wondering questions" instead of formulaic answers.• Children are born spiritual beings, not just physical, emotional, and intellectual ones.• Spirituality encompasses three essential relationships: with self, others, and God.• Research shows spirituality ranks as a key protective factor in childhood resilience.• Creating space for questions without immediate answers builds authentic spiritual growth.• Simple practices like asking "Who are you in the story?" can open meaningful spiritual conversations.• Children don't need all protective factors to be resilient if they have a meaningful connection to God.• Knowing God as present, understanding, and healing provides "the most powerful resilience armor."Try asking the children in your life open-ended "wondering questions" this week, and see how it enriches your conversations and deepens your connections.Visit Dr. Holly Catterton Allen here: InterGenerate ConferenceOrder "Forming Resilient Children."Support the showBegin Your Heartlifter's Journey: Visit and subscribe to Heartlift Central on Substack. This is our new online coaching center and meeting place for Heartlifters worldwide. Download the "Overcoming Hurtful Words" Study Guide PDF: BECOMING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon Leave a review and rate the podcast: WRITE A REVIEW Learn more about my books and work: Janell Rardon Make a tax-deductible donation through Heartlift International

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Jason Meyer, lead pastor of Urban Refuge Church in Minneapolis, MN, joins the podcast today to tell us about his journey towards becoming a pastor theologian. After serving eight years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, Jason shares what he learned about his own calling, and the identity of a "pastor." This and more on today's episode!

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us to talk to God as our Father—because we are His children.

Knowing God not only brings you peace, joy, and contentment but also changes the nature of your existence and how you experience eternity.