Podcasts about like god

What if the voice you're calling “wisdom”… is actually fear? In this bold and Spirit-led episode, I exposes the deceptive voices that keep faith-driven leaders from stepping into their next assignment. From hesitation disguised as discernment to spiritual-sounding delays that are actually fear in disguise, this teaching will help you break free from delay, doubt, and disobedience. Ishare her own journey of resisting God's promptings under the guise of “not being ready”—and the breakthrough that came when she finally said yes. Plus, she unpacks her 3-part Spiritual Intelligence Method™ to help you reclaim clarity, peace, and Spirit-led action.

"It's the coming and the going, it's the right now and the forever, it's this all-encompassing idea of God's watchful, beautiful care of the entirety of our lives...And what if I really, really did believe that instead of hiding from those things or maybe relying on my own control over those things?"— Natalie AbbottToday's Episode: Today Natalie and Vera are tackling two simple questions that are really hard to live out: "Do you really live like God is watching over you?" and "Do you really live like God is watching over your people?" The hope is that you would hear where they are succeeding and where they aren't and consider your own life and how you can entrust yourself and your people more to the Lord. This month's memory verse: “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” — Psalm 121:8 Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about the easy button for Scripture memory, Dwell Differently's monthly membership!Support our show: It's really just as simple as leaving us a review!Links from today's show: Memorize and meditate on God's Word with a Dwell Differently membership. Get your first month FREE with the code: PODCAST.Want to do a Scripture memory Bible study? Check it out here! Or get the teen version. Want more encouragement? Sign up for our emails!Support the showFollow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.

Welcome back to Bro Talk, the go-to Christian podcast where real conversations meet real faith. In Season 6, Episode 11: "It Was Silent but He Was Moving," we explore the deep truth that even when God seems quiet—He's still working.Have you ever felt like your prayers were hitting the ceiling? Like God went silent right when you needed Him most? This episode reminds you that God's silence is never His absence.We dive into:What the Bible teaches us about seasons of silenceHow to recognize God's movement in stillnessWhy waiting on God is often where your faith journey deepens mostEncouragement to hold on when you can't see what God is doingWhether you're a new believer learning how to discern God's voice, or a seasoned Christian wrestling with delayed answers, this message is for you. Sometimes, the silence is where your spiritual growth begins—and God is setting things in motion behind the scenes.

Have you ever felt like you're just not measuring up? Like God's waiting for you to finally get it all together?

Introduction: Two Problems Jesus Has with Divorce (Matthew 5:31–32): Divorce TRIVIALIZES MARRIAGE. (Matt 5:31) Genesis 2:24 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Deuteronomy 24:1–4 – When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. Divorce RESULTS In ADULTERY. (Matt 5:32) Ephesians 5:24–25 – Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:31-32 & Mark 10:2-12What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What are some beliefs you've heard Christians believe about divorce and remarriage? How do these line up with Scripture?Explain what Jesus meant in Matt 5:32, how someone's divorce even leads to other people committing adultery.How exactly would you counsel a trusted Christian friend who is considering divorce?BreakoutPray for one another. Audio Transcript Matthew chapter 5, are you there?This section we are in on the Sermon on the Mount is about the heart of God's law.And we saw that Jesus said, "I didn't come to abolish the law or destroy the law."That's what we would call the Old Testament.Jesus said, "I didn't come to do away with the Old Testament."He said, "I came to carry out everything that was said in it."It's not irrelevant at all.And through this section you're going to see, as we've already seen many times, Jesus says,"You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."And when Jesus says that, what He's saying is, "You've lowered God's standard."And Jesus is correcting them, and He's correcting us when we take the Word of God and just makeit purely external.God wants your heart.God wants your heart.That's what we saw a couple of weeks ago.Pastor Taylor taught us, Jesus said, "Murder isn't just the physical act of killing someone.It's a heart issue."We saw last week adultery is not just the physical act.It's a heart issue.And in these verses we're looking at today, Jesus is continuing His teaching on the destructivenessof adultery.And today we're going to talk about divorce.And look, there's so much controversy on this topic.And if we're going to be honest, the controversy doesn't come really from God's Word becausethe Bible is clear.The reason there's so much controversy is because if you are a divorced person, thisgets very personal and it gets very painful.And look, I've done so many weddings over the past 20-some years, so many weddings.And I can tell you emphatically that nobody gets into marriage wanting a divorce.That doesn't happen.I've never seen the wedding ceremony where the vows include something like, "I can'twait to be done with you."Or "I love you today, but in six months I will hate you more than anybody on the planet."Nobody thinks that.Nobody expects that.And when divorce happens, it's always, it's just always so painful.And we get through a passage like, "Look, I know some of you are going to be temptedto tune out because you're going to think, 'Well, you know what, Jeff, you don't knowmy circumstances.'And you're right.I don't.I don't know your circumstances."And I'm certainly not trying to be dismissive of the pain that you've gone through.And I'm certainly not trying to be judgmental for what brought about your divorce if that'syour situation.And I'm also keenly aware that I cannot exhaust everything that the Bible says on the subjectin just one sermon.What I want us all to do, it's nothing new.I just want us to do what we do every week.We're just going to take a giant step back and we're going to see what our Lord sayson the subject.And we're going to see Jesus speaks on divorce here.And I can't undo anything that happened in the past, nor can you as much as we mightwant to.It's gone.But I'm hoping with this message that we can prevent any future pain and hurt that comesfrom divorce.So let's look at Matthew chapter 5, looking verses 31 and 32.Jesus says, "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate ofdivorce.'But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality,makes her commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."What is going on in these verses?Well, first of all, look at verse 31.Jesus says, "It was also said," what?Jesus gives a quote, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce."You're like, is that what the Old Testament says?Ish.Here's the problem.This statement was used by the scribes and the Pharisees as a gross misrepresentationof a passage in the Old Testament.So does the Old Testament say that?Yeah, it kind of does, but they took a direction that the Lord never intended it to go.The scribes and the Pharisees took a passage from Deuteronomy, we're going to look at herein a few moments, and they twisted it for their own purposes.Jesus says, "But I say to you," and this is one of the most difficult verses in yourBible.Jesus says, "I say, everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexualimmorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commitsadultery."So here's the short version.See the scribes and the Pharisees, as I said, twisted this passage in Deuteronomy, and theyreduced it to this.Look, divorce and remarriage is okay as long as it's legal.As long as you do the paperwork, it's fine.It's just fine.It is just fine.And I think it's obvious that Jesus did not agree with their assessment because He saiddivorce leads to adultery.That's the short version.So let's unpack that a little bit today.On your outline, excuse me, we're just very simply calling this "two problems Jesus haswith divorce."All right, let's look at these two verses very intently, and we see there's two problemsthat Jesus has with divorce.Number one, write this down, divorce trivializes marriage.Divorce trivializes marriage.That's the problem.Quick review, marriage was defined once and for all to the first two people that God created,Adam and Eve.And I know there have been attempts to redefine marriage.It doesn't matter.God defined marriage once and for all.With the first two people that He created, Adam and Eve, and the most important versein your Bible on marriage is Genesis 2.24.It says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to hiswife, and they shall become one flesh."That's the most important verse in the Bible about marriage.And I can say that emphatically because when Jesus was asked about marriage and divorce,this was the verse He quoted, Matthew 19, Mark chapter 10, when the Apostle Paul waswriting about marriage and divorce and husband and wife issues, this was the verse He quoted,1 Corinthians chapter 6, Ephesians chapter 5.God's plan in marriage is two people turning into one person.That's the plan.There's not a relationship on the earth like that.Not a business partnership.Not members of a sports team.There's nothing like the marriage relationship.This was God's intention of marriage in the very beginning.I want two people to turn into one person.And when you study Genesis, you'll see divorce was never part of God's original design formarriage.Like, "All right, well, if it wasn't part of God's plan, where did divorce come from?Where did this idea for divorce come from?"So allowance was made for divorce in the Old Testament law.I want you to look at this.We're going to put this passage on the screen.I want you to look at it very closely because this is the passage that's in question herewhere Jesus is confronting the scribes and the Pharisees.This is from Deuteronomy chapter 24.Because, again, Law of Moses here, when a man takes a wife and marries her, if thenshe finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her and he writesher a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house andshe departs out of his house and she goes and becomes another man's wife and the latterman hates her and writes her certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sendsher out of his house.Or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, whosent her away, that's husband number one, may not take her again to be his wife aftershe has been defiled for that as an abomination before the Lord.And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for aninheritance.Now listen, it's a tough passage but we're going to get through this together.Here's what Moses was saying.Divorce had to have a cause.And here it's defined in the Law as some "indecency."It could have been a natural or a moral or a physical defect or whatever.It had to be something that they categorized as unclean, whatever that is.This limited the possible reasons for divorce.This was the purpose, understand.The reason Moses wrote this Law was so that a man couldn't just divorce his wife for anyreason whatsoever.Just make up some excuse, something frivolous.I'm just divorcing you because I feel like it.I don't like the meatloaf you made or I don't like your new haircut or those shoes lookhorrible.You can't just willy nilly divorce your wife.Moses is saying, "Look, there has to be a reason for the divorce."So this was actually to emphasize the importance of marriage.Like, well why would he allow the divorce then?Why go through this?Don't miss this.The purpose of divorce in this case in Deuteronomy 24 was to protect the woman.You see, when you give her the certificate of divorce, that woman had legal proof that,listen, she was dismissed from the marriage but it was not because she was unfaithful.You see that certificate for the woman showed, "Look, I did not have an affair.My husband found something wrong with me and dismissed me but it wasn't because I wasunfaithful."That's what's going on in Deuteronomy 24.But I want you to see here, listen, because this is where the Pharisees and the scribesmissed it.In Deuteronomy 24, there is not a command to divorce.That passage is just simply describing a scenario.In that passage, if we're going to boil it down, we would say this, they were told towrite a certificate of divorce if there was a divorce.The only command that you see in this passage, the only one in that passage is this, if youdivorce your wife, you cannot take her back if she's rejected by her next husband.Or if he croaks, you cannot take her back.Again, the reason for this was to protect the woman.It was to keep women from being used and discarded.It was to keep men who are hogs admittedly, it's to keep men from saying, "You know what?I'm going to try out women."But you know what?My first wife was better than this one.So I'm going to get rid of her and I'm going to take the first one back because I preferredher.That's a horrible, horrible way to treat a woman.See, that's the heart of the law here.Like God's like, "No, no, no, no, no, you're not going to treat women that way, men.This isn't a high school relationship, boyfriend, girlfriend, on again, off again.No, no, no, no, no, no.We're not treating women like that.Marriage is a very serious covenant and you're not going to just have a woman on a leashwhere you let her go and you anchor back and let her go and you anchor back.No, you are not allowed to do that."That's the heart of the law here.Deuteronomy 24 was intended to stop divorce from happening willy-nilly.Everybody on board with me now.Okay, because now I want you to see how the scribes and the Pharisees twisted it.Look at verse 31 again in Matthew chapter 5.Jesus quotes them.He says, "It was also said, whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate ofdivorce."What the scribes and the Pharisees did was through their twisting this passage, theyactually made it say the opposite of what God intended.They used this passage to justify easy divorce, that you can get a divorce for any reasonat all so long as the paperwork is done.That's what they reduced this to.Like, well look, you studied the Old Testament, it tells you very plainly.If you get a divorce, make sure that all the documents are filled out appropriately.That's really all that matters, right?That's all that matters.Just that we signed on the right line and we crossed our T's and we dotted our I's.That's really what matters.As long as you do the paperwork, as long as the divorce is legal, hey, everybody's goodwith that because everything's above board then, right?I mean, I'm not like one of those illegal divorcers, right?You know, that I get some janky, unofficial, illegal divorce document from online, fromthe dark webs.I'm not like that guy.You better be sure that when I get a divorce, it's done right.That was their mindset.The Law of Moses commands divorce to be done legally, so make sure that you do it right.And see, that's Jesus' problem with their attitude.He says your attitude about divorce trivializes marriage.And you have justified in your mind the mistreatment of women in the name of making sure the paperworkis filled out properly.That's not what the Law is about, Jesus is saying.Now, over the years, I have heard all kinds of unbiblical justifications for people wantinga divorce.And I don't even have time to get into all that today.And we're going to get to the biblical reason for divorce in a moment.But we need to stop here and say, listen, marriage should not be taken so lightly amongGod's people.The scribes and the Pharisees were so diligent to make sure that the divorce was done right.We church should be so diligent to make sure that the marriage is done right.So that's the first problem Jesus has with divorce.You trivialize marriage.You trivialize marriage.Not on board with that.But here's the second problem Jesus says I have with your attitude towards divorce.Scribes, Pharisees, church in 2025, divorce results in adultery.Look at verse 32 again.Like I said, this is a difficult verse.But this is what our Lord said.Jesus said, but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the groundof sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery.And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.So Jesus is saying, listen, with divorce, even when the paperwork is done properly, divorceleads to nothing but more and more adultery.And I think one of the troubling things about this passage is I could see in my mind thatI make choices that cause me to be guilty and suffer consequences for my own choices.But it's very clear here in verse 32, Jesus is saying that a choice for a divorce resultsin other people being guilty of sin.That's a tough pill to swallow, but that's what He said.What does He mean?In Deuteronomy 24, that passage we just looked at, when the woman was divorced for somethingless than sexual immorality, which by the way, sexual immorality breaks the bond of marriage,but in the Deuteronomy 24 case, she was divorced for something less than that, right?Jesus said, even when you divorce for less than sexual immorality, that still makes foran adulterous situation.Jesus said the divorced wife moves on, she consummates a new union when there was nogrounds to break the first one, and if you do that, if you divorce like that, you arenow guilty of adultery, and whoever marries that woman is guilty of adultery, and whoevermarries you is guilty of adultery.And Jesus is saying when you unbiblically break the marriage covenant and people gooff and get remarried, He says now we've resulted in more and more adultery happening in otherpeople.That's what He said.He says now everybody's guilty.So what Jesus is saying to the scribes and the Pharisees is that you could sit here andsay, "Oh, I'm not an adulterer.I have never slept with another man's wife.I have never committed adultery."Jesus says you shouldn't think that way.Actually, you've made adultery worse because you have such a shallow view of divorce.Jesus said you lowered God's standard because all you're focused on is the external.I didn't commit adultery.Jesus said you did.You commit adultery when you look at a woman lustfully.It proves that you already had adultery in your heart.And furthermore, when you divorce without biblical grounds, which Jesus says is sexualimmorality, Jesus said you have committed adultery and you've made her and you've made her newhusband commit adultery too.Your sin not only affects you, but it affects so many more people than just you.And I really don't have to sell people who have experienced divorce how far reachingthe damage goes.The pain is not limited to just the two people in the marriage.I mentioned biblical grounds for divorce.Biblically, now looking at the whole counsel of God, I believe that there is one biblicalgrounds for divorce and it's hardheartedness.Like wait, wait, wait, wait.How do you know when somebody is heart-hearted?Because it would be real easy, right?You're like, "I'm divorcing you because I think you're heart-hearted."Like how do you know that somebody is heart-hearted?Biblically, heart-heartedness in a marriage manifests in two ways.One is abandonment.I don't have time to get into all this today, but just jot down 1 Corinthians 7 verse 15.Abandonment.When you have a spouse who just walks out of the marriage, "I'm not willing to counsel,I'm not willing to reconcile, I'm not willing to consider anything, I'm leaving you, I don'tcare.I am done."Abandonment.My best understanding from Scripture is that is biblical grounds for divorce.When you've tried, but your partner is completely unwilling.That gives evidence that their heart is so hard, they're not willing at all to investin a covenant.Abandonment.And the other evidence of heart-heartedness in marriage, well Jesus references here,and that's adultery.Your heart is so hard towards your spouse that you were willing to physically sleepwith somebody else.It's evidence of a heart-hearted.I want you to listen very closely because even these conditions, even the issue of adulterydoes not obligate anyone to divorce.Because you study God's Word.God's Word never condones divorce and it never commands divorce.There is not one passage in your Bible where God says, "If this happens, I command my peopleto get a divorce."That it is legitimate in abandonment and adultery, but it's still not commanded.So if you're married, you should do everything that you can to avoid divorce.See the scribes and the Pharisees, they live their marriages with one hand over the ejectseat button.It's like I'm not happy with you for any reason.I am done.Jesus said, "No, no, no, no, no, that's not how it should be.You should do everything you can to avoid divorce."You're like, "Well, what about abuse?What if I'm in a relationship where there's abuse that absolutely should not be happening?"And listen, if you're in an abusive situation, you need to let me know as soon as possible.Because we will protect you.We will get you out of harm's way.We will do everything to keep you from being abused.That should not be happening.Somebody else would say, "Well, what about neglect?What about detachment?What about my husband's a lazy bum?Do not be too proud to get biblical counsel.Because there's something else I've seen over the last two and a half decades or so.No marriage is beyond saving.I've seen couples come in hours away from filing for divorce whose marriage ended upin a better place than it ever has been through the result of the ministry of the Word ofGod.If both parties are willing, the marriage can be saved.And when we talk about, yes, abuse and neglect and things like that, we have to readily admitthat there are extreme cases that require extreme action, 100%.But in our day, like in Jesus' day, the vast majority of divorces weren't because of that.The vast majority of divorces were motivated by sinful, selfish desires.The vast majority of divorces result from people treating people like used cars.Like, "Well, this one isn't working out for me.I thought I would like it, but I'm not really digging it anymore.I'm just going to trade it in."That's most divorces.And Jesus says, "Now, you've reduced the marriage covenant.You've trivialized it.You've made it purely external.And now, as a result, all kinds of adultery is happening because you're unwilling to takemarriage seriously."That should not be among God's people.It's a hard passage.What I want us to do, just so I don't want anybody to think that this is some oddballpassage, this is a one-off.Because I want you to turn to Mark chapter 10, because what I want you to see here isJesus teaching the exact same thing, but in a different context.In Mark chapter 10, the context, you'll see they were testing Jesus.They were trying to trap Jesus.They were always trying to trap Jesus.And they thought, "Oh, we know how to trap Jesus.We'll ask Him about marriage and divorce.That'll get them for sure.Why?"Well, you know the story of John the Baptist.He objected to a marriage and divorce, and he lost his head.And I go, "We get Jesus on that.They'll get them for sure.We'll trap them."So I want you to see, now we have context, but I want you to see Jesus teaching the exactsame thing, but in a different context.Mark chapter 10, verse 2, "The Pharisees came up and in order to test Him asked, 'Is it lawfulfor a man to divorce his wife?'"They're like, "We got them.We got them."Slam dunk.Because, see, if Jesus says no, we're like, "Oh, you disagree with the Old Testament,which tells us to get a divorce."If Jesus says no, you shouldn't get a divorce, rather.You're disagreeing with the Old Testament.If Jesus says, "Oh, yeah, you can get a divorce.Oh, now Jesus is taking marriage lightly, and we're going to get Him either way."You know, Jesus is disregarding the serious system of marriage, or He's disregarding whatthe Old Testament says about divorce.We got them.We got them."Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"I love this.Jesus answered them, "What did Moses command you?"Jesus is like, "What's the Bible say?"Turned it back on them.They said, "Look at this.Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."Do you see?It's about the stinking paperwork again.That's all they were fixated on.Yeah, Moses said, "Fill out form A-27, and you're good."Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart," there it is, "because of yourhardness of heart," He wrote to this commandment."But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and thetwo shall become one flesh."Sound familiar?Genesis 2.24.And Jesus comments on it.He says, "So they're no longer two, but one flesh.But therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."Verse 10 says, "And in the house the disciples asked him again."That's controversial, wasn't it?Disciples asked him again about this matter.And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adulteryagainst her.And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."See, it's the same teaching.Same two points in this exchange that we see in Matthew chapter 5.Jesus says you've trivialized marriage, and it just causes more adultery.God takes marriage very seriously, especially to those who claim to be followers of JesusChrist.Why is God so...Why does God seem so strict about marriage?Why is God seems so serious about marriage?It's because divorce ultimately misrepresents God.See God takes marriage seriously because there's a picture that's to be on displayin the marriage.So when that picture is broken, God is misrepresented.Ephesians chapter 5 tells us what the picture is.It says, "Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everythingto their husbands."Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.See this, this is the idea behind marriage.The ultimate goal of marriage is the ultimate goal of everything else in the universe isto glorify God.And the way God is glorified in your marriage is by demonstrating the relationship thatJesus Christ has with His bride, the church.And in this picture, the wife represents the church following, submitting, honoring, andthe husband is to represent Jesus loving, leading, laying His life down.And when you live this out, God is glorified and your marriage is blessed.But when you divorce, you're misrepresenting God.So my friends, what are we showing the world about God and the way we conduct ourselvesin our marriages?Our worship team and communion servers would come up.It's only appropriate that we close by gathering around the Lord's table.Like, well, what does this have to do with marriage?The answer is everything.Because we gather around the Lord's table, we are reminded that Jesus Christ has a covenantlove for us.This love that Jesus Christ has for us is forever.It's never going to change.And even when His bride fails Him, and we do.Oh, and we will.Jesus isn't going to give up on us.This is our reminder of what covenant love looks like.And this is a reminder of how covenant love is to be demonstrated in our marriages.

Living Way Community Church

Shawna’s daughter remembers being left at Costco, but Shawna remembers it differently. Shawna admits there have been times she felt God had abandoned her. But God remembers it differently. He didn’t leave. He never does. God is with you. You were created for a relationship with Him by Him! He’s not going to leave you. Listener, Dawn, calls in to share when she lost her grandson God pressed deeper into her heart how he made us for relationship with Him. And that He was with her just as He was with her grandson. What are you learning about obedience? As Shawna watched her daughter’s Australian Shepherd obey as slowly as a dog possibly could she saw herself in him. There are times when her obedience to God has been soooooo slow it was hardly recognizable that she was moving at all. Listener, Jess, shares how her obedience led to greater surrender which is leading her to into her God-given destiny. Through obedience and surrender she is doing things she never thought she would – things God had planned for her before she even took her first breath!Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

​Join us for the last message in the Final Instructions series as Sr. Pastor Will Davis, Jr. addresses ACF's value of generosity.

In this powerful continuation of our “Seeing Before You See It” series, Arnold and Tolu dive deeper into what it takes to actually live like the person God has already called you to be—even if you're still surrounded by mud. From shifting your mindset to activating biblical principles, this episode is packed with wisdom to help you move from believing to building. If you've ever wondered how to bridge the gap between your current reality and your God-given promise, this one's for you. Key Discussion Points 00:00 – Picking up from Part One Arnold recaps the previous episode's message of having hope even in the mud and introduces this next step—building forward in faith. 01:47 – Live like you've already received it Tolu shares the importance of aligning your actions with the promises of God. Faith isn't passive—it's demonstrated by how you live. 03:58 – When he came to himself (Luke 15) The guys unpack the story of the prodigal son, highlighting the powerful moment of awakening where he remembers who he truly is. 06:41 – Attacks on your identity Arnold explains how the enemy's strategy often revolves around distorting our identity and disconnecting us from the truth of God's Word. 08:07 – Dusty Bibles and distracted minds They address how modern distractions have led to biblical illiteracy and why regularly engaging with scripture is essential to our spiritual health. 09:56 – Prosperity through obedience (Joshua 1:8) What does it really mean to “make your way prosperous”? They explore how applying God's Word actively leads to fruitfulness. 12:38 – Non-believers prospering through biblical principles Tolu observes how some people flourish by unknowingly applying God's principles—even without a relationship with Him. 14:36 – God doesn't waste your gifts Drawing from David's journey, they remind us not to underestimate our current skills—your gifts can position you before kings. 17:29 – Train in the mud Tolu challenges listeners to use the “mud” season wisely—develop your skills, seek knowledge, and get better with what you've got. Highlights From The Episode “If you actually believed you were favoured by God, you'd probably try more things than you currently do.” “But when he came to himself…” — sometimes the breakthrough begins with remembering who you are. “The enemy attacks our ‘who-ness' to keep us stuck.” “Joshua 1:8 doesn't say God will make your way prosperous—it says you will.” “Even people without faith can prosper through faith principles.” “David's excellence on the harp positioned him before the king—don't despise your gift.” Practical Steps You Can Take Start acting like who God says you are. Don't wait for external confirmation—begin aligning your daily life with the promises of scripture. Stay in the Word. Reignite your love for the Bible. Dust it off, dive in, and meditate on its truths. Challenge the lies. When the enemy says “Did God really say…?” respond with what you know He said. Train your gifts. Identify your natural strengths and begin developing them—even in hidden seasons. Use what's free. Tap into the wealth of knowledge available through tools like YouTube, ChatGPT, and podcasts to build your skills and grow your influence. Relevant Themes Covered Identity in Christ Faith in action Biblical literacy Purpose and calling Stewardship of gifts The power of remembering God's promises Living prophetically in alignment with destiny Connect with RTB For podcast updates, exclusive daily devotional emails and more, join the RTB community! Sign up here: www.reasontobehold.com Got a question or want to share your thoughts and reflections from the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us: info@reasontobehold.com

Hey love, welcome back to Made to Impact. If you've been listening for a while and you're feeling that tug… that stirring in your spirit… Like God is calling you into something more—but you're not quite sure what that looks like… this episode is for you. I've been there too. That in-between space where the old doesn't fit anymore… but the new isn't fully clear yet. And I want to personally invite you into something really special. It's called a Clarity Call—and it's a 15-minute space where we can pause together, pray, process, and talk about your next right step. There's no pressure. No pitch. Just real connection, guidance, and encouragement. Because I believe when you show up—even unsure—God meets you there. And He will make the path clear. So if you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just unsure of how to turn your testimony into transformation—I'd love to support you. Head to https://calendly.com/bestrongminded/clarity-call  to book your free Clarity Call. Spots are limited each month, so if this is tugging at you—don't wait. You were made to impact. Let's take that first step together. I'll see you inside the call.

Have you ever felt stuck between faith and disappointment?Today's solo episode is a heart-to-heart about what to do when your prayers seem unanswered and how to dream with God again after a long season of waiting or discouragement. If you've ever walked through disappointment, discouragement or doubt, this episode is for you!We'll talk about:Why disappointment often comes down to trustWhat Proverbs 3:5–6 really calls us to live outHow biblical figures like David and Thomas wrestled with doubt too5 practical, biblical steps to steady your faith and dream againWhy your hope is safe with God — even when the wait feels too longWhether you're in a season of delayed dreams, waiting for breakthrough, or just trying to keep believing, this conversation will meet you right where you are and remind you that your story isn't stuck — it's still being beautifully written by God.Scripture References:Proverbs 3:5–6 | Psalm 34:18 | John 20:27 | Proverbs 13:12 | Hebrews 6:19 | Joel 2:25 | John 15:4–5Mentioned in this episode:➔ My book, It Is Written — Strengthen your faith and pray Scripture with boldness! https://amzn.to/4cNSJgE➔ Little Creative Company — Need a powerful brand or website that helps you reach the people you're called to serve?➔ Subscribe & Leave a Rating/ Review Please!Email me: podcast@courtneyhopejones.comFollow me: https://instagram.com/courthopejonesWebsite: thetrailblazertalkspodcast.com

Questions about whether the fact that some people go through intense difficulties and suffering indicates that God hates some and favors others, and whether someone is being abused because God doesn't think she's worshiping him enough.   I constantly feel like God hates me because of a congenital defect that affects my career choices, my self-worth, and my bitterness towards God. Why does it seem like God hates some and favors others? If God lets Satan live to bring God glory and to test us, does that mean my friend is being abused by her mom's boyfriend because God doesn't think she's worshiping him enough?

Do you struggle to get much out of prayer? Do you feel like God's not speaking to you? Today, Fr. Mike Schmitz invites us to deepen our prayer life by asking two essential questions: “What am I looking for?” and “What am I listening for?” Drawing from the rich tradition of Ignatian spirituality, he guides us in using our imagination and five senses to cultivate a more intimate and personal encounter with God.​ Whether you're new to prayer or seeking a more profound connection, this practical approach can transform your spiritual practice.​ Tickets are on sale now for Fr. Mike Schmitz's Parables Tour at www.AscensionPress.com/FrMikeTour! May 19 - Washington, D.C. May 20 - Philadelphia, PA May 21 - Cincinnati, OH [SOLD OUT] May 22 - Nashville, TN Join Fr. Mike live for an unforgettable event as he unpacks the parables of Jesus. This is your chance to experience his powerful message in person!

Join us today in ManifestingMasteryCourse.comI don't share success stories nearly enough...But today, one totally rocked my world

We read in the New Testament that God is love, and then we read other stories in the Old Testament about God bringing punishment and death and plagues. So, how do we reconcile what seems almost to be a dual personality? Does God act like Jesus dying for his executioners, or is God more like the deity who allowed an angel of death to kill the firstborn children of Egypt? The answer to that question becomes more evident when you understand that God is like a Zippo Lighter.

This channel exists to help you develop an informed view of biblical teachings through careful, expositional preaching.Support the show

Do you tremble at the fear of the Lord? Are you floored when you think about the glory of God? Let's be honest most of us don't spend much time thinking about God's glory. In fact, we spend very little time thinking about him at all. Well, tune in this week for some fuel for your thoughts, right here on The Bible Study Hour. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29

During the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s, Senator Howard Baker posed the question during a hearing, "What did the President know, and when did he know it?" We intuitively understand that the specific knowledge people have and the amount of time they have it can either exonerate or implicate them. What does God know, and when does he know it? It's often said that God is "all-knowing," but what is the actual content of that knowledge? Do our choices matter, or is the future set in stone? Does prayer change things, or is everything destined to play out in a predetermined way? It turns out God is like Dr. Strange. 

In today's sermon, Pastor Andrew Coleman continues a sermon series on God's great generosity, preaching from 2 Corinthians 8: 1-7. In this passage, Paul writes to the Corinthian church and commends to them the Macedonian believers, who have demonstrated immense generosity with both their lives AND their finances. In this passage, several qualities in the Macedonian believers should impact US as we seek to live for Christ. Even in the midst of deep affliction and poverty, the Macedonians demonstrated sacrificial generosity with eagerness, joy, and compassion. They desired to give themselves first to God and then to those around them. May we learn from their example and seek to be joyfully and sacrificially generous, just as God has been inexpressibly generous toward us in the gift of Jesus Christ! ________________________________________ Links to Sermon Notes & Answers: ➤Sermon Notes (Blank): https://www.sheridanhills.org/_files/ugd/30fec2_a9d9ce9d1a6149ee9af30bec2cb3cb8b.pdf ➤Sermon Notes (Answers): https://www.sheridanhills.org/_files/ugd/30fec2_cee8eb471cc54d76b5faad75556242d1.pdf ________________________________________ In this video: Review of previous sermons in series Main Points Application ________________________________________ Subscribe to this channel to catch weekly expositional sermons from the Bible. ________________________________________ Explore more sermons and information: https://www.sheridanhills.org/watch-new ________________________________________ Follow us: ➤Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheridanhills/ ➤Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheridanhills01 ➤Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheridanhills/

When people look at you, what do you hope they see? Email me at: encouragement971@gmail.com

Ephesians 5:1-2 Pastor, Sam Cirrincione

Sunday Morning Worship with co-pastors Russ and Amy Jacks Dean. Park Road Baptist is located Charlotte, NC. For my information, please visit our website at ParkRoadBaptist.org Find us on Social Media: @ParkRoadChurch Music used by permission of - OneLicense.net #A-721391

Honey badgers are relentless and fearless. They don't give up even when facing off against much larger animals, and they're wicked smart. When it comes to his love for us, God is like a honey badger. He will not be deterred. He keeps pursuing us and trying to help us even when we flee him, curse him, or deny him. We are invited into this ravishing love, and we are invited to share it. 

Living Faithfully in a Foreign Land | Mark Bailey--We can be confident in knowing that God sees, hears, knows and remembers us no matter what circumstances we face.--Notes

Join Robyn Elam as she talks to us on Love. And challenges us, if you want to love like God loves, hang out with Him more!

Loving Like God: The True Challenge of Lent During this season we are faced with the key challenges Christians are called to embrace during Lent— . . . . . . deepening our relationship with God through prayer, detaching from worldly comforts through fasting, and extending love to others through almsgiving. The scripture readings emphasize obedience to God's commandments and radical love, especially the difficult commandment to love and pray for one's enemies. Jesus sets a higher standard—not merely to love those who love us, but to reflect God's unconditional love. The text critiques the tendency to compare our moral behavior to others instead of striving for God's perfection. Ultimately, we are reminded that in the end, we will be judged not by human standards, but by how well we loved as God loves. The Homily tells us what we must do to truly become His children. Listen to Loving Like God: The True Challenge of Lent ----------------------------------------- Image: God the Father and the Holy Spirit : Italian Artist: Pompeo Batoni: (l. 1708-1787) ----------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 43-48 First Reading: Deuteronomy 26: 16-19 Verse Before the Gospel: 2 Corinthians 6: 2

God's vision is as big as the stars in the heavens, the dust of the earth, and the sand upon the seashore—all of them too impossible to count! And then we talk about changing the nation by prayer from the heart of your home. 

Have you ever wanted to talk to someone about Jesus but felt like you weren't supposed to? I struggled with that this past weekend.

Do you sometimes feel like you've overstayed or missed your season? Every vision has a timeline, and every mandate and assignment has a time capsule attached to it. Overstaying causes you to lose the momentum needed to accomplish the "God Projects" in your life.Signs that you have overstayed a season: Lack of Divine Demand for You: There is a lack of demand for you and what you bring. Don't run on the strength of your last season. Learn to recognize when you're losing momentum.Lack of Divine Provision: Your assignment lacks divine provision. An entire generation of Israelites was rejected from entering the Promised Land, yet they had supernatural provisions. Just because there's food on your table doesn't mean you're in God's appointed season. Provision is more than bread—it's divine help, time, and destiny helpers.Everything takes Effort: When you miss a season, everything seems like an attack; even issues that should be effortless become battles as you lack the ease provided by grace and resources when you're in season.It feels like God has stopped talking to you: Like God has abandoned you, but when you are in the 'now' season of the Lord, you are in the middle of a communication onslaught. How do we shift seasons? #1. PrayerPray yourself out of and into a season. Prayer reorients you to the things of the Spirit & timetable of heaven; it brings you back to divine relevance.#2. WordOur season shifts because a WORD from the Lord has visited us. Every word that comes from the Lord comes with the gift of time. #3. Sacrificial Seed The widow sowed her last meal instead of eating it. There is a seed that can shift your season!

Have you ever met an obedient, loving child, then met their parents later and went… “ah, of course”, because they were also good and kind people?  John's themes of love and light intersect to inspire us to grow in godly character. Jeff spoke from 1 John 3:1-10.  We had Communion, too. Have your elements ready so you can participate, too.

In Exodus 7, God empowers Moses and Aaron to stand before Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites. While Moses is made "like God" in Pharaoh's eyes, he is clear to recognize that Moses is not God—he is God's chosen vessel. This chapter teaches us the balance between divine authority and human humility. God often calls us to represent Him in the world, but it is crucial to remember that while we act in His name, we are still His servants, not the source of power. Join us as we explore how God equips us with His authority to face challenges, yet reminds us to rely on His power, not our own.

Expecting a future spouse to be free of mistakes, even big ones, might cause us to miss out on some wonderful, repentant people. Like God does to each of us, we should grant a probationary state

If we have no memory of hating or opposing God before he saved us, then how should we understand the Bible's claim that we were his enemy?

(Genesis 1:27; 2:7) Man was created in the image of God. Our sin has marred that image, but our gracious God has made a way that we can be restored! The Bible is the only book that can accurately explain our past, present, and future. (0952250227) ----more----   The Creation of Man in God's Image "And God said, let us make man in our image." What a privilege. What a mind-boggling truth that we, humanity, were made in the image of our Creator. Now that is found in Genesis chapter 1 and in Genesis chapter number 2. God expounds upon that. He gives even more detail to His creative work. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 2 verse number 7, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." The Unique Formation of Man If you want to know how man is different than the animals, Here's how. He was, first of all, the only part of the creation that was literally shaped by the hand of God. We preachers get pretty artistic at times and we say God flung the stars into space and He carved out the rivers with His finger, but actually that's not what He did. Now when you read Genesis 1 and 2, you find that God just spoke. That's the power of the Word of God. He just said, light, and there was light, and it was very good. So God spoke all of the created world into existence. But with man, this was the first record that we have that God of His own hands formed man. He took the dust of the ground and He shaped him. Why would He do that? I think it's a very beautiful picture to all of us that from the very beginning of time, God always intended for man's life to be in His hands. In a very real sense, your life is in His hands today. Your times are in His hands. The time of your life and the time of your death is all in the hand of God, not in your own hand. But I wonder, is your life really in God's hand today? Have you put your whole life in the nail pierced hand of Jesus and realized it's not your own? Have you said to your Creator, I want you to be my Redeemer? Have you said to the One who gave you life, I want this new life that comes through Jesus Christ? So the first way we are distinct is that we were formed by His own hand in this creative work. He made us.  The Breath of Life and Eternal Soul And then, He breathed into our nostrils the breath of His life. Ecclesiastes says that God has put a little bit of eternity in every one of us. That's quite a thought, to think that God has put an eternal soul in all of us. Everything is going to burn up, die, disappear, be gone, but not man. A million years from this moment you will be alive somewhere forever because you have an eternal soul. God says He made you a living soul, and when God gives that kind of life, His own life, put into man, There is no end to that. Man's Constitution and Likeness to God We've been talking about how God created man, but think about man's constitution. He was made in the image of God. That word image literally comes from a word that means to shade. The illusion of something, the resemblance of something. It doesn't mean that we are little gods. It means that He has made us in His likeness to, to resemble Him. He has used His own nature, if you will, as a model for creating us. Like God, we have life, an eternal soul. Like God, we have intelligence with the ability to reason and think and decide. Like God, we have emotional and relational capabilities. Like God, we have been made in three parts. Our God, the Godhead, we've talked about this, is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. We have spirit, soul, and body. Man is a spirit. And that's literally the part of you where God dwells. You have a soul, your intellect, your emotion, your will, and then He's given you a body. He's put that spirit and soul in a body. And with your body you have five senses to relate to the world around you. That's really a beautiful thing to see how God has reflected His own nature in the creative work. When He made us without sin. Every sinful thing, every wicked thing, every vile thing in this world did not come from God. Everything good had its beginning in God. Everything evil has its beginning in God. in the devil and man's disobedience to his Creator. Sin is the source of every unholy thing. But in the beginning, Adam and Eve were made with innocence. He didn't have the presence of sin because God's not the author of evil. He had the possibility of sin. He was made with the ability to choose, with a free will and a responsibility to His Creator. Now aren't you glad God made us as free moral agents, not as robots? He could have made us like robots. People sometimes argue that. Why would a good God make us So we could do wrong. Let me ask you a question. Why would a good God make us to only do what He says do? Why would He not make us to have a free will to choose? And so this was the way God created us in our constitution.  The Fall of Man in the Garden Then you gotta look beyond man's creation and his constitution to his condition. His condition in the garden was wonderful. It was beautiful. What a life it was. Suddenly sin enters into that garden. Sin enters into the heart of man. And suddenly his condition is very different. The day that man sinned against God, the image of God was not lost, but it was marred. We might say it was not erased, but it was defaced. Because when sin enters in, it brings every wicked, vile, evil thing with it. Which means that without God, we are sinners. We're lost in our sin, we're spiritually dead, we're under the wrath of God. And the only thing that separates us from eternal death is one breath. Aren't you glad God did not leave us that way? Now think about for just a moment the way God created man. Man was made to have what? Dominion. That means to rule and reign with His Creator and for His Creator. Now when He sinned against the Creator, what happened? He switched roles. Instead of being a man who had dominion over, now he is dominated by. Sin takes control of him. The devil takes over. His flesh suddenly becomes his own master.  Redemption Through Jesus Christ The only cure for that, friend, is Jesus. Aren't you glad that God sent a perfect man? He sent his own son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the second Adam, we're told in the book of Romans. Who would live a sinless life and die for the sins of mankind so that we could be set free from the domination of sin. See, when Christ has dominion over us, you're free from the dominion of sin. And what does the Lord do? The Lord not only restores what Adam has, but I want to tell you, in the authority of the Word of God, praise God for this, He gives you much more. And now I'm saved. I'm a child of God. I have God's favor. I am as sure for heaven as if I were already there. And the Lord begins to restore the very image of Christ. That's what the Lord's doing in your life today, by His Holy Spirit. He's, He is seeking to restore the image of God. To allow you to once again reflect His beauty, His glory, His holiness, His light. And of course, someday we're going to rule and reign with Him. Adam was supposed to do that in the beginning and he messed it up. Someday we're gonna rule and reign with Jesus Christ on this earth and then for all eternity. Are you getting ready to reign? Are you getting ready to rule with Christ?  Knowing Your Creator Personally All of this talk about man leads us to talk about God. And so may I speak to every person who's listening to me today. If you're a human being, I'm talking to you. First of all, you need to know your Creator in a personal way. And the only way to do that is through His Son, the perfect man, the Lord Jesus Christ.  If you're not a Christian, right now, would you just bow your head and by simple faith, would you repent of your sin and trust Jesus as your Savior? Would you say to the Lord, I'm a sinner and I'm lost and my life has been marred because of my sin nature? But I believe Jesus died for my sin. Would you invite the Lord Jesus to come into your life? You can enter into a new relationship with God, one that will not be broken. Praise God for that. And if you are a regenerated person, if you already know you've been born again, and you've come into the family of God, would you just pause and praise God who created you and has sustained you and saved you? And would you ask the Lord today to form the image of Christ in you? And to make it so that your life reflects more of Christ than it does of Adam. Would you pray right now that your life would be everything the Creator says that it should be.  Outro and Resources This is what the Bible says. Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of Scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content, and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time on Enjoying the Journey.

Message Pastor JasonHave you ever felt like your prayers are met with silence? Like God isn't hearing you? You're not alone. The Israelites cried out in their suffering, and for a time, it seemed like nothing changed. But God heard them. He remembered His promise. And He was already at work.We dive into Exodus 2:23-25 to see how God responds when His people cry out. We'll also hear an incredible true story of a child's prayer answered before it was even spoken.God hears you. God understands. God is moving—even when it feels like He isn't. Will you trust Him in the waiting?Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.Ravenna Church of the Nazarene530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472Enjoy this message? Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Help spread the gospel through this podcast by subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing this episode.

Let us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Morning Offering, February 23, 2025________________

The sermon from the Sunday, February 23, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by guest preacher Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz. “Let's Behave Like God's Children” in the worship series “A Different Rhythm: Stepping Out of the World's Beat.” Scripture lesson: Luke 6:27-38 (Common English Bible).Support the show

2/19/25 6am CT Hour - Ashley Noronha/ Mario Costabile John, Glen and Sarah chat about Pope Francis' double pneumonia, polar vortex, Elon Musk in the news and chocolate mint day. Ashley reports on Pope Francis' health, Carnivale, the Jubilee Year and Chair f St. Peter. Did You Know - Your bones are brand new every 10 years Mario shares about a Family Conference that focuses on building up parents to raise children in the faith. https://arrayofhope.regfox.com/beloved

As Christians we are all called to ministry. We are called to be witnesses of Jesus and to preach the gospel to all people. But sometimes, God will have a specific call to a specific ministry for His people. I hope this episode encourages you if you are sensing the Lord calling you into the ministry.

What is love, really? The way we tend to define it may surprise you in its limitations. In this new series, Pastor Mike helps you explore how the Bible defines love and see that its simple definition has the power to change your relationships with your family, your neighbors, and even your enemies. And it starts with knowing that love starts with God.To help you understand how to love like God, we have a new book called A Better Love: God's Love Transforms You by Dr. Paul Kelm. This book cuts through the confusion on how the world views love, and shows you how to find your greatest joy in God's love for you. It's time to go straight to the source in A Better Love. Request your copy of A Better Love with your financial gift. About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.