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"The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time!" Genesis 6:5 "Her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes!" Revelation 18:5 "Fools mock at sin!" Proverbs 14:9 "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them!" Romans 1:32 Man by nature is insane! He suffers from a deep rooted psychosis called sin! An unseen principle of madness permeates his entire being! Fallen man is a stark raving lunatic - whose depravity, rebellion, and malice against God literally knows no limit. Thoroughly degraded, man is a weak, tiny, insignificant, little dung-beetle - yet, in his senseless audacity and brazen insolence he daily tempts God to destroy him by stubbornly refusing to obey Him. If it is madness for maggots on a dunghill to oppose the all-powerful boot of man - then we worms of the earth dare not oppose the Most High God, whose invisible boot of omnipotent sovereignty could squash our souls into Hell with unthinkable ease! Such unwarranted impudence is not only futile, but completely and utterly insane! "You have sinned against the Lord. Be sure your sin will find you out!" Numbers 32:23 "I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless!" Isaiah 13:11
Second Sunday after Pentecost Bible Readings Isaiah 43:8–13, 2 Timothy 1:3–10 Worship Folder Pastor John Melke Sermon text: Luke 8:26-39 A Demon-Possessed Man and a Herd of Pigs 26 They sailed down to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, a man from the town met him. He was possessed by demons and for a long time had not worn any clothes. He did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torment me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. In fact, the unclean spirit had seized him many times. He was kept under guard, and although he was bound with chains and shackles, he would break the restraints and was driven by the demon into deserted places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because many demons had gone into him. 31 They were begging Jesus that he would not order them to go into the abyss. 32 A herd of many pigs was feeding there on the mountain. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 The demons went out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34 When those who were feeding the pigs saw what happened, they ran away and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet. He was clothed and in his right mind, and the people were afraid. 36 Those who saw it told them how the demon-possessed man was saved. 37 The whole crowd of people from the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were gripped with great fear. As Jesus got into the boat and started back, 38 the man from whom the demons had gone out begged to be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home and tell how much God has done for you.” Then he went through the whole town proclaiming what Jesus had done for him. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Take a Moment to recall something from today's message. Ask Jesus to create for you opportunities to use your words, activities and thoughts to glorify Him this week. We value your friendship and the opportunity to share the love of Jesus together with you!
Luke 8:26a, 27a, 28, 30, 35, 37b, 38-39 - Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes … When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons … When he saw Jesus, he cried out, … “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. … Then [people from the city] … found the man [whom Jesus set free from demons], sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. … So [Jesus] got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus casts a legion of demons out of a man who was exiled from society. Now the townspeople are no longer afraid of the formerly possessed man, they're terrified of Jesus. We ask Lars Olson: Why do the demons ask Jesus for permission to enter the pigs?Why does Jesus grant the demons' request? And why are the people so afraid of Jesus? Lars teaches us that God wants us to fear Him above all else. Why? Because what we fear has all of our attention. CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTIONIn Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life's challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more. Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders. With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the broken places of addiction not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ. Because in the end, it's not about fixing people—it's about preaching the Gospel. Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of Souls - Addiction GOSPEL Luke 8:26-39 26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. Support the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate
Sermon Summary: "The Fiery Furnace" - Daniel 3:8-30 Series: Unshakeable Main Message: True faith chooses obedience to God regardless of consequences, trusting His presence and power even in the fire. Overview What do you do when following Christ means losing everything? This sermon explores the powerful story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who faced a life-or-death choice: bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue or be thrown into a blazing furnace. Their response reveals what it means to have truly unshakeable faith. Key Points 1. Faithful People Refuse to Compromise, Even When Everyone Else Does When the music played and thousands bowed down, three men remained standing. They understood that following God sometimes means standing alone, and that some things are non-negotiable. Popularity is not worth your soul, and conformity is not worth your conscience. 2. Faithful People Trust God's Power Even When Deliverance Isn't Guaranteed Their remarkable response to the king included the profound statement: "Our God is able to deliver us... but even if he does not, we will not serve your gods." This reveals "even if" faith—trusting God's character even when we can't see the outcome. 3. God's Presence Transforms Our Trials and Displays His Glory The furnace heated seven times hotter became the place where God's presence was most evident. A fourth figure—possibly Christ Himself—walked with them in the fire. God didn't deliver them from the trial by preventing it; He delivered them through it by joining them in it. 4. Faithful Witness Transforms Those Who Oppose Us The same king who mocked their God ended up calling Him "the Most High God" and promoting the three men to higher positions. Their faithfulness under pressure became a powerful testimony to God's reality and power. Applications Identify Your Biblical Non-Negotiables: Determine now what you will and won't compromise on before the pressure comes. Develop "Even If" Faith: Practice trusting God even when you can't see the outcome, starting with smaller trials to build your faith. Conclusion The same God who walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace walks with us in our trials today. The choice is ours: will we bow down to pressure or stand up in faith? Our faithfulness in the fire becomes a testimony to others about who God is.
The Three “R's” - John 3:1-15The 3 Rs in school. Helps us to remember. Many preachers like to use the same alliterative method in their preaching to help folks remember their sermons. I have found that it does not really work like that. If you want folks to remember something, it has to be short and really memorable, (like “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!”) or you need to repeat it so often that at least the preacher can remember it. Usually, what people remember is how you made them feel, not what you said. The proof is not in specific words, but in what is printed in your heart! What you experience. Selwyn Hughes: l knowing the Psalm (23] is one thing – hearsay – but knowing the Shepherd is quite another – heart-say.Read textLet's look at the three Rs in this passage: Selwyn Hughes: “make no mistake about it – the image of God that you carry in your heart is the one that you will relate to in a moment of crisis.” Repentance Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38David Pawson: “Do you realize if you are ever going to start on the road to the kingdom of heaven you have got to repent of your good deeds as well as your bad deeds, if you've been putting your trust in them?”Rebirth Titus 3:5 NIVRevelationFlesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. Matt. 16The picture of the snake Numbers 21:4-9 and Jesus quotes this now.The discussion with NicodemusTroubled by what he sees and knows and is honest enough to seek out answers despite the perceived opposition, he takes a risk to seek out Jesus.As a teacher in Israel, he knows the laws that govern and how they are interpreted. Do good deeds, do the religious things and then you will be acceptable in God's sight. But he obviously doesn't know about the assurance of salvation, and the actions of Jesus, disturb him, even though he can see how those deeds were contrary to what they believed. But it was going to affect his as well as their income, lifestyle, teaching, and their way of life that they had become accustomed to. Was it worth it? Is what Jesus brings worth the price of every one else's wrath? Isn't what we do, perhaps with some alterations here or there enough? Why this dramatic confrontation and change? Aren't we all the children of Abraham? Are we not on the right path? We are doing what we are supposed to do with the offering, sacrifices and the religious zeal for the Words of the law and prophets? We memorize it, we teach our children, we do our best to be kind and good people. Okay we mess up sometimes, but we all do it, but at least we belong to the right family!Jesus cuts right through all his questions and his dilemmas and comes straight to the point: “You must be born again.”This means, Jesus is saying you are not in the right family at all. Being a descendent of Abraham does not make you righteous. Keeping the laws to the best of your ability does not make you righteous. Your basic problem is: You have the wrong nature. Your good deeds are like filthy rags to God. He is not pleased with you because you try harder to please him. There is only one thing you can do with your nature, and that is it must die. If you want live, you must be born again.Nicodemus: What do you mean? What are you talking about? How can you be a teacher in Israel and not know this? Abraham lived by faith in God! Jacob lived by faith in God. Joseph lived by faith in God. Moses lived by faith in God! All of them lived in faith before the law came! They understood their nature was the nature of sin, death, darkness and evil. It is not about religious activities; it is a matter of a transformed heart. A birth where God Almighty is your father.Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, as a matter of fact, if you are not born again of the spirit of God you cannot even see the kingdom. Worshipping God is not about religious activities, it is something we do in Spirit and in truth! The breakthrough comes when God enters you like the wind and directs you in your faith and your life.Wow. Jesus must have loved him a lot to confront him so directly.Now the matter of being born of water and the Spirit: Some think it means the passage of water when you are born the first time. Birth of the Spirit comes when you believe in Jesus.Most say it can be a dual understanding. You see John has just spent time with John the Baptist and following this encounter Jesus and the disciples go baptizing as well. The focus really is on what happens in Baptism:The First R is Repentance. Repenting from bad deeds and good deeds as well if they are what you are depending on for God's pleasure and acceptance. The focus on repentance is critical for a spiritual life. It is the forerunner of moving into God's Kingdom. Learning to be humble and repent before God. Being able to see when we do wrong to others and apologize to them. Letting the Holy Spirit show us just how frail we are and how vital and eternal the Kingdom of God is. It shows us that it is not about us, it is all about him!The second R is Rebirth: That is when the Holy Spirit enters our lives to take up residence within us. We become Children of God. Our nature changes from sinner to sons and daughters of the Most High God! Make a confession: I am a child of God because I believe Jesus, I trust Jesus, and I will follow Jesus. The third R is Revelation: The snakes on a pole did not save the people, it was their obedience in Number 29.Nicodemus remembered his discussion with Jesus when he came to take him down from the cross with Joseph of Arimathea.
Anunnaki Genesis: Makers of Man!Cub Kuker Supernatural Podcast (S5/EP24)What if the creation story in Genesis isn't the first account — but a coded retelling of something far older, far more cosmic? What if the "God" of Genesis — the Elohim — weren't a singular being, but a council of divine architects, ancient cosmic entities commissioned by the Most High God to form Earth's biosphere? Welcome to the Anunnaki Genesis, a supernatural decoding of the oldest origin story we have — not just in Scripture, but in the entire human record.▶︎ Cub Kuker Supernatural™ Official Resources: https://www.CubKuker.com/▶︎ Grab your Cub Kuker Supernatural™ Collective Member Pass: https://www.CubKuker.com/Collective ▶︎ Tune in to the Cub Kuker Supernatural™ Podcast on Spotify™: https://www.CubKuker.com/Podcast “Discover the Supernatural Secrets of the Bible and Beyond with Cub Kuker Supernatural™” Hey there, I'm Jacob Kuker (Cub), a Christian Mystic, Ancient Astronaut Theorist, and Content Creator. Join me on the Cub Kuker Supernatural™ Podcast for a live, unfiltered exploration of faith, spirituality, and the paranormal. Let's dig deep into ancient mysteries and modern prophecy to cultivate growth in every area of our lives. My mission isn't to persuade you to adopt my beliefs, but to ignite a passion for exploration and understanding among my audience. I'm here to journey alongside you, building a community of seekers who cherish dialogue and discovery. Together, we'll uncover ancient truths about humanity's origins, the celestial rebellion, and the transformative impact of Jesus beyond traditional teachings.✓ Background music is covered under license agreement with: pretzel.rocksLegal Disclaimer:The content provided is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Please conduct your own research or consult a licensed professional before making any significant decisions. We are not liable for any actions you take based on the content. The views expressed are those of the presenters, and some links may be affiliate links, generating a commission for us. All payments are voluntary, non-refundable, and made without warranty. Financial support, including tips and donations, is not tax-deductible. Our services and media are offered to all, regardless of race, religion, or orientation. Jacob Kuker (Cub), Cub Kuker Supernatural™, and CubKuker.com are branded services operating under JTK Creative Ventures, LLC, a creative media service provider. For more information, legal disclaimers can be viewed at www.cubkuker.com/legal.© 2025 JTK Creative Ventures LLC
Welcome to week two of the Special Episode Summer Break Series. We will be having a conversation based on my newest book. This week I am speaking with Dr. Chizobam Idahosa who is a wife, mother to three beautiful girls, and a dentist specialized in oral medicine, orofacial pain, and lifestyle medicine. At the core of her identity, she sees herself as a child of the Most-High God and a servant of Christ Jesus. Chizobam is passionate about studying, meditating, and teaching the Word. In 2015, she founded Beautiful in Jesus, a Christian ministry born from her journey toward inward beauty and maturity through the Word of God. Beautiful in Jesus equips believers with practical truth from the Word so they can know God more intimately and walk in step with the Holy Spirit as God transforms them into the image of Christ. We look at her childhood up to the present to see the beautiful thread of Jesus in her life. You won't want to miss this inspiring episode! https://www.oralmedicinespecialist.com/ Website: https://beautifulinjesus.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautifulinjesus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulinjesus/ Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/beautifulinjesuYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beautifulinjesusLinktree: https://linktr.ee/beautifulinjesus
Get access to Daily Prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV)Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him.The PsalterPsalm 56Miserere mei, Deus1Have mercy on me, O God,for my enemies are hounding me; *all day long they assault and oppress me.2They hound me all the day long; *truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.3Whenever I am afraid, *I will put my trust in you.4In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid, *for what can flesh do to me?5All day long they damage my cause; *their only thought is to do me evil.6They band together; they lie in wait; *they spy upon my footsteps;because they seek my life.7Shall they escape despite their wickedness? *O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.8You have noted my lamentation;put my tears into your bottle; *are they not recorded in your book?9Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; *this I know, for God is on my side.10In God the Lord, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid, *for what can mortals do to me?11I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; *I will present to you thank-offerings;12For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, *that I may walk before God in the light of the living.Psalm 57Miserere mei, Deus1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,for I have taken refuge in you; *in the shadow of your wings will I take refugeuntil this time of trouble has gone by.2I will call upon the Most High God, *the God who maintains my cause.3He will send from heaven and save me;he will confound those who trample upon me; *God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.4I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; *their teeth are spears and arrows,their tongue a sharp sword.5They have laid a net for my feet,and I am bowed low; *they have dug a pit before me,but have fallen into it themselves.6Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *and your glory over all the earth.7My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *I will sing and make melody.8Wake up, my spirit;awake, lute and harp; *I myself will waken the dawn.9I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; *I will sing praise to you among the nations.10For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.11Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *and your glory over all the earth.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.LessonsDeuteronomy 30:1-1030 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. 5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 7 And the Lord your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. 8 And you shall again obey the voice of the Lord and keep all his commandments that I command you today. 9 The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.2 Corinthians 1010 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God.Luke 18:31-4331 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God.Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.The CollectsProper 5O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*
“Delivered by Emmanuel” Daniel 3 June 8, 2025 Pastor John Choi ----more---- Daniel 3:14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? [15] Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” [16] Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. [17] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. [18] But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” [24] Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” [25] He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” [26] Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, [27] and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. [28] Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Worship Him who alone is able—and has indeed—delivered us: Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. I. Who will you worship? (1-14) II. Who will deliver you? (15-23) III. Who is with you? (24-30)
Seventh Sunday of Easter The First Lesson Acts 16:16-34 With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. The Psalm Psalm 97 Dominus regnavit 1 The Lord is King; let the earth rejoice; * let the multitude of the isles be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him, * righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne. 3 A fire goes before him * and burns up his enemies on every side. 4 His lightnings light up the world; * the earth sees it and is afraid. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, * at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, * and all the peoples see his glory. 7 Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight in false gods! * Bow down before him, all you gods. 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice, * because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you are the Lord, most high over all the earth; * you are exalted far above all gods. 10 The Lord loves those who hate evil; * he preserves the lives of his saints and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light has sprung up for the righteous, * and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, * and give thanks to his holy Name. The Epistle Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words: "See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. "It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. The Gospel John 17:20-26 Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And today's shout-out goes to John & Cindy Brannum from Sioux Falls, SD. John & Cindy, thank you for standing with us through Project23. Your support helps deliver the Word where it's needed most. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 5:6-13: And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. — Mark 5:6-13 Jesus steps onto the shore, and the man possessed by demons does something shocking—he runs toward Jesus. But as soon as he gets close, the demons take over. They fall. They scream. They beg for mercy. This is how evil responds to the holy—it bows in the presence of God. There's no battle. No contest. This isn't two equal forces clashing—it's total authority confronting total darkness. Jesus commands the spirit to come out. Then he asks for the demon's identity: “What is your name?” The answer is chilling: “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Literally—thousands of demons. And still, Jesus doesn't flinch, falter, or fear. It's as if he's handled situations like this a hundred times before. Then Legion pleads with Jesus. He begs for mercy—because they know they've encountered the all-powerful God, something even the disciples have yet to fully understand. They plead for dispersion rather than destruction. They beg Jesus to send them into a field of swine. There are all kinds of theories about why the pigs—but the simplest answer is this: The time for complete demonic defeat had not yet come. Jesus's mission was first to redeem mankind from the bondage of sin—before destroying evil entirely. So, Legion is cast into the pigs. And the entire herd rushes down the hillside and drowns in the sea. I believe many people today feel overwhelmed by darkness—whether internal or external. And too often, we try to manage it, medicate it, or manipulate it. But Jesus doesn't ask us to control the darkness. He asks us to surrender it—so He can confront it. If Jesus can cast out thousands of demons with a single word, he can confront the darkness you face today. So stop trying to manage the situation. Let Jesus confront it. Let him remove it. And let him cast it far from you—deep into the sea. #JesusOverDarkness, #Mark5, #SpiritualWarfare ASK THIS: Where do you feel darkness creeping into your life? Are you trying to manage what Jesus wants to remove? What does Legion's response reveal about Jesus' authority? How can you invite Jesus to confront your hidden struggles? DO THIS: Identify one area of darkness you've tried to manage and surrender it to Jesus in prayer today. PRAY THIS: Jesus, I confess the darkness I've tried to manage alone. I surrender it to You—cast it out and replace it with Your peace. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Break Every Chain” by Jesus Culture.
Acts 16:16-34 With Paul and Silas, we came to Philippi in Macedonia, a Roman colony, and, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
June 1, 2025 Acts 16:11-34 (ESV) 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Spiritual Warfare, Soul Ties, and the Kingdom Priesthood | KIB 484 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
In his sermon, Pastor Dave highlights the importance of faith being tested, illustrating that true faith can only be proven through trials, much like gold is refined in fire. He uses the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to emphasize that God is present with us in our trials, affirming that while faith may be challenged, believers should remain steadfast and trust in God's purpose. Pastor encourages the congregation not to run from the fire of life's challenges, as these experiences serve to refine and strengthen their character and faith. Ultimately, he reassures everyone that they are valuable to God, and through perseverance in their faith, they will witness God's deliverance and strength in their lives.Zechariah 13:9 cevThen I will purify them and put them to the test, just as gold and silver are purified and tested. They will pray in my name, and I will answer them; I will say, “You are my people,” and they will reply, “You, Lord, are our God!”Isaiah 43:2-3The Passion TranslationWhen you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, You will not drown; When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you, for I am your Savior, Yahweh, your mighty God, the Holy One of Israel!Daniel 3 - ESV King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.Daniel 3:12-14 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Proverbs 20:6 NLT Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?Acts 4:19 NLT But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what [b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.Daniel 3:24-30 - Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.I Peter 1:7-9 Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your FAITH, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him - with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation. Psalm 23:4 ESVEven though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
In his sermon, Pastor Dave highlights the importance of faith being tested, illustrating that true faith can only be proven through trials, much like gold is refined in fire. He uses the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to emphasize that God is present with us in our trials, affirming that while faith may be challenged, believers should remain steadfast and trust in God's purpose. Pastor encourages the congregation not to run from the fire of life's challenges, as these experiences serve to refine and strengthen their character and faith. Ultimately, he reassures everyone that they are valuable to God, and through perseverance in their faith, they will witness God's deliverance and strength in their lives.Zechariah 13:9 cevThen I will purify them and put them to the test, just as gold and silver are purified and tested. They will pray in my name, and I will answer them; I will say, “You are my people,” and they will reply, “You, Lord, are our God!”Isaiah 43:2-3The Passion TranslationWhen you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, You will not drown; When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you, for I am your Savior, Yahweh, your mighty God, the Holy One of Israel!Daniel 3 - ESV King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.Daniel 3:12-14 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Proverbs 20:6 NLT Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?Acts 4:19 NLT But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what [b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.Daniel 3:24-30 - Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.I Peter 1:7-9 Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your FAITH, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him - with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation. Psalm 23:4 ESVEven though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Passage: 1 We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. 2 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. 3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. 4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,' and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; 5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.'” (Psalm 75:1–5 ESV) Song: Psalm 75 by Poor Bishop Hooper Lyrics: We give thanks, God We give thanks for Your name is near We give thanks, God We give thanks for Your name is near As men tell of All Your wonderful works As men tell of All Your wonderful, wonderful works At the set time that I appoint I will come and judge with equity When the Earth totters and the people shake It is I who keep its pillars steady Oh, it is I who keep its pillars steady Not from the east or from the west Not from the wilderness comes lifting up But it is God who is tho only judgе Putting down one and lifting up another Not from the еast or from the west Not from the wilderness comes lifting up But it is God who is tho only judge Putting down one and lifting up another For in His hand there is a cup And full of wine and spices foaming up And it is well-mixed and when He pours this Surely the wicked will drink But as for me I will declare it I will sing praise Praise to the God of Jacob As for me I will declare it I will sing praise Praise to the God of Jacob As for me I will declare it I will sing praise Praise to the God of Jacob As for me I will declare it I will sing praise Praise to the God of Jacob Prayer: With what shall we come before you, O Lord? Or bow ourselves in your presence, O you Most High God? Cause us to come unto you in faith: mentioning no other name, pleading no other righteousness, and trusting in no other atonement than the name, righteousness, and atonement of your blessed Son and our… Mediator Jesus Christ. In him, we desire to be found; through him, we hope for favor with you, and acceptance in your sight. Blessed be your goodness for the mercies of the day, for the blessings of your providence, the comforts of your Spirit, and the privileges we enjoy. Amen. -Augustus Toplady
"Not so the wicked!" With these solemn words, the Psalmist draws a sharp contrast between the godly and the ungodly. The righteous are like fruitful trees--rooted, nourished, and prosperous. But "the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away." Chaff is the worthless husk separated from grain--light, dry, and empty. It is easily scattered and quickly forgotten. Such is every life lived apart from God: rootless, fruitless, and ultimately futile. However impressive the wicked may appear for a season, their prosperity is short-lived, and their end is destruction! (Psalm 73:18-19) The wicked "will not stand in the judgment." They will have no defense, no covering, no hope. When they stand before the Judge of all the earth, their works will be burned up as stubble. All their excuses will be silenced. The day of judgment will reveal what they are: rebels against the Most High God, having rejected His Son and despised His Word. They will not be counted "in the assembly of the righteous." They may have mingled with the godly on earth--but in the last day, the Shepherd will infallibly separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). Their exclusion will be eternal. "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Here is the final contrast. The Lord lovingly and attentively watches over the path of His redeemed people. He guards their steps, directs their course, and brings them safely home. But the way of the wicked--though it may seem smooth for a time--leads only to ruin! Their end is not annihilation, but everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). The broad road may appear pleasant, but it descends into outer darkness, with w
Come tuck yourself away in the shelter of the Most High God.No matter what kind of day you've had, rest in hope and peace tonight as you draw near to the heart of God. This short, uplifting meditation from His Word will create a space at the end of the day for you to refocus on the goodness and nearness of the Lord, entrust your burdens to Him and fill your mind with His promises and faithfulness towards you. Tonight's meditation is read by Adeyinka. Meet the team at https://www.odbm.org/en-GB/about-us/meet-the-teamSend us a text message to let us know how we can make the Evening Meditations an even better experience for you!Support the showYou can now share the Evening Meditations through the updated Our Daily Bread app! If you've not done so already, download it for free from your app store.We hope that you have enjoyed this Evening Meditation from Our Daily Bread Ministries! You can find more exciting content from Our Daily Bread Ministries by following us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. You can even sign up to receive Our Daily Bread Bible reading notes sent straight to your door for free: ourdailybread.org/meditation. All our funding comes from our listeners, like you, who value what we do and want to help us reach more people. You can make a donation towards our mission at eveningmeditations.org.
#190// What do you see with your eyes closed? What do you see when you allow your spirit to set vision as it's connected to the Spirit of God?Listen, Sister . . . if we're actually going to BEHOLD the things of God in the natural, we've got to get good at seeing it with our spirit first. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to speak to and exhort over 300 women at our REVIVE Woman Conference 2025 about what it looks like to BEHOLD with God... to perceive the new thing He is doing in this coming season (see Isaiah 43:19). The truth is: We BECOME what we BEHOLD!If we are continually beholding our Savior -- the way He walked and talked and related to others -- we will become more and more like Him. If we allow ourselves to behold the negative, the swirl, the chaos or overwhelm, we will continually see that all around us. And here's the part no one wants to say out loud: We can't BECOME on our own because it's hard for us to BEHOLD on our own. We NEED other faith-filled, godly women of purpose around us -- cheering us on, calling us up higher, discipling and challenging us -- for our GOOD and for the GLORY of God!And you better believe the enemy is going to do everything in his power to keep you from beholding. Because he doesn't want you to BECOME! That makes you a BIG threat to his kingdom of darkness. But I've got his schemes in my sight and I'm going to share with you The Four Strategies the Enemy Uses to Keep Us from Beholding:
In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Battleground", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the final two installments of the music from my fantasy book series, The Chronicles of Bren: Book One: Captured. The collection of songs is called “Captured: Songs for the Journey.” This week's episode is the story behind the next to last song in the series called, “Battleground.” The story behind this song is really quite simple. This is classic darkness versus the light; good versus evil; truth versus lies; the understanding that true love involves the laying down of life. There came a point in my life on November 7, 1981 where I had to do it decide if Jesus Christ was real; if he thought that I was worth dying for; if I thought he was worth dying for; if he truly loved me or not. I came to the irrefutable conclusion that he thought I was worth dying for; that he thought I was worth fighting for; that he, indeed, had paid for my life and my sin-debt by the shedding of his own blood. In the process, he had gone to battle on my behalf and conquered Satan, hell and its demons, giving me a brand new identity and a brand new start on life in the process. God was no longer a distant, unknowable force of the universe. He was now alive and well and living in my heart, giving me a brand new purpose and a brand new perspective on living out my life in joy. I have now been granted a forever relationship with God who created all that is good. What I soon discovered was just because the enemy had been defeated did not mean that I no longer had to fight for my freedom. I discovered the true battleground of my life was not some thing I could see with flesh and blood. The true Battleground of my life is my mind; the thoughts I think; the perspective through which I run my thoughts. The enemy's only option was to try and trip me up through his deception and lies about who I am. I learned that God had equipped me, as a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, with the full armor of God and that my greatest weapon against the lies of the enemy is the truth of God's Word. My battle-sword! As I begin to recognize the lies of the enemy, I soon learned the key to renewing my mind. As soon as the lie was revealed to me, I picked up my sword, the Word of God, and replaced that lie with the truth of God's Word. I have since discovered that the enemy does not stop lying to me, so I must be vigilant by putting on the Word of God each and every day of my existence. In fact, I have learned the best thing to do regarding the enemy is to run towards the battle and not away from it. Having read the end of the book, I know who wins. Now you know the story behind the song, ‘Battleground”, let's all pick up our swords and take it to whatever dark lies the enemy has spoken against our minds over the next few minutes. The Truth of God's Word is clear: we are more than conquerors! We are sons and daughters of the Most High God! SONG [Rom 8:37-39 NASB20] 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I certainly enjoyed writing the three book series, the chronicles of Bren. They honestly helped me get a better grip on Father God's point of view of my life. My hope is that you would discover joy and solace within the pages of the books and the melodies of the songs. May they serve as uplifting companions, guiding you to encounter Jesus even amidst life's toughest trials. We only have one song left to go in this series which has gone by so quickly for me. Be sure and listen to next weeks episode because I think he will enjoy it thoroughly and that it will minister to your soul in someway. Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about my journey, music, and more, visit dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and explore my music on various streaming platforms. If you're keen on joining my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan. Your support means the world to me! The book "Captured" is now available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions. Once you have finished reading captured, I invite you to read the next two books in the series. Book Two is called “Sacrifice” and Book Three is called “Generations”. All are available on Amazon. Soon, I hope to introduce you to the songs from book 2, but that will be at sometime in the near future. In the meantime, I encourage you to delve into "Captured" and then enjoy the songs inspired by its characters, all available for FREE. Simply head to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ to download the complete collection at no cost. Thank you once more for being a part of today's podcast. Remember, you are deeply loved by God and by me. Be quick to humble yourself when pride raises its ugly head and be quick to seek forgiveness when you have wounded another. Now, I challenge you to rise as the warrior for God's kingdom you are called to be today. Cast off the enemy's lies, embrace the truth of your identity in the Lord, and go forth as the cherished son or daughter of your Heavenly Father. Battleground Words & Music Dennis Jernigan ©2015 Dennis Jernigan Verse Standing on the battleground Faced with life or death Faced with ‘Will I run away?' Or “Give my very best?' Standing on the battleground Faced with destiny This could be the difference Between victory or defeat! Face to the fight! Fight for what is right! Conquering the night! Swords lifted high! Son, this is war! Better be sure What you fight for Is worth dying for! Chorus Fight for what is right! Keep truth on your side! Love lays down its life! Willing to die! Verse Facing down the enemy Facing down your fear Look ahead to victory And keep your vision clear Facing down the enemy Warrior, stand your ground You will have the victory This freedom comes with life laid down Face to the fight! Fight for what is right! Conquering the night! Swords lifted high! Son, this is war! Better be sure What you fight for Is worth dying for! Chorus Fight for what is right! Keep truth on your side! Love lays down its life! Willing to die! Bridge Put on the armor! Prepare for war! This is a cause worth dying for! Put on the armor! Prepare for war! This is a cause worth dying for! Put on the armor! Prepare for war! This is a cause worth dying for! Chorus Fight for what is right! Keep truth on your side! Love lays down its life! Willing to die!
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Get a copy of the MM Companion Journal: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/journal ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 5:1–13 - [1] They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. [2] And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. [3] He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, [4] for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. [6] And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. [7] And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” [8] For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” [9] And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” [10] And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. [11] Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, [12] and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” [13] So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen -- Support our SPANISH TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportSpanish -- Support our HINDI TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportHindi -- Support our CHINESE TRANSLATION: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/supportChinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
This week, Tyler continues our sermon series A Word to the Generations, speaking directly to young adults with a message rooted in Proverbs 2. He offers three foundational life truths—about identity, relationships, and purpose—crafted to meet the core spiritual challenges facing this age group. Drawing from the deep wisdom of Proverbs 2, Tyler emphasizes that God's guidance is timeless, relevant across generations, and especially vital for young adults navigating a world of competing voices. While acknowledging the distinct pressures of today—like performance-driven culture, social media comparison, and uncertainty about the future—he reminds us that our most essential spiritual needs haven't changed: identity, belonging, and direction. God speaks to these needs with clarity, compassion, and power. His three takeaways are crafted to help listeners live with greater clarity and peace in their current stage of life. This sermon ultimately affirms the spiritual power and potential of young adults in the church and calls them to step confidently into maturity with God as their guide. The Three Foundational Truths Identity Tyler teaches that identity is not something we build or earn, but something we receive from God. He challenges cultural narratives that tell young people to define themselves by their careers, image, or achievements—paths that often lead to anxiety, burnout, and confusion. Your identity is meant to be God-given, not peer-driven or self-determined. When you embrace your identity in Christ, you gain the security and confidence needed to navigate adulthood with peace. Who am I? An adopted child of the Most High God, a royal ambassador, a citizen of heaven. What am I worth? You are created in God's image and worth Jesus' very life. Why am I here? To bring a revolution of counter-cultural, cross-shaped love and resurrection life. Identity, Tyler reminds us, is rooted in divine truth, not cultural pressure or personal performance. “You are not the sum total of your accomplishments or your failures. You are a child of God, made in His image.” Friendship Tyler then turns to the power of relationships, warning that the people closest to us can either draw us nearer to God or lead us away from Him. He expands this beyond romantic relationships, focusing on friendships and community. He distinguishes between proximity and intimacy: not everyone physically or emotionally close to you should be spiritually close to your heart. Your inner circle should be made up of people who are pursuing Christ alongside you. You need Godly friends, but you must work harder than ever to have them. Building meaningful, Christ-centered friendships requires intention, vulnerability, and shared spiritual goals. Purpose Finally, Tyler addresses the deep question of purpose—a major point of confusion and longing among young adults. He dismantles the cultural lie that purpose is about personal fulfillment or worldly success and re-centers it on serving God and others. Spiritual growth comes not from upward mobility, but from downward humility—willingness to serve, forgive, sacrifice, and love as Christ did. Tyler paints a vision of purpose shaped by Jesus: one of service, love, sacrifice, and discipleship. He encourages young adults to move from asking, “What do I want to do with my life?” to “What has God equipped me to give to the world?” Despite all the noise and challenges of this generation, Tyler sees hope: a spiritual hunger and potential for revival. Despite whatever flaws, there is a supernatural resurgence of belief in Jesus among young adults… right now! You may be the revival generation! A Spiritual Call to Action Tyler closes with a powerful challenge for young adults to live with intention and depth: Pursue wisdom with intentionality—through prayer, scripture, and Godly community. Reject the cultural lies about self-sufficiency and redefine success on God's terms. Trust God's voice above all others—including societal expectations and inner fears. He acknowledges the emotional weight young adults carry—loneliness, doubts, cultural disillusionment—but reminds them that they are uniquely equipped to lead, love, and spark change. When rooted in God's truth, they can walk into adulthood with confidence, purpose, and peace.
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
"Jesus reminds us, 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full' (John 10:10 NIV).Yet we allow Satan to boss us around. He bullies his way into our hearts and minds, planting seeds of doubt, deception, shame, and inadequacy because his whole desire is to steal our true identity and discount our esteemed value as beloved daughters, image bearers of the Most High God."Leave a comment for Jen: https://incourage.me/?p=252340--It's graduation season! Shower your grad with love and reminders of the plans God has for their future. Find inspiring books, student Bibles, cards, and gifts at DaySpring.com, and celebrate your graduate's special milestone! The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.Connect with (in)courage: Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more! Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives. Email us at incourage@dayspring.com. Leave a podcast review on Apple!
Jesus's life provokes questions and those questions demand answers. Who is this man who sleeps peacefully in the midst of a violent storm? What kind of man can tune out the sound of crashing waves but hears the cries of his people? That rebukes creation and it obeys? Who is this man whose presence alone strikes fear in a legion of demons and who can heal a man tormented by evil spirits with his words? This man is Jesus, Son of the Most High God. Are you trusting in this Jesus? This message was preached by Pastor John Jackson on April 27, 2025.
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
In Today's Secular Uncertainties, God is Sovereign; and God “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Political discord and health care uncertainties surround us in all directions today. Without Jesus in our lives, we have reasons to be anxious and fearful. However, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31: “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”. The future years may hurt our pride, wallets, and/or our freedom. On the other hand, we should not let the current secular political environment and culture hinder our resolve to continue in our fearless faith in the truth; our constant hope in the future; and our radical love for our neighbors. God has a plan; and, regardless of how things look from our eyes, we must remain faithful to His purpose. Now is the time to draw near to Jesus and to advance His Kingdom. Our gaze must remain on Jesus if we want to walk on the water during the storm. God is the King of Kings and the Sovereign God of the Universe. As Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 4:17 when God told Nebuchadnezzar: “to the end that the living may know that the Most High {God} rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”. God is always involved in our lives, and He gives the government offices “to whom he will”, even if the political processes produce “the lowliest of men {or women}”. Sometimes, we receive the elected officials we need, and sometimes we receive the elected officials that we deserve; but God is always Sovereign and faithful. TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be a complainer (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:31; Philippians 4:5-7; Daniel 4:17; Psalms 106c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “He Is Risen: From Good Friday To Easter”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
Laws of nature?John MacDuffIsaiah 29:6. "In an instant, I, the Lord Almighty, will come against them with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm and consuming fire."Let us not dethrone and undeify the great Maker and Sustainer, by substituting for His sovereign rule, what are commonly called the laws of nature. Winds, and earthquakes, and tempests are not the capricious outbreaks of unregulated mechanical force. The world's vast machinery, with all its varied and intricate movements, is under God's supervision and control. "He holds the winds in His fists." "He gathers the waters in the hollow of His hand." "He makes the clouds His chariot." "He directs the snow to fall on the earth, and tells the rain to pour down." This offers a lesson of soothing consolation to many a stricken heart: That lightning which struck down my child was an arrow out of the quiver of God! That wave which swept him from the vessel's side; or that hurricane which overthrew my dwelling, and buried loved ones in the ruins, had their pathway marked out by God! He brings forth the lightning out of His treasuries! He gives the sea its decree! He walks on the wings of the wind! All things are subservient to the controlling will and purposes of the Most High God. "I am the Lord, and there is no other! I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things!" Isaiah 45:6-7
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
For today’s installment of our 40 Days Meditation series, our brother Abyong Calo provides commentary on Heb 7:1-10. Listen below, download here, or search for Words from the Brothers on your favourite podcasting app. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Heb 7:1-10
Daily Dose of Hope April 10, 2025 Day 4 of Week 2 Scripture – Mark 5:1-20 Prayer: Almighty God, you are so good. Thank you for your love, your mercy, and your forgiveness. How amazing it is that you care so much for me. You are my everything. Help me take my scattered thoughts this morning and focus on you and you alone. In these next few moments of silence, help me center myself on you...Holy Spirit, come and speak to me through your Word. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin Mark 5. Jesus starts out this chapter going to the other side of the lake. Just a reminder, the other side of the lake means he is leaving the Jewish towns and heading to the Gentile side. As we have and will continue to see, Jesus has a pattern of going to the other side, responding to the need of the “other.” While Jesus cares for the insiders, he is constantly reaching out to the other–the Samaritan woman at the well, the bleeding woman, the lepers, the tax collectors, the woman caught in adultery–he is always reaching out and offering care and healing to those on the outside, the outcast, to those who don't belong, who have been pushed to the fringe. I do think this is a lesson for the church, that we also have been called to go to those who are “others” in our community. Who is that for us? How hard would it be for us to go to them in the name of Jesus? Jesus gets out of the boat and sees the deranged man. The man was so disturbed, he was living in the burial caves. Most likely he was a burden to the townspeople, an outcast, and their way of dealing with him was to force him to live far away. The burial caves were most likely nasty, smelly, dirty. This is where the dead, decaying bodies were kept. And what I am struck by is how they had tried to subdue him, to chain him up, like an animal...and then day and night he howled and cut himself with sharp stones. I can't help but feeling overwhelming sadness for this man. Cutting (self-harm) is usually the result of trauma. This was someone's son, someone's brother, maybe someone's father. He was a human being made in the image of God. And yet, his life had little value to the people of the town. He was an “other.” But Jesus saw him. When Jesus was still a way off, the evil spirits inside the man recognize Jesus. Isn't it interesting that the evil spirits that were possessing the man knew Jesus immediately? In fact, they call him Son of the Most High God; there is instant recognition that this is the Son of God. The evil spirits know him but often the people that Jesus is ministering to fail to recognize him. When Jesus asks the man his name, he replies, “Legion.” The word legion in that world would have referred to a group of 3000-6000 Roman soldiers. Here we have a legion of evil spirits. Maybe we think this is interesting but doesn't really apply to us. But aren't we also infected with many, many demons? As a land/nation–the demon of racism, of pandemic, of materialism and the love of money, of division, the demon of hate or distrust of the “other,” selfishness, envy, I could certainly go on. We are legion. As a church–we deal with the demon of apathy, of complacency, of self-reliance, of protecting our own, of division, we are legion. As individuals–think of all our demons–anger, rage, unforgiveness, pride, arrogance, bitterness, fear, disobedience, not loving our neighbor; His name was legion because there were many inside the man. What does Jesus do? Well, he heals the man. He totally and completely heals him–physically, emotionally, spiritually. It's amazing. However, what's interesting here is that when the townspeople see the man healed, what do they do? Do they rush over to him and say, “How wonderful to see you healed and whole so you can have a nice life.” No, they're scared and they beg Jesus to leave. Why was that? Clearly, the loss of 2000 pigs would have been a terrible economic loss. But I think that would have made them mad not afraid. I can't help thinking they want Jesus to leave because they didn't want to face their own demons. Rene Girard, a 20th century philosopher said, “Clearly the drowning of the pigs bothers them less than the drowning of their demons.” Is it that they didn't want to be healed? My guess is they wanted to be healed but they didn't want to do the work that leads to healing. And what work is that? Well, first it means admitting you have some issues. It means admitting they we don't have it all together. It means admitting that we are wounded and we may have wounded others. It means admitting that we can't handle it on our own, that we can't fix it, that we have been wrong, that we are hurting, that we need help, that we need healing deep within us. We don't need surface level healing because that's what got us here in the first place. We need deep soul healing. TRUE healing always starts with Jesus. In fact, there is no true healing without Jesus. And healing ourselves, our churches, and our land, begins with healing the wounds of our own heart. Before we can heal the legion of demons that our nation is facing, we must address the evil within ourselves. Friends, have you faced the evil within yourself? We have to admit where we have fallen short. And don't think just the other side needs healing. There is so much about this narrative that is incredible. But I love, love, love what happens next. God gives this man a physical and spiritual healing. Then as a result, he goes and shares the Good News with all who would listen and “everyone was amazed at what he told them.” He receives new life and he can't keep it to himself. He becomes an extraordinary missionary, sharing with whoever will listen what Jesus had done for him. This is the thing: God heals us, God gives us stories of transformation, and then our response is to share them. God works through broken, flawed people like this man, like you, and like me. Do you believe this? When is the last time you shared your story of transformation? Blessings, Pastor Vicki
When Souljah's sit at the table the conversation is different. There is a feast of messages from the Most High God filled with the Promise's from His Word as you hear iron sharpening iron with the power of the Sword. Join the The Rev and Lady Shannon at the table on the Chatting With The Whitney's podcast. B4LM Theme Song written, Produced, and Performed by: Nineside/International Nine@https://linktr.ee/Nineside Books by The Rev & Lady Shannon Brave Scars - https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Scars-Min-Shannon-Whitney-ebook/dp/B083D95P8Q Love and Marriage 1 - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B0837YN34W Love and Marriage 2 - https://www.amazon.com/LOVE-MARRIAGE-Make-Last-Forever-ebook/dp/B083D7TBHT It Ain't Over Til It's Over - 3 It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Love & Marriage Make It Last Forever III: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359755399: Amazon.com: Books You Are What You Think! Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People (Volume 1 & 2) YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People: Volume I: Whitney, Reverend D.A. and Lady Shannon: 9798359754989: Amazon.com: Books YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK Peculiar Thoughts for Peculiar People Volume II: Whitney, D.A. (The Rev) and Lady Shannon: 9798359755801: Amazon.com: Books Email: blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com NOTE: We do not own the rights to the great music you hear on the show. However, we hope you love it as much as we do! Hey Now and thanks for checking us out! We pray we do not say anything that will cause you to stumble; but only those things that will draw you closer to The Most High God. That said, we are inspirational and motivational while maintaining authenticity as we keep it practical and simple; yet real. We don't own the music rights to the music we play but we hope you love it as much we do! Follow us on social media @ blessed4lifeministries on IG, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest! Connect with us via email for B4LM merchandise, for links to our books on Amazon, to request pastoral services from The Rev, or to just keep in touch at blessed4lifeministries@gmail.com
Send us a textJoin your host Clifton Pope as he is back with another solo cast of the show as The Spiritual Enlightment Series is back for the March 2025 edition to show how we can listen to the whispers of our own heart!In this edition, Clifton dives into how/why everybody is always arguing about the name of the Most High God but never denying the existence of a higher power! They say witches call it spells, spiritualists call it manifesting, christians call it prayer, atheists call it the placebo effect, and scientists call it quantum physics. Regardless, Clifton gives his thoughts on each concept and show how it all goes back into the importance of receiving the message from the Most High God!Clifton Pope also introduces his scripture moment from the Holy Quran/Holy Bible and discusses the right understanding from the Noble Eightfold Path from Buddhism!If you are into spiritual enlightment with an open-minded approach, then this is the episode for you!Be sure to hit that follow/subscribe button on Apple/Spotify Podcasts/Rumble(@CPHFWB44) to stay updated with the latest episodes of the show!Leave a rating/review to help grow the show as The HFWB Podcast Series is for you, the people, to stay informed and grow on wisdom gems being provided!Thank you for the love and support! Blue Collar Business PodcastReal stories. Raw strategies. Build your blue-collar business.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showhttps://atherocare.com/HEALTHFITNESSWEALTHBUSINESShttps://athleticism.com/HEALTHFWEALTHBhttps://vitamz.com/HEALTHFITNESSWEALTHBUSINESShttps://Athleticism.comhttps://atherocare.comhttps://vitamz.comofficial sponsors of the HFWB Podcast Series
All Family Pharmacy https://AllFamilyPharmacy.com/HermanDon't wait to be prepared. Protect yourself and your family today. Use code HERMAN10 to save 10% on your order. Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizers https://Bioptimizers.com/toddEnter promo code TODD to get 10% off any order.Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/toddCelebrate St. Patrick's Day with an Irish Bag of coffee and a “Lucky” gift box from BoneFrog Coffee. Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com) Don't miss the next live Webinar Thursday March 20th at 3:30pm pacific. Sign up today by calling 866-779-RISK or go to KnowYourRiskRadio.com.Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit Renue.Healthcare/Todd.There used to be a time when the Mockingbird media called Elon Musk the new “Jesus”. It's the religion of easy bake hate. How does God view free speech for Muslims? Did Jesus Christ Homeschool?What Does God's Word Say?Luke 12:48 (NIV)48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.Mark 5: 6-13 (NIV)6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.Episode Links:FLASHBACK: Media Adored ‘Jesus Christ of Our Era' Elon Musk and his ‘Glorious' RocketsEasy Bake Oven Commercial - 1972MSNBC justifies violence against Tesla as "a form of protest, NOT domestic terrorSPACE X Dragon Hatch OPEN —successfully boarding the International Space Station for NASA rescue mission. Thank you @elonmuskMahmoud Khalil's lawyer: “We intend to fully vindicate not just his first amendment rights, but the first amendment rights of all Americans who wish to speak out.”President Trump could not have chosen a better person for Secretary of State. Marco Rubio was a brilliant SOS. This is so good. Why Mahmoud Khalil's green card and visa are being cancelled and sending him back to Algeria.It's not widely known, but over HALF of Columba University's enrollment is now foreign students. Some of them are people like Mahmoud Khalil, who spent all his time agitating in support of Hamas terrorists.the homeschooled christian kid in your townllinois bill could allow officials to interrogate homeschool parents about what they're teachingA left-wing group funded by the Ben and Jerry's Foundation is pushing for homeschooling regulation in Illinois to combat 'Christian fundamentalists' and 'parental rights extremism.'Academic Performance of Homeschooled Students
Join us on Patreon for Daily Prayer Matins - Monday - The Second Week of Lent Opening Scripture:If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.I John 1:8, 9 Confession:Let us take a moment to confess our sinsMost merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (O Come)The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *and raise a loud shout to him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *and the heights of the hills are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. The PsalmsPsalm 561Have mercy on me, O God,for my enemies are hounding me; *all day long they assault and oppress me.2They hound me all the day long; *truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.3Whenever I am afraid, *I will put my trust in you.4In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid, *for what can flesh do to me?5All day long they damage my cause; *their only thought is to do me evil.6They band together; they lie in wait; *they spy upon my footsteps;because they seek my life.7Shall they escape despite their wickedness? *O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.8You have noted my lamentation;put my tears into your bottle; *are they not recorded in your book?9Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; *this I know, for God is on my side.10In God the Lord, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid, *for what can mortals do to me?11I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; *I will present to you thank-offerings;12For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, *that I may walk before God in the light of the living. Psalm 571Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,for I have taken refuge in you; *in the shadow of your wings will I take refugeuntil this time of trouble has gone by.2I will call upon the Most High God, *the God who maintains my cause.3He will send from heaven and save me;he will confound those who trample upon me; *God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.4I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; *their teeth are spears and arrows,their tongue a sharp sword.5They have laid a net for my feet,and I am bowed low; *they have dug a pit before me,but have fallen into it themselves.6Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *and your glory over all the earth.7My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *I will sing and make melody.8Wake up, my spirit;awake, lute and harp; *I myself will waken the dawn.9I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; *I will sing praise to you among the nations.10For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.11Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *and your glory over all the earth.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsJeremiah 1:11-19English Standard VersionAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God. Romans 1:1-15English Standard VersionPaul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God. John 4:27-42English Standard VersionJust then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God. The Third Song IsaiahSurge, illuminare (Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19)Arise, shine, for your light has come, *and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.For behold, darkness covers the land; *deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.But over you the Lord will rise, *and his glory will appear upon you.Nations Will stream to your light, *and kings to the brightness of your dawning.Your gates will always be open; *by day or night they will never be shut.They will call you, The City of the Lord, *The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.Violence will no more be heard in your land, *ruin or destruction within your borders.You will call your walls, Salvation, *and all your portals, Praise.The sun will no more be your light by day; *by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.The Lord will be your everlasting light, *and your God will be your glory.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsSpecial Collects:Lent Week 2O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Send us a textHave you ever allowed a problem to become your identity? In this powerful message, we dive into the often-overlooked story of the woman with the issue of blood from Mark 5. While everyone around her defined her by her suffering, Jesus saw beyond her condition to her true identity.The contrast is striking – Jairus enters the story with both his name and title intact, while this woman is known only by her affliction. For twelve years, she wasn't just bleeding physically; she was hemorrhaging her sense of self, her place in community, her very identity. How many of us have done the same? We transform our wounds into personas, our traumas into labels, until we forget who we truly are beneath the pain.Through this woman's encounter with Jesus, we discover a four-part framework for experiencing breakthrough and reclaiming our God-given identity. She heard about Jesus, controlling her intake and filling her mind with hope. She moved despite her limitations, pushing through the crowd when everything said she shouldn't. She thought with faith, choosing to believe "if I can just touch his robe, I will be healed" among the thousands of other possible negative thoughts. And finally, she told her story, vulnerably sharing her whole truth when Jesus called her out.But the most beautiful moment came when Jesus named her "daughter" – the only time in scripture he addressed anyone this way. In that moment, he didn't just heal her body; he restored her identity. He transformed her from an unnamed woman defined by her issue to a daughter with a place in God's family.Whether you're struggling with physical healing, emotional wounds, or a lost sense of self, this message will challenge you to stop letting your issues name you. You are more than your problems. You are a child of the Most High God. Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today's message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved
Our Sovereign God May Not Return to Us If Jesus Followers Do Not Lead America's Return to God; You Are Here for These Times MESSAGE SUMMARY: If enough of us get serious with God, then, perhaps, God will heal us and this land. When we, as both individual Jesus Followers and as a country, turn to the Lord, will we hear God's call and answer as in Isaiah 6:8: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”. As Jesus Followers but in our non-Christian behavior: we are mean; we are angry; we are judgmental; and we are selfish and self-centered. Also, in our non-Christian behavior, we are often in bondage to debt, drugs, and extramarital sex. In all these non-Christian behaviors, we are not different from the unbeliever next door. Therefore, we are not very different from God's people in the time of Hosea described in Hosea 11:7,10-11: “My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High {God}, he shall not raise them up at all . . . They shall go after the LORD; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.". We need to ask ourselves: “Am I being faithful to Jesus Christ and what needs to change in me and my life? Also, we need to ask ourselves “how am I disobeying the Lord?”. Will you then say to God: “Here am I! Send me.” If NOT ENOUGH “Self-Identifying Christians” answer God's call to lead America in our “return to God”, then God, in His sovereignty, will not return to America – you are here for times like these! TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Evil Ways. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Goodness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Hosea 11:1-11; Isaiah 6:8-13; Matthew 13:13-17; Psalms 13:1-6. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part 2 – More than Just a Man” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Wednesday, 12 March 2025 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16 “And having become evening, they presented to Him many demon-possessings, and He ejected the spirits – a word. And all those being sickly, He healed” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus touched the hand of Peter's mother and her fever left her. From there, she arose and served them. Now, the ongoing narrative of events continues with, “And having become evening.” The word opsios, evening, is introduced here. It signifies late, afternoon, or nightfall, meaning evening. The context will provide an understanding of the proper meaning. In this case, the reason for these words isn't stated here in Matthew, but it becomes clear in Mark's parallel account. In Mark 1:21, it notes that it was the Sabbath. In Mark 1:29-31, Jesus healed Peter's mother. Only then in Mark 1:32 does it say, “At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.” The same is true in Luke's gospel where the sequence of events is confirmed to be on the Sabbath. In his narrative, the account now begins with, “When the sun was setting.” The reason for this is that the new day in Israel begins at evening. Once the sun is setting, the new day begins. So, to avoid any hint of breaking the Sabbath, the people brought their sick to Him only at this time. As it next says, “they presented to Him many demon-possessings.” It is the same word found in Matthew 4:24, daimonizomai. It is a present participle, thus, “demon-possessings.” These people were brought forward, “and He ejected the spirits – a word.” As with the healing of the servant, Jesus merely spoke a word, and the demons were ejected. There is no hint of argumentation from the demons, and no difficulty with the process where Jesus had to hold some type of ritual or cast holy water on the people. The thought is similar to that of Acts 16 – “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And he came out that very hour.” Acts 16:16-18 One can see how ridiculous the supposed casting out of demons has become in the Roman Catholic Church and elsewhere as people go through long shows, carrying on with rites, rituals, and formulas to supposedly cast out demons. Today, all that is needed for a person to be rid of demons is for them to accept the gospel. When Jesus moves in, all demons must move out. Next, the narrative says, “And all those being sickly, He healed.” Jesus had a long day of teaching in the synagogue as indicated in the other gospels, and yet, He accommodated those who came by, filling the evening with their needs and desires to be met. Life application: The reason why it says above that when Jesus moves in, all demons must move out, is because there is nothing in the New Testament epistles to explain demon-possessings nor how to cure them. The narratives in the gospels and Acts are not prescriptive for our time. They simply describe what occurred and are recorded for our understanding concerning Jesus' work and authority, and concerning the establishment of the church under the authority of Christ. As there is nothing directive in nature concerning demon-possessings, it tells us that we do not need to worry about them. If we did, it would mean – That we have a spiritual event in the church that has no response to and, thus, We have a void in our dealing with matters that otherwise would affect the church and the salvation of those who interact with the church. As this is so, and as God has done everything necessary to bring man to a state of salvation through the completed work of Christ, we can know that receiving Christ is sufficient to overcome any demon. This doesn't mean that Satan or the demons cannot still afflict believers. The epistles indicate otherwise, but the power of God unto salvation has been realized in any person who has come to Him through Jesus. These are truths that are evident and certain as detailed in verses of the New Testament epistles. Therefore, all of the hoopla that people display concerning demon-possessings is unnecessary, untrue. It is a distraction from giving a person the gospel and allowing him to choose Jesus and receive the path to salvation. Lord God, help us to always be about the business of sharing Your word. May we make it a point to be bold in our witness for the gospel. If all we can do in our interactions is leave a tract, may we do so, knowing that it may have an eternity-changing effect in the life of another. Give us the heart and desire to do these things, O God. Amen.
In recent weeks ‘Executive Orders’ and “Negotiated Proclamations” have been issued by some of the most powerful people in the world and the results have been very significant. Usually, such powerful documents are political or military or economic in nature but today let’s look at one of the most significant of all time. This document was auto biographical, issued by none other than King Nebuchadnezzar himself, sovereign over the Babylonian empire. The opening paragraph of this remarkable document is unlike any other I’ve ever read: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to the nations and peoples of every language who live in all the world. May you prosper greatly. It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are HIS signs, how mighty HIS wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:1-3)(Click here to see full text, images and links) Today’s Scripture: Daniel 4:1-9. Choose below to read or listen.Pastor Doug Anderson “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)Have a comment or question about today's chapter? I'm ready to hear from you, contact me here. Interested in helping "Walking with Jesus" financially? Click here
Biblical Masculinity & The Battle for Manhood | KWR0047 Kingdom War Room
Hey there, hello to you today. Thanks for listening to this episode of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show. Today's subject matter is of the utmost importance, but not necessarily something that is talked about enough within the Christian community. And that's our tendency to live like orphans even though we are now part of God's family thanks to Jesus. God's promises devotional on Amazon Good verses to read about your true identity: Psalm 17:8 Isaiah 43:4 Psalm 147:3 Psalm 18, verses 2, 18 & 19, 28, 32, 35 & 36 Romans 12 John 8 We have so many promises from the Lord to assure and reassure us of our new identity in Christ, and yet we struggle with feeling unseen, abandoned, alone, wondering about unanswered prayers and the things in life, big and small, that wear on us and weigh us down. How do we reconcile the way we feel with the promises God has given us? That's the heart of this episode of the podcast. You're listening to The Burt (Not Ernie) Show podcast, which can be found on the EDIFI app, an all Christian content podcast option - as well as anywhere else you listen to podcasts. This is episode number 204. If I could give a definition of a believer living more like an orphan than like a child of the Most High God, I would put it like this: there is a strong and sometimes even extreme sense of aloneness and possibly abandonment that can at times define some aspects of a person's character, their attitudes, thoughts, feeling, beliefs and intentions. This sense of aloneness and possibly feeling abandoned almost seems to operate on its own, like it has its own life force or something, working to mold the person's self-image, actions and reactions. Sometimes it may seem like the words someone speaks are misheard and interpreted very differently than what was being conveyed (which can lead to strong reactions). Decisions may be made based on feeling orphaned. This can also lead to rapid decisions and reactions, as in too quick and not thought out or prayed over. Ready, fire, aim sort of a thing. We have a God who loves us and because of that love for us and because of our love for Jesus, we have an enemy, Satan. And I think our enemy works to get us feeling alone, abandoned, orphaned. The devil is in the details, isn't that the saying? And the devil also works in darkness and tries to push God's children into darkness as well. Operating in the darkness and pushing that orphan-like feeling on people is an attempt to manipulate people. And to keep the evil influence secret. Satan doesn't want us to know that he is harassing us; he would like us to wrongly believe that the problem lies within us. The father of lies, the devil, always lies to us because it is his native tongue (that's what Jesus said in John 8:44). Some of the things our enemy often does is try to hide what's actually going on from the Lord's followers. He lies, he deceives, he manipulates. Now what if a person starts to counter the sense of aloneness with the truth from God's word? Does the devil ever try to push back on the truth? Yeah, he probably does. So what are we to do? One thing I know for sure; Jesus died to give us freedom, and when we bump up against areas in our life where our freedom has been stolen or where we maybe have given our freedom away, we don't want to just give up. Pray and keep on praying, isn't that what Jesus taught His followers in Luke chapter 18? It can be so hard to keep on fighting the good fight of our faith in prayer sometimes. But I really want to encourage you to keep fighting. Keep praying. Keep your Bible open. Keep believing, even if it feels like it's hard to believe those promises. Pray and don't give up. Paul wrote about this in 1 Thessalonians - pray without ceasing. God won't lie to you, leave you or forsake you. And you are not an orphan. When we read Galatians chapter five, we get this beautiful picture of freedom. Not just freedom like we celebrate on the Fourth of July here in America. But freedom in Christ, next level freedom, freedom that impacts our life here and now but carries over into all eternity. It's not a temporary freedom, there is no way that it can be taken from us (in spite of the fact that at times we may not feel free, our freedom in Jesus isn't something that ebbs and flows, that comes and goes - it is permanent and eternal and everlasting, while our feelings don't alway speak the truth). From the J. B. Phillips translation, Galatians 5 verse 1 says this: Plant your feet firmly therefore within the freedom that Christ has won for us, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the shackles of slavery. As I read that verse once more, imagine yourself being freed from literal shackles of slavery and then think about letting yourself be re-shackled and enslaved. That is what we are told not to do. Plant your feet firmly with the freedom Christ won for you. Stay planted, rooted in Him. And don't move out of that place of being planted, don't move to a place where Satan has the chance to put those shackles back on your ankles. Keep your feet in the right place and don't let him get your feet moving off that place, the Rock which is Christ Jesus. Freedom is what Jesus gave to you. He bought it for you. It's yours. That's an absolute iron-clad promise. Don't forget it! If you ever feel like you're being pushed and pulled and prodded in a super stressful way, like you're just being driven and driven and driven, that could be the enemy harassing you. Why do I think that? Because that driven driven driven feeling is in direct opposition to the Galatians 5:1 freedom that Jesus secured for us. And the Lord sure isn't giving us the exact opposite of what He died to grant us. When you feel like you're being driven, pause and pray, pray that the promised freedom God clearly talks about in Galatians would be your immediate reality and that the liar the devil would be rendered ineffective in his harassment. Satan loves to drive people. Jesus never drives people. Satan wants everybody to live like they've been orphaned, but he doesn't want anyone to talk about it. But when we talk to the Lord about it, we bring it into the light and God's truth lands on it and that is really effective at keeping us free. Because the truth, said Jesus, will set you free. John 8:31-32. Genesis 18:14 says this: Is anything too hard for the LORD? The Lord said these words to Abraham when Sarah laughed when He promised that she would have a son in about a year's time. It's one thing to hear me pose the question, “Is anything too hard for God?” But it's quite another when the Lord speaks for Himself and asks, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” in direct response to one of His dearly loved children wondering whether or not He will keep His promise. Is God maybe asking you today, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” How can you apply this verse to your situation? What's your answer to His question? We have some weapons in our spiritual arsenal. Weapons like prayer, like fasting, like choosing belief and refusing doubt, the weapon of worship, and of course the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Luke 24:13-35 tells us that Jesus walks with us and comforts us when we are traveling on a difficult path in this life. That indicates that He never wants us to feel abandoned or orphaned on those hard roads. He wants us to know that He is walking alongside us. In John 16:24, Jesus described the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener and Standby (Amplified). This verse reminds us to ask and keep on asking in order that we might receive and have our joy be complete. Pray things through to their very final end. Please don't give up on praying! Never stop praying! And keep believing every single promise God gives you in the Bible. He loves you with great tenderness and he wants you to have a rich, full, joyous life as His child. Secure, at peace, resting in His love and care. Not a trouble free life - that's not possible in this world, and Jesus Himself said that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). 1 Peter 1:4 says that we have been born into an inheritance that is beyond the reach of change. Orphans don't have an inheritance and they live in constant fear of change. Satan is so lying when he tells us differently than this verse promises! And 1 Peter 2:9-10 is proof of our non-orphaned status. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”[h] We are chosen, consecrated, set apart, a special people for God's own possession, called out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Once we were not a people, but that time in our lives is over and done with. I'm going to list off a few more verses you are welcome to read for yourself if you'd like. The truths in these verses are promises that can cement in your heart and mind how the Lord really, truly feels about you. Psalm 17:8 Isaiah 43:4 Psalm 147:3 Psalm 18, verses 2, 18 & 19, 28, 32, 35 & 36 And the entire twelfth chapter of Romans. That's an excellent piece of the Bible to read! Freedom comes at a cost. But Jesus paid the price in full. And he or she who has been set free by the Son is free indeed. John 8:36 My prayer for you today is that the Lord will move by the power of His Holy Spirit to fully set you free, to bless you, guide you, speak to you so loudly that you know for certain He is right here with you. Delivering you from the enemy's evil attacks, bringing total healing and freedom and restoration and redemption into your life. That's a prayer I believe He will absolutely answer. Thanks for listening to this episode, and I'll share a link to my devotional about God's promises which is available on Amazon if that's something you'd like to check out. The Power of God's Will: 40 Days of God's Promises Devotional: Burt, Jan L.: 9798573528939: Amazon.com: Books Keep expecting God to keep all His promises. He's got those hard situations, and He's holding you safe and secure in the palm of His hands today. How could He ever forget you when He has engraved you on the palms of His hands? Thanks for joining me for this episode of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show, getting the promises of God into the people of God, right where they belong. I'll see ya next time. Bye bye.
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.comMark 5Three miracles of Jesus are documented in this chapter. Each is given significant detail. The first is Jesus casting demons out of a man and into a herd of swine. The man is in torment and the demons are many, but they are subject to the authority of Christ. They even ask permission from Jesus to be cast into the pigs. The second miracle is with a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. Amid a massive crowd, she pushes through and touches His coat and is immediately healed. Jesus praises her faith. The final miracle is raising a synagogue official's daughter from the dead! Jesus tells the man, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” Peter, James, and John are allowed to witness this incredible miracle! Each of these stories tells us something about Jesus' authority. Casting out the demons shows that Jesus controls all the spiritual realms. The demons knew He was “the Son of the Most High God,” and they were powerless against Him. The woman's healing demonstrates Jesus' power over the human body, as He heals her in an instant. The raising of Jairus's daughter proves Jesus can bring life after death. All of this is designed to increase our faith. He controls the demons and casts them away from us. He can heal and protect and help us and our bodies. And not even death can separate us from the power of Jesus, who commands our souls to come and go wherever He chooses. Great God of glory, we believe in the authority and power of Your Son Jesus Christ. We believe He controls the spiritual world beyond our sight. We know He has power over our bodies and lives. And we live with the assurance that He has the keys to death and hades and will give us life again after physical death. He has proven His ability in the miracles of His ministry and His resurrection from the dead. Please empower us to remember and share these eternal truths. Help us to surrender our lives to His authority. Thought Questions: - The man with the demon needed Jesus. You may be overcome by struggles you cannot bear alone. How should you approach Jesus about those? - The woman was desperate when she reached for Jesus' cloak. Have you ever felt like that? And what does it look like to reach out for Him? - The people laughed when Jesus said He would raise the girl. Do you believe Jesus will raise you? How does that affect your daily life?
Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel - Mark 5:1-20 - Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When He got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met Him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before Him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with Him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And He let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg Him to leave their district. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with Him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in His pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed. Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr Memorial of Saint Ansgar, Bishop Saints Blaise and Ansgar, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day
Read Online“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” Mark 5:7–9To most people, such an encounter would be terrifying. This man whose words are recorded above was possessed by a multitude of demons. He lived on the hillsides among various caves by the sea, and no one wanted to go near him. He was a violent man, crying out day and night, and all the townspeople were fearful of him. But when this man saw Jesus at a distance, something amazing happened. Instead of Jesus being terrified of the man, the multitude of demons possessing the man became terrified of Jesus. Jesus then commanded the many demons to leave the man and enter a herd of about two thousand swine instead. The swine immediately ran down the hill into the sea and drowned. The possessed man returned to normal, becoming clothed and in his right mind. All who saw him were amazed.Clearly, this brief summary of the story does not adequately explain the terror, trauma, confusion, suffering, etc., that this man endured during the years of his diabolical possession. And it does not adequately explain the grave suffering of this man's family and friends, as well as the disorder caused to the local townspeople as a result of his possession. Thus, to better understand this story, it is useful to contrast the before-and-after experience of all involved. It was very difficult for everyone to comprehend how this man could go from being possessed and out of his mind to calm and rational. For that reason, Jesus told the man to “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Imagine the mix of joy, confusion and disbelief that his family would have experienced. If Jesus could transform the life of this man who was completely possessed by a Legion of demons, then no one is ever without hope. Too often, especially within our families and among old friends, there are those whom we have written off as irredeemable. There are those who have gone so far astray that they seem hopeless. But one thing this story tells us is that hope is never lost for anyone—not even those completely possessed by a multitude of demons.Reflect, today, upon anyone in your life whom you have written off. Perhaps they have hurt you over and over. Or perhaps they have chosen a life of grave sin. Look at that person in the light of this Gospel and know that there is always hope. Be open to God acting through you in a profound and powerful way so that even the most seemingly irredeemable person you know will be given hope through you.My most powerful Lord, I offer to You, this day, the person whom I call to mind who is most in need of Your redeeming grace. May I never lose hope in Your ability to transform their life, to forgive their sins and to bring them back to You. Use me, dear Lord, to be an instrument of Your mercy, so that they will come to know You and experience the freedom You so deeply desire that they receive. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Image: Giotto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons