Podcasts about new testament covenant

This episode is a continuation of the series on Money and the Bible. Today we dig into the topic of tithing and what the Bible really means by that. Basically it was a historical law that the new nation of Israel had after they escaped slavery. There were 12 tribes and 11 of them were given land and possessions by God. The 12th tribe (Levi) did not get anything. God established the Civil and Ceremonial (religious) law of 10% which all the tribes had to give of the first part of their harvest, animals, and money that they gained each year. Basically a 10% universal tax as a way of saying thanks to God, learning about the need for sacrifice, and providing for the priests of God (the tribe of Levi). Listen to this episode today to learn how that is supposed to apply to believers in Jesus Christ of the New Testament (Covenant). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-steven/support

Making room for God in 2024 Notes: 1. “2024 we are to have a “Capacity for Fullness” for the things God is going to make available (and do) to and with those who make room for Him.” 2. The Great Reset came when Jesus resurrected from the grave and established the NEW TESTAMENT COVENANT. 3. Jesus came to establish His Fathers Kingdom here on earth – Not a religion. o 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 (NKJV) o Luke 5:29-32 (NLT) o Luke 5:33-38 (NKJV) 4. The New Wine Skin has the “Capacity for the Fullness of God.” 5. Information brings Revelation and Revelation is designed to bring Transformation. o Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) Need Prayer? Send your prayer requests to: journeychurcheva.com/prayer To give to Journey: journeychurcheva.com/give

How should we understand the continuance of God’s covenants beyond the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost? [2 hours 3 minutes]

In this chapter, we read about an extremely humble man and his wife being told him at a huge miracle coming to them. We also discussed the power of the spirit and the role of the spirit.

Is wisdom obtained simply by attending church? Is wisdom a one-time "purchase?" In this series we discover what the Word of God tell us about seeking, obtaining, and maintaining life-long wisdom.   Wise Living Series Travis Miller  January 20, 2019   Come Visit Us!! Or join us online at LivingFaithMinistries.church     Episode Transcript English   Travis Miller: [00:00:15] I must speak for a little while this afternoon, I'm going to share some stories, I'm going to look at some verses of scripture, they'll be put up on the screen and my whole intention, my entire goal and direction in speaking this short while this afternoon is to inspire each and every one in the sound of my voice to have a conversation with God. In conclusion prayer in her own way, in her own fashion, in her own words, is to have a conversation with God, that is exactly what I am attempting to do. There you go. Cat's out of the bag. That's what I am trying to do in sharing this talk. This speech, this sermon, whatever you want to call it, so that we would respond to God. [00:01:07][51.9] Travis Miller: [00:01:09] As you might expect, is pastor of this congregation, I am in the people business. I've been in ministry now for more than 30 years. I've been around church and around congregations for more than 50 years and over all those years and all those experiences. I've observed some things, quite frankly, that trouble me. I've seen some things and reflected on some things that, to me, seem out of place with following Jesus Christ. [00:01:46][36.2] Travis Miller: [00:01:48] Here's the deal, I've wondered how in the world good people end up in bad situations. I, over the years, in the course of time in various congregations, I've traveled and ministered in 40 different states and God knows how many different churches as part of our ministry and I've seen this and that and the other, and you know what I come across? What about this young lady who's kind and compassionate and friendly, but she's often in a bad relationship? What about that? What about the faithful family that even serves in some ministry in the church, but they seem to regularly be in financial trouble? What about that? What about the friendly, interesting couple whose children, unfortunately, are giving them regular grief? Or what about the couple who found Jesus long ago? They seemed to really love Jesus, but they fight and argue like complete enemies. I'm bothered by the good young man who seemed to not be able to keep anything related to a decent job. I am concerned about a sincere person who is in lack of personal control that brings ongoing health issues. Am I the only one who is ever wondered about such things? [00:03:13][85.5] [00:03:20] Three or four years ago, I learned of the ridiculous tragedy of a long time friend. Fact he was a friend for 20 plus years. An enjoyable person, a helpful, fun, pleasant, churchgoing man. Not only churchgoing, but church involved, he served and ministered to others. But a few years ago, unexpectedly, my wife and I received a call from his wife. She discovered that the man had maintained a mistress in another state for seven, eight, 10 years. He destroyed his marriage. Devastated his children and rocked the faith of those he'd influenced. It makes me ask how? How does that happen? How does a nice person do something so foolish? I'm aware of another good man. An older man, a man who spent his entire life serving congregations. A man who planted churches and pastored churches, who then went on to help others plant churches and pastored churches. A good person, a righteous man. One of his adult children started business, the business started getting a little bit of success and the child decided, You know what, I want to expand the business, I want to add other locations, and so he went to the bank, but the bank wouldn't give a business loan. And so the good dad, the righteous dad, the ministry dad. Emptied out his 401k. Gave all the money to the child. There were struggles in the business, and the child was convinced things are ready to turn, the tipping point is really very close. Just a little more capital and the business will go over the edge, and really over the hump, and it'll go from there. And so dad, the faithful man, the righteous man. Mortgaged his home, gave the money to the child. And the business went belly up. Retirement money gone. Bank foreclosed the house, the righteous man, the faithful man, the ministry man lost everything. How does a good person? Makes such tragic mistakes. I mean, really, anybody who hangs around a church and ministry long enough, you hear sermons about how God wants to bless lives and how God heals people and how God changes families and how God blesses finances. But still, if you observe, you get engaged, you watch and figure what's happening. There are examples of people who hear the messages but aren't experiencing what's being preached and taught. Why is that? [00:07:04][223.7] Travis Miller: [00:07:07] Actually, if we become students of the Bible, the word of God, there are similar stories in here. Sometimes we think in the Bible, well, the stories in the Bible are like this. We get stories about wicked people who live wicked lives. Well, that's true. Well, there's story about righteous people who have righteous lives. That's also true. But today, I want to point out that in this book, we also find stories of good people who did foolish things and it cost them dearly. Right in this book, There are battles lost. There are lives ended, there are families ruined by good people acting foolishly. There are murders and adulteries. There are kingdoms lost. There are friendships ended in this book by decent humans who are acting ignorantly. There are hopes vanished and promises extinguished and health wasted in fortunes forfeited and relationships terminated. These are Bible stories that happened at the hands of good people who were living poorly. Why do these things happen? [00:08:23][76.5] Travis Miller: [00:08:26] In the Book of Job Chapter nine in verse four, he made a helpful observation for this discussion. Today in Job nine, from the Bible, says God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered? Well, clearly, God is wise and God is mighty, that's plain and simple, Joe declares it. But after declaring that truth, Job then asked who has hardened himself against him against God and prospered? Who's hardened himself against God? And still prospered? [00:09:14][48.1] Travis Miller: [00:09:18] Nearly every spring, and it's coming up again in April, May. My wife wants me to take her to Skagit County and see the beautiful tulip fields. Sometimes we visit, you've been there, you know this, you visit and boots are absolutely needed. There's not just mud there's lots of mud. Fabulous Pacific Northwest rain, note, I said fabulous. Soaks those tulip fields, making them muddy and soft. But there are other times we have visited those fields when the rains have ended and the fields are different. Fields are crusty. I've been there when the surface is hardened and even cracking, it's so hard, yet when you walk on it, you can tell it's a crusty surface, but there's moisture underneath, but the surface is hard and dry. The soil is gone from moist and muddy to crusty and hard. And you know what? We know this that doesn't happen immediately. First, the rain dwindles, there's fewer days of rain and then there's fewer inches of rain. It's not as severe, less rain, less mud, slowly but certainly, then no rain and then more crusty hardened soil. Job asks the question, who has hardened himself against God and prospered? It's a rhetorical question. Listen, good people live poorly when we allow our lives to harden toward God like those tulip fields. Soil lives don't harden immediately. Would you hear the preacher today? It's not overnight that we go from muddy, saturated, spiritually soaked people into hard, cracked and crusty hardened ones toward God? Oh no, my friend. But over a period of time. Choices are made. Often times not intentionally, but accidentally good people, people who have an experience with God get hardened toward God, we minimize God. Sometimes we de-emphasize God. And sometimes it's not just ignoring God, but we forget about God. We go on our daily duties and our things, and we don't even consider, Hey, I might want to talk to God about this distancing from God. It happens when we don't make the connection between eternity and our present reality times. We become crusty because we compartmentalize God and the spiritual rain diminishes, because there are some areas of my life I don't want God raining on. I don't want God messing with. I don't want him investing in challenging and changing that area of my life. We don't need him. We think for some things, dryness comes when we keep God at arm's length. We hold God to a comfortable distance. And as we make these small incremental decisions, they accumulate until there is faulty, hard crusty, cracking soil in our approach, in our determination and our response to God. And when we get to that place where we are hardened toward God, hear this preacher and that ancient preacher Joe from years ago, we cannot expect God's prosperity and God's success when we have put him out of areas of our life. Good people know failure when they allow their lives to harden against God. [00:13:44][266.9] Travis Miller: [00:13:49] How's a good person make tragic mistakes? It bothers me. I believe that good people foolishly fall. When we mistake our righteousness for wisdom. Good people. Foolishly fall. When we mistake our righteousness for wisdom. You see, righteousness, that explains the believers standing with God. It describes his view of our lives when we are in right relationship with him. According to scripture, living in the New Testament Covenant, we enjoy rightness with God when we apply the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to our lives. We enjoy rightness with God when we repent, when there's sorrow for walking the wrong direction, and we turn toward Jesus Christ is rightness with God. When we are baptized in the name of Jesus to wash away our faults and failures, there's rightness with God. When we receive the gift of his Holy Spirit, part of him dwelling within us, and that New Testament new birth experience makes us righteous in God's sight. It brings us in the right relationship with him, and that's a wonderful and miraculous and amazing thing that we could never accomplish on our own. But righteousness is not the same as wisdom. [00:15:49][119.4] Travis Miller: [00:15:53] Wise living is earthly wise, living is a human experience. In the great book on Wisdom, Proverbs Chapter one and verse number seven. Solomon writes, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Fear of the law, the respective God entering into a right relationship with him, that's the beginning of knowledge, that's the start. But hear me, it doesn't say all knowledge is now yours. It doesn't say all wisdom is now yours. It doesn't say you've completed the package and you've got all of God's brains. It doesn't say that it says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. And it also says fools despise wisdom and instruction, I think it's interesting that it doesn't say wicked people despise wisdom. It doesn't say sinners, despise wisdom. It doesn't make that differentiation, it says. In other words, I can be a good person, I could fear the Lord yet still live foolishly in this world. Proverbs Chapter two, notice these verses, beginning at verse number six. For the Lord grants wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense. Man, there you go. The treasure of common sense. He grants that to the honest. He's a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the powers of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Verse nine, then in other words, afterwards, after these things have happened, then you'll understand what is right just and fair, and you will find the right way to go, for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Hear me today, according to scripture, wisdom follows honesty and integrity and faithfulness. We are told that wisdom comes with the salvation package. We don't get baptized in the name of Jesus and come up out of there full of wisdom and understanding. It's not the way it works. Wisdom for living is separate from righteousness with God. Come on, think about it, folks. I can be compassionate and kind, and it's not the same as being thoughtful and thorough. I could be loving, and it's not the same as being discerning. I can be funny, and it's not the same as being perceptive kind. People aren't always knowledgeable. Pleasant folks aren't always rational. Sweet folks aren't always sensible folks. [00:19:22][209.7] Travis Miller: [00:19:23] Righteousness, explains the believers standing with God. Wise living is a human experience. I want us to get in in our hearts and our understanding and our knowledge today. Sometimes we mistake, alright standing with God, with wise living on the Earth, and when we do, good people fall into foolish outcomes. What's the alternative? Preacher, Surely you haven't just shared all this information to scare the bejesus out of all of us? There's got to be a solution? Indeed, I need to make us aware of the deception, and the error in the faults, that would cause us to crash. But I happily proclaim that there are elements of scripture, very clear and very direct, to help ordinary humans as you and I. There is a better way we can experience God's prospering, we can know God's success, not just on Sundays in a house full of worshiping disciples, but we can know success in our career choices. We can know success in our marriages and families. We can know success as we go into this world, in our financial decisions. We can know success in our retirement. We can know success in our careers, if we do what the scripture points us to do. [00:20:57][94.0] [00:21:00] A few weeks ago from this pulpit, I spoke about the Ark of the Covenant. In particular, David's efforts to return the ark to Jerusalem, perhaps you recall that the Ark of the Covenant represented God's presence. It wasn't all of God's presence in a gold box, but it it signified the centrality. And when he visited his people, it was from the centrality of that box. And so, David's trying to bring the box back to the Israel, to the city, and we talked about how, that while it was in the House of Abinidab, God blessed that household because of the Ark. So David had one failed attempt to return the ark. Then he got it right, and he led the people to transfer the ark back to Jerusalem. And so we pick up at that same story again, if you'll look with me in first Chronicles 16 and verse number one. The Bible says they brought the Ark of God and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for us. Then they burnt offerings, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. They brought it back, put it in the Tabernacle, in the tent in the town where they were living. Verse number seven of the Bible says, on that day, David first delivered this Psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren to thank the Lord. Now this entire song runs to verse 35. I'm not going to read it all right now. I encourage you to read it in its entirety. It's a wonderful song, but I want us to notice something right near the beginning of the song David had sung after the Ark was back in town. All give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him. Sing songs to him. Talk of all his wondrous works. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord. Look at verse 11, seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face evermore. Seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face evermore. [00:23:40][159.6] Travis Miller: [00:23:47] Over the recent holidays. Our family took an adventure, went down to Safeco Field or T-Mobile Field now. We went to that enchanted Christmas thing. Where the whole infield was created into this big old maze of incredible Christmas lights. And in the maze, there were hidden, Santas nine reindeer. So as you walk into the maze, every participant is given this little card with all the names of the nine reindeer and there's little scratch off places. When you find a reindeer, you could go over to the table with all the five year olds and scratch off your gold coin that you found that reindeer. Some in our party were more jazzed about finding all nine than others. We went round and round in that crazy maze seeking nine reindeer. I'm sorry to confess, among six average Americans, we were not able to find them all. Some little five year old kid found them all in five minutes, probably, but adults were lacking. I think we found 7 maybe. But after that, it was over. The seeking was finished. We found all the reindeer we were going to find, everybody with me seeking, it was a one time event. Seek, find, it's over. And so I'm challenged when David writes, and so says to the children of Israel, seek the Lord and his presence and his strength, seek him ever more. And I begin to struggle. That seems kind of strange to me because the arc wasn't lost any more. The presence of God wasn't somewhere else any more. It was no longer in a barn in Abinidabs house. The ark was in town. It was in a tabernacle made by David. It was in a tent, the ark, if you will, while David was talking, was right over there! David Seeking, had to be different than us looking for reindeer in a ball park. I want to know, why does a king call his people to seek the Lord when the presence of God is right in the tent? Obviously, it's right there! Why does David challenge all of Israel to seek what is obvious? His meaning of seek, if we look in other translations, it says study God. It says search for the Lord. It says, look to the Lord. Study God. Inquire of God. Look to the Lord, in modern day in practical terms. I submit to this congregation, david was saying this, we sought the ark. We searched for the presence of God. We brought it back home and we set it up in a tent. And there it is. And now, as he's singing and as he's rejoicing us, he says to the children of Israel, Now hear me as often as you can, as regularly as you would go to the tent, seek what is obvious! Get into that tabernacle! Saturate yourself in the presence of God! Have you found God's presence? Absolutely, they had. Did they know where he was? Certainly they did. David was saying, Now visit the ark. I want you to notice in that passage, he said, seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face ever more, seek his face ever more. Seek his presence, continually pursue his presence day and night, frequent the power of God always. Why? Why did David feel that way? Why was the presence of God so important as David challenged the people of Israel? [00:28:46][299.3] [00:28:47] I'll take you back to the book of Job once again. Job said, God is wise in heart. And mighty in strength. God is wise. And Mighty. You get to the New Testament, the Apostle Paul and an apostle by the name of Jude had this to say, in first Timothy 1:17. Now to the King Eternal, immortal, invisible. To God, who alone is wise be honor and glory, forever and ever amen. Jude, in the last sentences of the book, in the letter that he wrote Verse 25, he says, to God our savior, who alone is wise the glory and majesty, dominion and power now and forever. I believe with all of my heart that David called for a continual and lifetime pursuit of God's presence. Because David knew there is a difference between rightness with God and wisdom in living. David knew, I want to be in the presence of God because he alone is wise. David understood the presence of God brings more than a right relationship for humanity. The presence of God also brings wisdom for a living. I preach this afternoon there's a difference between finding God and learning from God. There's a difference between an experience with God and the goose bumps on a prayer meeting, and there is a prospering and a successful life with God. We don't constantly pray and turn to God because we've lost him. We're not on our knees because our relationship is in question, rather, we constantly seek the obvious because we want his wisdom for living day to day. Finding God the first time that makes my soul right with him, but seeking God all the time that makes our lives successful here and now. [00:31:31][163.6] [00:31:37] Well, I preach today, you know what, we keep going back to that obvious tent because God alone is why we seek the obvious, because we want his wisdom in our day to day living and we seek the obvious because you know what, I want to maximize success. And I want to minimize foolishness. That's why we seek the obvious. 21 days of prayer, preacher? Why are you doing that? Did you lose God? You don't know where he is? Is your relationship in trouble? Oh no, my friend, we seek the obvious because we want to maximize our success and we want to minimize our foolishness. We want to do that as individuals. We want to do that as families. We want to do that as a congregation. Well, you have pre-service prayer for 30 minutes, Don did a great job leading prayer today. Evan did a great job last week. Why do you do that, preacher? We're going to pray at the end of church anyway. Why are you praying at the beginning at church? What's going on? You're so carnal? You're so sinful? No, my friend, we seek the obvious because we want to maximize success and we want to minimize foolishness, right here right now on this Earth, as individuals and families and as a congregation. My God preacher, you're getting all stinking wound up, sweats running down your little bald head. What's the big deal man? We saw you last weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Preacher, you were having a Holy Ghost rally, tearing it up, enjoying the presence of God. What are you doing back here again this week? Why in the world do you come in two weeks in a row? You've got three services last week, you're good till June man. Why are you back again this week? Why are you so wound up tight about the things you've got to tell? I'll tell you why, it's not because I've lost him. It's not because I have sinned during the week. I'll tell you why, because I recognize he alone is wise, and I recognize I want to maximize God's prosperity in my life, and I want to minimize the foolishness and the life failures and the crash and burn. I want to have God's favor in my life. I want his wisdom. So I follow the King David Song, Seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face everyone. For his wisdom. For his strengths. Always. Always. [00:35:03][206.9] Travis Miller: [00:35:09] What are you getting at preacher? I'm getting at here and now. I hope to have provoked to prayer, those in this room who are weighing things in their lives. I hope to provoke in this room those that are making college choices and career choices that they would decide, I will seek the Lord and his strengths forever more in this decision. For those in this room that are making decisions about their family, the school their kids attend, or where they're going to go to school, or maybe your children are entering kindergarten for the first time. I preach to parents, you know what? Those decisions, those steps, those outcomes. We need to seek the Lord in his strength and seek his face ever more. I preach to those who are considering a new relationship or perhaps the status of a current relationship. We need to seek the Lord and his strength. The reason many good people end up in lousy relationships is because we falsely think God doesn't care about that. Hear me today, the church is the bride of Christ. He cares about our relationships as much as that. You considering a home purchase, are you considering a major financial decision? Are you doing something in retirement or in career? Listen, I plead. I preach in faith. We ought to seek the Lord and the only wise God always, in all things I preach, for every one who's already involved in serving in ministry and to those who would become involved in serving in ministry, whether that's in Children's Ministry, Student Ministry, Music Ministry, Guest Services Ministry, whatever the ministry, music and students and all of those things, faith group leadership and all the roles in Faith Group. I pray for a congregation that'll saturate those ministries in the power and presence of Almighty God. I pray for our men and women who must have a saturating anointing of God. I preach this afternoon about decisions, lives, choices that are bathed in God's presence. I Pray for men and women that will recognize and realize, anytime any human decides, I don't need God in that area of my life, we're making a choice. We're saying my wisdom is greater than his. In the Old Testament and new, they were convinced. Those who walked in the steps and pathways with Jesus Christ. Their conviction, their knowledge, their understanding was, He alone is wise. Of course, if I've never found him, I've not known of forgiveness of my sins, I've not been baptized or filled with his spirit. That's the starting place. It's got to begin right there. And hear me today, this holy savior did not die on the cross, suffer that pain, humiliation and ridicule, raise himself from the dead, so you and I could have a one time hit of godly power. That is not what this holy book is all about. But even before the outpouring of the spirit. There is a man named David, got all jazzed about a God experience, And in that moment of God moving on him, as he penned his song, he said, these people got to know. The ark is home, it's in a tent right there, it's obvious. These people got to know it's not the end. It's the beginning. These people got to know, you need to be in a tent. Little decisions add up and become big decisions. You need to be in that tent. Why do you change your schedule? Why do you work around an afternoon service on a Sunday? Why do you organize your life so you can participate in a faith group and get together with other believers? Let me tell you why I need to be in that tent. I mean, look at that gold box. I need to be around when his presence settles in. I got a few degrees, I got decades of experience, but I don't have the wisdom I need to go a step farther. I need to be in that tent. If anybody in this house feels a little bit like I do, would you join me in the presence of God? Would you? Even where you're at? Raise your hands? Would you come up around this front area and kneel? Would you close your eyes? Would you open your voice? Whatever is spurring you and challenging you right now? Come on somebody. Do you want to be in that tent? Are there men and women, and moms and dads, and husbands and wives that'll declare, "You know what"? I am not going into the future on my own, of my own energy, my own defense and my own understanding. No. I want to seek the presence and the power and the anointing of God. All the days of my life. I don't want to end up in a foolish tale here. I want the prosperity of the all knowing and only wise God In me. [00:35:09][0.0] [2041.3]   Episode Transcript Spanish   Travis Miller: [00:00:21] Debo hablar un rato esta tarde, voy a compartir algunas historias, voy a mirar algunos versículos de las Escrituras, se pondrán en la pantalla y toda mi intención, todo mi objetivo y dirección al hablar este corto mientras que esta tarde es inspirar a todos y cada uno en el sonido de mi voz tener una conversación con Dios. En conclusión, la oración a su manera, a su manera, en sus propias palabras, es tener una conversación con Dios, eso es exactamente lo que intento hacer. Ahí lo tienes. El gato salió de la bolsa. Eso es lo que intento hacer al compartir esta charla. Este discurso, este sermón, como quiera llamarlo, para que respondamos a Dios. [00:01:07][45.6] Travis Miller: [00:01:09] Como era de esperar, es pastor de esta congregación, estoy en el negocio de las personas. Llevo más de 30 años en el ministerio. He estado en la iglesia y en las congregaciones durante más de 50 años y durante todos esos años y todas esas experiencias. He observado algunas cosas, francamente, que me preocupan. He visto algunas cosas y he reflexionado sobre algunas cosas que, para mí, parecen fuera de lugar al seguir a Jesucristo. [00:01:46][36.4] Travis Miller: [00:01:48] Este es el asunto, me he preguntado cómo en el mundo las personas buenas terminan en malas situaciones. Yo, a lo largo de los años, en el transcurso del tiempo en varias congregaciones, he viajado y ministrado en 40 estados diferentes y Dios sabe cuántas iglesias diferentes forman parte de nuestro ministerio y he visto esto y aquello y lo otro, y ¿sabes con qué me encuentro? ¿Qué hay de esta joven que es amable, compasiva y amigable, pero que a menudo tiene una mala relación? ¿Qué pasa con eso? ¿Qué pasa con la familia fiel que incluso sirve en algún ministerio en la iglesia, pero parece que tienen problemas financieros regularmente? ¿Qué pasa con eso? ¿Qué hay de la pareja amistosa e interesante cuyos hijos, desafortunadamente, les están causando dolor regularmente? ¿O qué hay de la pareja que encontró a Jesús hace mucho tiempo? Parecía que realmente amaban a Jesús, pero pelean y discuten como enemigos completos. Me molesta el buen joven que parecía no poder conservar nada relacionado con un trabajo decente. Me preocupa una persona sincera que carece de control personal que trae problemas de salud continuos. ¿Soy el único que se ha preguntado sobre esas cosas? [00:03:13][85.5] Travis Miller: [00:03:20] Hace tres o cuatro años, me enteré de la ridícula tragedia de un viejo amigo. De hecho, fue amigo durante más de 20 años. Una persona agradable, un hombre servicial, divertido, agradable, que va a la iglesia. No solo fue a la iglesia, sino que también participó en la iglesia, sirvió y ministró a los demás. Pero hace unos años, inesperadamente, mi esposa y yo recibimos una llamada de su esposa. Descubrió que el hombre había mantenido a una amante en otro estado durante siete, ocho, 10 años. Destruyó su matrimonio. Devastó a sus hijos y sacudió la fe de aquellos a quienes había influenciado. ¿Me hace preguntar cómo? ¿Cómo ocurre eso? ¿Cómo hace una buena persona algo tan tonto? Conozco a otro buen hombre. Un hombre mayor, un hombre que pasó toda su vida sirviendo a las congregaciones. Un hombre que plantó iglesias y pastoreó iglesias, que luego pasó a ayudar a otros a plantar iglesias y pastorear iglesias. Una buena persona, un hombre justo. Uno de sus hijos adultos comenzó un negocio, el negocio comenzó a tener un poco de éxito y el niño decidió: ¿Sabes qué? Quiero expandir el negocio, quiero agregar otras ubicaciones, así que fue al banco, pero el banco no le dio un préstamo comercial. Y así el buen padre, el padre justo, el padre del ministerio. Vació sus 401 mil. Le di todo el dinero a la niña. Hubo dificultades en el negocio, y el niño estaba convencido de que las cosas están listas para cambiar, el punto de inflexión está muy cerca. Solo un poco más de capital y el negocio se irá al límite, y se irá desde allí. Y así papá, el hombre fiel, el hombre justo. Hipotecó su casa, le dio el dinero al niño. Y el negocio se echó a perder. Se acabó el dinero de jubilación. Bank embargó la casa, el hombre justo, el hombre fiel, el hombre del ministerio lo perdió todo. ¿Cómo funciona una buena persona? Comete errores tan trágicos. Quiero decir, en realidad, cualquiera que esté en una iglesia y un ministerio el tiempo suficiente, escucha sermones sobre cómo Dios quiere bendecir vidas y cómo Dios sana a las personas y cómo Dios cambia de familia y cómo Dios bendice las finanzas. Pero aun así, si observas, te comprometes, observas y te das cuenta de lo que está sucediendo. Hay ejemplos de personas que escuchan los mensajes pero no experimentan lo que se predica y se enseña. ¿Por qué es eso? [00:07:04][224.0] Travis Miller: [00:07:07] En realidad, si nos convertimos en estudiantes de la Biblia, la palabra de Dios, hay historias similares aquí. A veces pensamos en la Biblia, bueno, las historias de la Biblia son así. Recibimos historias sobre personas malvadas que viven vidas malvadas. Bueno, es cierto. Bueno, hay una historia sobre personas rectas que tienen vidas rectas. Eso también es cierto. Pero hoy quiero señalar que en este libro también encontramos historias de personas buenas que hicieron cosas tontas y les costó caro. Justo en este libro, hay batallas perdidas. Hay vidas acabadas, familias arruinadas por gente buena que actúa tontamente. Hay asesinatos y adulterios. Hay reinos perdidos. Hay amistades terminadas en este libro por humanos decentes que actúan de manera ignorante. Se desvanecen las esperanzas y las promesas se extinguen y la salud se desperdicia en fortunas perdidas y las relaciones terminadas. Estas son historias bíblicas que sucedieron a manos de buenas personas que vivían mal. ¿Por qué suceden estas cosas? [00:08:23][76.6] Travis Miller: [00:08:26] En el capítulo nueve del libro de Job, en el versículo cuatro, hizo una observación útil para esta discusión. Hoy en Job nueve, de la Biblia, dice que Dios es sabio de corazón y poderoso en fuerza. ¿Quién se ha endurecido contra él y ha prosperado? Bueno, claramente, Dios es sabio y Dios es poderoso, eso es claro y simple, dice Joe. Pero después de declarar esa verdad, Job preguntó quién se había endurecido contra él contra Dios y prosperó. ¿Quién se ha endurecido contra Dios? ¿Y aún prosperó? [00:09:14][48.3] Travis Miller: [00:09:18] Casi todas las primaveras, y vuelve a aparecer en abril, mayo. Mi esposa quiere que la lleve al condado de Skagit y vea los hermosos campos de tulipanes. A veces visitamos, has estado allí, lo sabes, visitas y las botas son absolutamente necesarias. No solo hay barro, hay mucho barro. Lluvia fabulosa del noroeste del Pacífico, nota, dije fabulosa. Empapa esos campos de tulipanes, haciéndolos fangosos y suaves. Pero hay otras veces que hemos visitado esos campos cuando las lluvias han terminado y los campos son diferentes. Los campos están crujientes. He estado ahí cuando la superficie se endurece e incluso se agrieta, es muy dura, pero cuando caminas sobre ella, puedes ver que es una superficie crujiente, pero hay humedad por debajo, pero la superficie es dura y seca. El suelo ha pasado de húmedo y fangoso a crujiente y duro. ¿Y sabes qué? Sabemos que esto no ocurre de inmediato. Primero, la lluvia disminuye, hay menos días de lluvia y luego hay menos pulgadas de lluvia. No es tan severa, menos lluvia, menos barro, lenta pero segura, luego no llueve y luego tierra más endurecida y crujiente. Job hace la pregunta: ¿quién se ha endurecido contra Dios y ha prosperado? Es una pregunta retórica. Escucha, las personas buenas viven mal cuando permitimos que nuestras vidas se endurezcan hacia Dios como esos campos de tulipanes. Las vidas del suelo no se endurecen de inmediato. ¿Escucharías hoy al predicador? ¿No es de la noche a la mañana que pasamos de personas embarradas, saturadas y empapadas espiritualmente a personas duras, agrietadas y endurecidas hacia Dios? Oh no, amigo mío. Pero durante un período de tiempo. Se toman decisiones. A menudo, no intencionalmente, sino accidentalmente, las personas buenas, las personas que tienen una experiencia con Dios se endurecen hacia Dios, minimizamos a Dios. A veces le quitamos importancia a Dios. Y a veces no se trata solo de ignorar a Dios, sino que nos olvidamos de Dios. Llevamos a cabo nuestras tareas diarias y nuestras cosas, y ni siquiera consideramos: Oye, tal vez quiera hablar con Dios sobre este distanciamiento de Dios. Ocurre cuando no hacemos la conexión entre la eternidad y nuestros tiempos de realidad actuales. Nos volvemos crudos porque compartimentamos a Dios y la lluvia espiritual disminuye, porque hay algunas áreas de mi vida en las que no quiero que Dios llueva. No quiero que Dios se meta con él. No quiero que invierta en desafiar y cambiar esa área de mi vida. No lo necesitamos. Pensamos que, para algunas cosas, la sequedad llega cuando mantenemos a Dios con los brazos extendidos. Mantenemos a Dios a una distancia cómoda. Y a medida que tomamos estas pequeñas decisiones graduales, se acumulan hasta que hay un suelo defectuoso, duro, crujiente y agrietado en nuestro enfoque, en nuestra determinación y en nuestra respuesta a Dios. Y cuando llegamos a ese lugar en el que estamos endurecidos hacia Dios, escuchamos a este predicador y a ese predicador antiguo Joe de hace años, no podemos esperar la prosperidad de Dios y el éxito de Dios cuando lo hemos sacado de áreas de nuestra vida. Las personas buenas conocen el fracaso cuando permiten que sus vidas se endurezcan contra Dios. [00:13:44][266.7] Travis Miller: [00:13:49] ¿Cómo es que una buena persona comete errores trágicos? Me molesta. Creo que la gente buena cae tontamente. Cuando confundimos nuestra justicia con sabiduría. Buenas personas. Caen tontamente. Cuando confundimos nuestra justicia con sabiduría. Verás, justicia, eso explica que los creyentes estén con Dios. Describe su visión de nuestras vidas cuando estamos en una relación correcta con él. Según las escrituras, viviendo en el pacto del Nuevo Testamento, disfrutamos de la rectitud con Dios cuando aplicamos el sacrificio de Jesucristo a nuestras vidas. Disfrutamos de la rectitud con Dios cuando nos arrepentimos, cuando sentimos pena por caminar en la dirección equivocada, y nos volvemos hacia Jesucristo es la rectitud con Dios. Cuando nos bautizamos en el nombre de Jesús para lavar nuestras faltas y fracasos, hay rectitud en Dios. Cuando recibimos el don de su Espíritu Santo, parte de él mora dentro de nosotros, y esa experiencia del nuevo nacimiento en el Nuevo Testamento nos hace justos a los ojos de Dios. Nos lleva a la relación correcta con él, y eso es algo maravilloso, milagroso y sorprendente que nunca podríamos lograr por nuestra cuenta. Pero la rectitud no es lo mismo que la sabiduría. [00:15:49][119.3] Travis Miller: [00:15:53] La vida sabia es sabia terrenal, la vida es una experiencia humana. En el gran libro sobre Sabiduría, Proverbios capítulo uno y versículo número siete. Salomón escribe que el temor del Señor es el principio del conocimiento. Pero los tontos desprecian la sabiduría y la instrucción. El miedo a la ley, a que el Dios respectivo entre en una relación correcta con él, ese es el comienzo del conocimiento, ese es el comienzo. Pero escúchame, no dice que ahora todo el conocimiento sea tuyo. No dice que toda la sabiduría sea tuya ahora. No dice que hayas completado el paquete y que tengas todo el cerebro de Dios. No dice que diga que el temor del Señor es el principio del conocimiento. Y también dice que los tontos desprecian la sabiduría y la instrucción, creo que es interesante que no diga que los malvados desprecian la sabiduría. No dice pecadores, desprecian la sabiduría. No hace esa diferencia, dice. En otras palabras, puedo ser una buena persona, podría temer al Señor y aun así vivir tontamente en este mundo. Proverbios Capítulo dos, observe estos versículos, comenzando en el versículo número seis. Porque el Señor concede sabiduría. De su boca salen el conocimiento y la comprensión. Concede un tesoro de sentido común. Tío, ahí lo tienes. El tesoro del sentido común. Se lo concede a los honestos. Es un escudo para aquellos que caminan con integridad. Protege los poderes de los justos y protege a los que le son fieles. Versículo nueve, en otras palabras, después, después de que hayan sucedido estas cosas, entonces entenderás lo que es correcto, justo y justo, y encontrarás el camino correcto a seguir, porque la sabiduría entrará en tu corazón y el conocimiento te llenará de gozo. Las decisiones sabias te vigilarán. La comprensión lo mantendrá a salvo. Escúchame hoy, según las Escrituras, la sabiduría sigue a la honestidad, la integridad y la fidelidad. Se nos dice que la sabiduría viene con el paquete de salvación. No nos bautizamos en el nombre de Jesús y salimos de allí llenos de sabiduría y comprensión. No es la forma en que funciona. La sabiduría para vivir está separada de la justicia con Dios. Vamos, piénsalo, amigos. Puedo ser compasivo y amable, y no es lo mismo que ser considerado y minucioso. Podría ser cariñosa, y no es lo mismo que ser exigente. Puedo ser gracioso, y no es lo mismo que ser amable y perspicaz. La gente no siempre está bien informada. La gente agradable no siempre es racional. La gente dulce no siempre es sensata. [00:19:22][209.7] Travis Miller: [00:19:23] La rectitud, explica la posición de los creyentes con Dios. La vida sabia es una experiencia humana. Quiero que entremos en nuestros corazones y en nuestro entendimiento y conocimiento hoy. A veces nos equivocamos, estando de pie con Dios, con vivir sabiamente en la Tierra, y cuando lo hacemos, las personas buenas caen en resultados necios. ¿Cuál es la alternativa? Predicador, ¿seguramente no has compartido toda esta información para asustarnos a todos? ¿Tiene que haber una solución? De hecho, tengo que hacernos conscientes del engaño, y del error en las fallas, que nos causaría un choque. Pero proclamo con alegría que hay elementos de las Escrituras, muy claros y muy directos, para ayudar a los humanos comunes como tú y yo. Hay una mejor manera en que podemos experimentar la prosperidad de Dios, podemos conocer el éxito de Dios, no solo los domingos en una casa llena de discípulos adoradores, sino que podemos conocer el éxito en nuestras elecciones profesionales. Podemos conocer el éxito en nuestros matrimonios y familias. Podemos conocer el éxito a medida que avanzamos en este mundo, en nuestras decisiones financieras. Podemos conocer el éxito en nuestra jubilación. Podemos conocer el éxito en nuestras carreras, si hacemos lo que las Escrituras nos indican que hagamos. [00:20:57][94.1] Travis Miller: [00:21:00] Hace unas semanas, desde este púlpito, hablé sobre el Arca de la Alianza. En particular, los esfuerzos de David por devolver el arca a Jerusalén, quizás recuerdes que el Arca de la Alianza representaba la presencia de Dios. No todo era la presencia de Dios en una caja de oro, pero significaba la centralidad. Y cuando visitó a su gente, fue por la centralidad de esa caja. Entonces, David está tratando de llevar la caja de vuelta a Israel, a la ciudad, y hablamos de cómo, que mientras estaba en la casa de Abinidab, Dios bendijo a esa casa debido al Arca. Así que David tuvo un intento fallido de devolver el arca. Entonces lo hizo bien y llevó a la gente a transferir el arca de vuelta a Jerusalén. Así que retomamos la misma historia de nuevo, si miran conmigo en la primera Crónicas 16 y el versículo número uno. La Biblia dice que trajeron el Arca de Dios y la pusieron en medio del tabernáculo que David había erigido para nosotros. Luego quemaron ofrendas, ofrecieron holocaustos y ofrendas de paz ante Dios Lo trajeron de vuelta, lo pusieron en el Tabernáculo, en la tienda del pueblo donde vivían. El versículo número siete de la Biblia dice que, en ese día, David entregó este salmo por primera vez en la mano de Asaf y sus hermanos para agradecer al Señor. Ahora, toda esta canción va hasta el versículo 35. No voy a leerlo del todo en este momento. Te animo a que lo leas en su totalidad. Es una canción maravillosa, pero quiero que notemos algo justo al principio de la canción que David había cantado después de que el Arca volviera a la ciudad. Todos dan gracias al Señor, invocan su nombre, dan a conocer sus obras entre los pueblos. Canta para él. Cántale canciones. Hable de todas sus maravillosas obras. Gloria en su santo nombre. Que se regocijen los corazones de los que buscan al Señor. Mira el versículo 11, busca al Señor y su fuerza. Busca su rostro para siempre. Busca al Señor y su fuerza. Busca su rostro para siempre. [00:23:40][159.6] Travis Miller: [00:23:47] Durante las últimas vacaciones. Nuestra familia emprendió una aventura, ahora bajó a Safeco Field o T-Mobile Field. Fuimos a esa fiesta navideña encantada. Donde todo el cuadro interior se creó en este enorme y viejo laberinto de increíbles luces navideñas. Y en el laberinto, había escondidos, nueve renos de Santa Claus. Así que a medida que entras en el laberinto, a cada participante se le da esta pequeña tarjeta con todos los nombres de los nueve renos y hay pequeños lugares para rascar. Cuando encuentres un reno, puedes ir a la mesa con todos los niños de cinco años y rascar la moneda de oro que encontraste ese reno. Algunos en nuestro grupo estaban más entusiasmados por encontrar a los nueve que a otros. Dábamos vueltas y vueltas en ese laberinto loco buscando nueve renos. Lamento confesar que, entre seis estadounidenses promedio, no pudimos encontrarlos a todos. Un niño pequeño de cinco años los encontró todos en cinco minutos, probablemente, pero faltaban adultos. Creo que quizás hemos encontrado 7. Pero después de eso, todo había terminado. La búsqueda había terminado. Encontramos todos los renos que íbamos a encontrar, todos los que estaban conmigo buscándolos, fue un evento único. Busca, encuentra, se acabó. Así que me desafía cuando David escribe, y así les dice a los hijos de Israel: busquen al Señor y su presencia y su fuerza, buscadlo cada vez más. Y empiezo a luchar. Me parece un poco extraño porque el arco ya no se perdió. La presencia de Dios ya no estaba en ningún otro lugar. Ya no estaba en un granero de la casa de Abinidab. El arca estaba en la ciudad. Estaba en un tabernáculo hecho por David. Estaba en una tienda de campaña, el arca, por así decirlo, mientras David hablaba, ¡estaba justo ahí! David Seeking, tenía que ser diferente a nosotros buscando renos en un parque de pelota. Quiero saber, ¿por qué un rey llama a su pueblo a buscar al Señor cuando la presencia de Dios está en la tienda? ¡Obviamente, está justo ahí! ¿Por qué David desafía a todo Israel a buscar lo que es obvio? Su significado de buscar, si miramos en otras traducciones, dice que estudie a Dios. Dice «busca al Señor». Dice: mira al Señor. Estudia a Dios. Pregunte a Dios. Mira al Señor, en la actualidad en términos prácticos. Me someto a esta congregación, David estaba diciendo esto, buscamos el arca. Buscamos la presencia de Dios. Lo trajimos a casa y lo pusimos en una tienda de campaña. Y ahí está. Y ahora, mientras canta y nos regocija, les dice a los hijos de Israel: Ahora escúchenme tan a menudo como puedan, tan regularmente como vayan a la tienda, ¡busquen lo que es obvio! ¡Entra en ese tabernáculo! ¡Sábate en la presencia de Dios! ¿Has encontrado la presencia de Dios? Absolutamente, lo habían hecho. ¿Sabían dónde estaba? Sin duda lo hicieron. David decía: Ahora visita el arca. Quiero que noten en ese pasaje, dijo, busquen al Señor y su fuerza, busquen su rostro cada vez más, busquen su rostro cada vez más. Busca su presencia, persigue continuamente su presencia día y noche, frecuenta el poder de Dios siempre. ¿Por qué? ¿Por qué David se sentía así? ¿Por qué la presencia de Dios era tan importante como David desafió al pueblo de Israel? [00:28:47][299.5] Travis Miller: [00:28:47] Te llevaré de nuevo al libro de Job. Job dijo: Dios es sabio de corazón. Y con una fuerza poderosa. Dios es sabio. Y Mighty. Al llegar al Nuevo Testamento, el apóstol Pablo y un apóstol llamado Judas dijeron esto, en primera Timoteo 1:17. Ahora al Rey Eterno, inmortal, invisible. Para Dios, que solo es sabio sea el honor y la gloria, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén. Judas, en las últimas oraciones del libro, en la carta que escribió el versículo 25, dice, a Dios nuestro salvador, quien solo es sabio la gloria y la majestad, el dominio y el poder ahora y siempre. Creo con todo mi corazón que David llamó a una búsqueda continua y de por vida de la presencia de Dios. Porque David sabía que hay una diferencia entre la rectitud con Dios y la sabiduría en la vida. David sabía que quiero estar en la presencia de Dios porque solo él es sabio. David entendió que la presencia de Dios trae más que una relación correcta para la humanidad. La presencia de Dios también trae sabiduría para ganarse la vida. Predico esta tarde que hay una diferencia entre encontrar a Dios y aprender de Dios. Hay una diferencia entre una experiencia con Dios y la piel de gallina en una reunión de oración, y hay una vida próspera y exitosa con Dios. No oramos constantemente y nos volvemos a Dios porque lo hemos perdido. No estamos de rodillas porque nuestra relación está en duda, más bien, buscamos constantemente lo obvio porque queremos su sabiduría para vivir el día a día. Encontrar a Dios la primera vez que hace que mi alma esté bien con él, pero buscar a Dios todo el tiempo que hace que nuestras vidas sean exitosas aquí y ahora. [00:31:31][163.8] Travis Miller: [00:31:37] Bueno, hoy predico, ¿sabes qué?, seguimos volviendo a esa tienda obvia porque solo Dios es la razón por la que buscamos lo obvio, porque queremos su sabiduría en nuestro día a día y buscamos lo obvio porque sabes qué, quiero maximizar el éxito. Y quiero minimizar las tonterías. Por eso buscamos lo obvio. ¿21 días de oración, predicador? ¿Por qué haces eso? ¿Perdiste a Dios? ¿No sabes dónde está? ¿Su relación está en problemas? Oh no, amigo mío, buscamos lo obvio porque queremos maximizar nuestro éxito y queremos minimizar nuestras tonterías. Queremos hacerlo como individuos. Queremos hacerlo en familia. Queremos hacerlo como congregación. Bueno, tienes oración previa al servicio durante 30 minutos, Don hizo un gran trabajo dirigiendo la oración hoy. Evan hizo un gran trabajo la semana pasada. ¿Por qué lo hace, predicador? Vamos a rezar al final de la iglesia de todos modos. ¿Por qué oras al principio en la iglesia? ¿Qué pasa? ¿Eres tan carnal? ¿Eres tan pecador? No, amigo mío, buscamos lo obvio porque queremos maximizar el éxito y queremos minimizar la estupidez, aquí mismo en este momento en la Tierra, como individuos y familias y como congregación. Mi Dios predicador, te estás volviendo apestoso, con sudores corriendo por tu cabecita calva. ¿Qué es lo importante, hombre? Te vimos el fin de semana pasado, viernes, sábado, domingo, predicador, estabas teniendo una reunión del Espíritu Santo, rompiéndola, disfrutando de la presencia de Dios. ¿Qué vas a hacer aquí de nuevo esta semana? ¿Por qué demonios vienes en dos semanas seguidas? Tuviste tres servicios la semana pasada, estás bien hasta junio, tío. ¿Por qué has vuelto esta semana? ¿Por qué estás tan alterado por las cosas que tienes que contar? Te diré por qué, no es porque lo haya perdido. No es porque haya pecado durante la semana. Te diré por qué, porque reconozco que solo él es sabio, y reconozco que quiero maximizar la prosperidad de Dios en mi vida, y quiero minimizar la estupidez y los fracasos de la vida y el colapso y el incendio. Quiero tener el favor de Dios en mi vida. Quiero su sabiduría. Así que sigo la canción del rey David, Busco al Señor y su fuerza. Busquen su rostro todos. Por su sabiduría. Por sus puntos fuertes. Siempre. Siempre. [00:35:03][206.9] Travis Miller: [00:35:09] ¿Qué le estás diciendo a predicador? Estoy llegando aquí y ahora. Espero haber provocado a la oración, a aquellos en esta sala que están pesando cosas en sus vidas. Espero provocar en esta sala a aquellos que están tomando decisiones de universidad y de carrera que ellos decidirían, buscaré al Señor y sus fortalezas para siempre más en esta decisión. Para aquellos en esta sala que están tomando decisiones sobre su familia, la escuela a la que asisten sus hijos o dónde van a ir a la escuela, o tal vez sus hijos ingresan al jardín de infantes por primera vez. Predico a los padres, ¿sabes qué? Esas decisiones, esos pasos, esos resultados. Tenemos que buscar al Señor en sus fuerzas y buscar su rostro cada vez más. Predico a aquellos que están considerando una nueva relación o quizás el estado de una relación actual. Tenemos que buscar al Señor y su fuerza. La razón por la que muchas personas buenas terminan en malas relaciones es porque creemos falsamente que a Dios no le importa eso. Escúchame hoy, la iglesia es la novia de Cristo. Le importan nuestras relaciones tanto como eso. ¿Está considerando comprar una casa, está considerando tomar una decisión financiera importante? ¿Estás haciendo algo en la jubilación o en tu carrera? Escucha, te lo suplico. Predico con fe. Debemos buscar al Señor y al único Dios sabio siempre, en todas las cosas que predico, para cada uno que ya está involucrado en el servicio en el ministerio y para aquellos que se involucrarían en el servicio en el ministerio, ya sea en el Ministerio de Niños, el Ministerio de Estudiantes, el Ministerio de Música, el Ministerio de Servicios para los Huéspedes, cualquiera que sea el el ministerio, la música y los estudiantes y todas esas cosas, el liderazgo del grupo de fe y todos los roles en Faith Group. Rezo por una congregación que sature esos ministerios en el poder y la presencia de Dios Todopoderoso. Rezo por nuestros hombres y mujeres que deben tener una unción saturadora de Dios. Predico esta tarde sobre decisiones, vidas, elecciones que se bañan en la presencia de Dios. Rezo por hombres y mujeres que reconozcan y se den cuenta de que, cada vez que un ser humano decida, no necesito a Dios en esa área de mi vida, estamos tomando una decisión. Decimos que mi sabiduría es mayor que la suya. En el Antiguo Testamento y en el nuevo, estaban convencidos. Aquellos que caminaron en los pasos y caminos con Jesucristo. Su convicción, su conocimiento, su comprensión era, solo Él es sabio. Por supuesto, si nunca lo he encontrado, no he conocido el perdón de mis pecados, no he sido bautizado ni lleno de su espíritu. Ese es el punto de partida. Tiene que empezar justo ahí. Y escúchame hoy, este santo salvador no murió en la cruz, sufrió ese dolor, humillación y ridículo, resucitó de entre los muertos, para que tú y yo pudiéramos tener un golpe único de poder divino. No se trata de eso este libro sagrado. Pero incluso antes de la efusión del espíritu. Hay un hombre llamado David, que se entusiasmó con una experiencia de Dios, y en ese momento en que Dios se movió sobre él, mientras escribía su canción, dijo, estas personas llegaron a conocerlo. El arca está en casa, está en una tienda de campaña, es obvio. Estas personas deben saber que no es el final. Es el principio. Estas personas deben saber que tienes que estar en una tienda de campaña. Las pequeñas decisiones se suman y se convierten en grandes decisiones. Tienes que estar en esa tienda. ¿Por qué cambias tu horario? ¿Por qué trabajas en torno a un servicio vespertino un domingo? ¿Por qué organizas tu vida para poder participar en un grupo de fe y reunirte con otros creyentes? Déjame decirte por qué tengo que estar en esa tienda. Quiero decir, mira esa caja de oro. Tengo que estar cerca cuando su presencia se asiente. Tengo algunos títulos, tengo décadas de experiencia, pero no tengo la sabiduría necesaria para ir un paso más allá. Tengo que estar en esa tienda. Si alguien en esta casa se siente un poco como yo, ¿te unirías a mí en presencia de Dios? ¿Lo harías? ¿Incluso dónde estás? ¿Levantar las manos? ¿Te acercarías por este frente y te arrodillarías? ¿Cerrarías los ojos? ¿Abrirías la voz? ¿Qué es lo que te está estimulando y desafiando en este momento? Vamos, alguien. ¿Quieres estar en esa tienda? ¿Hay hombres y mujeres, mamás y papás, esposos y esposas que digan: «Sabes qué»? No voy a ir al futuro por mi cuenta, por mi propia energía, por mi propia defensa y por mi propia comprensión. No. Quiero buscar la presencia y el poder y la unción de Dios. Todos los días de mi vida. No quiero acabar en un cuento absurdo aquí. Quiero la prosperidad del Dios omnisciente y único sabio en mí. [00:35:09][0.0] [2036.0]   Episode Transcript in Tagalog   Travis Miller: [00:00:21] Dapat akong magsalita ng ilang sandali ngayong hapon, magbabahagi ako ng ilang mga kuwento, titingnan ko ang ilang mga talata ng banal na kasulatan, ilalagay sila sa screen at ang aking buong intensyon, ang aking buong layunin at direksyon sa pagsasalita ngayong maikling panahon ngayong hapon ay upang pukawin ang bawat isa sa tunog ng aking boses upang magkaroon ng pakikipag-usap sa Diyos. Sa wakas panalangin sa kanyang sariling paraan, sa kanyang sariling paraan, sa kanyang sariling mga salita, ay upang magkaroon ng isang pakikipag-usap sa Diyos, iyon ay eksakto kung ano ang sinusubukan kong gawin. Doon ka pumunta. Cat ay sa labas ng bag. Iyan ang sinusubukan kong gawin sa pagbabahagi ng usapang ito. Ang talumpati na ito, ang pangaral na ito, anuman ang gusto mong tawagin ito, upang kami ay tumugon sa Diyos. [00:01:07][45.8] Travis Miller: [00:01:09] Gaya ng inaasahan mo, ay pastor ng kongregasyong ito, ako ay nasa negosyo ng mga tao. Ako ay nasa ministeryo ngayon ng higit sa 30 taon. Ako'y nasa paligid ng simbahan at sa paligid ng mga kongregasyon ng higit sa 50 taon at sa lahat ng mga taong iyon at lahat ng mga karanasang iyon. Na-obserbahan ko ang ilang mga bagay, medyo lantaran, na problema sa akin. Nakakita ako ng ilang mga bagay at nakalarawan sa ilang mga bagay na, sa akin, ay mukhang wala sa lugar sa pagsunod kay Hesu-Kristo. [00:01:46][36.5] Travis Miller: [00:01:48] Narito ang pakikitungo, naisip ko kung paano sa mundo mabubuting tao end up sa masamang sitwasyon. Ako, sa paglipas ng mga taon, sa paglipas ng panahon sa iba't ibang kongregasyon, naglakbay ako at naglingkod sa 40 iba't ibang mga estado at alam ng Diyos kung gaano karaming iba't ibang mga simbahan bilang bahagi ng aming ministeryo at nakita ko ito at iyon at ang isa pa, at alam mo kung ano ang aking nakikita? Paano ang tungkol sa batang babae na mabait at mahabagin at magiliw, ngunit madalas siyang nasa masamang relasyon? Ano ang tungkol sa na? Paano naman ang tapat na pamilya na naglilingkod sa ilang ministeryo sa simbahan, ngunit tila sila ay regular na nasa problema sa pananalapi? Ano ang tungkol sa na? Paano ang tungkol sa friendly, kagiliw-giliw na mag-asawa na ang mga bata, sa kasamaang-palad, ay nagbibigay sa kanila ng regular na kalungku O paano naman ang mag-asawa na nakatagpo kay Hesus ng matagal na ang nakalipas? Mukhang iniibig nila talaga si Hesus, ngunit nakikipaglaban sila at nagtatalo tulad ng kumpletong mga kaaway. Ako ay bothered sa pamamagitan ng mabuting binata na tila hindi magagawang upang panatilihin ang anumang bagay na may kaugnayan sa isang disenteng trabaho. Nag-aalala ako tungkol sa isang taos-puso na tao na walang personal na kontrol na nagdudulot ng patuloy na mga isyu sa kalusugan. Ako ba ang nag-iisa na kailanman nagtaka tungkol sa gayong mga bagay? [00:03:13][85.6] Travis Miller: [00:03:20] Tatlo o apat na taon na ang nakalilipas, natutunan ko ang katawa-tawa na trahedya ng isang mahabang kaibigan. Katotohanan siya ay isang kaibigan para sa 20 plus taon. Isang kasiya-siyang tao, isang kapaki-pakinabang, masaya, kaaya-aya, taong nagpunta sa simbahan. Hindi lamang ang pagpunta sa simbahan, kundi kasangkot sa simbahan, naglingkod siya at naglingkod sa iba. Ngunit ilang taon na ang nakalilipas, hindi inaasahan, nakatanggap kami ng tawag mula sa kanyang asawa. Natuklasan niya na pinananatili ng lalaki ang isang maybahay sa ibang estado sa loob ng pitong, walong, 10 taon. Nawasak niya ang kanyang kasal. Nawasak ang kanyang mga anak at binato ang pananampalataya ng mga naimpluwensyahan niya. Ito ay gumagawa sa akin magtanong kung paano? Paano iyan nangyari? Paano gumagana ang isang magandang tao ang isang bagay kaya hangal? Alam ko ang isa pang mabuting tao. Isang nakatatandang lalaki, isang lalaking gumugol ng kanyang buong buhay na naglilingkod sa mga kongregasyon. Isang lalaking nagtanim ng mga simbahan at nagpaimbak ng mga simbahan, na pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy upang tulungan ang iba na magtanim ng mga simbahan at mga pastore na simbahan. Ang isang mabuting tao, isang matuwid na tao. Ang isa sa kanyang mga adult na bata ay nagsimula ng negosyo, ang negosyo ay nagsimula sa pagkuha ng isang maliit na bit ng tagumpay at ang bata ay nagpasya, Alam mo kung ano, gusto kong palawakin ang negosyo, gusto kong magdagdag ng iba pang mga lokasyon, at kaya siya nagpunta sa bangko, ngunit ang bangko ay hindi magbibigay ng business loan. At kaya ang mabuting ama, ang matuwid na ama, ang ministeryong ama. Emptied out ang kanyang 401k. Ibinigay ang lahat ng pera sa bata. May mga pakikibaka sa negosyo, at ang bata ay kumbinsido na ang mga bagay ay handa na upang buksan, ang tipping point ay talagang napakalapit. Lamang ng kaunti pa capital at ang negosyo ay pumunta sa ibabaw ng gilid, at talagang sa ibabaw ng umbok, at ito ay pumunta mula doon. At kaya ama, ang tapat na tao, ang matuwid na tao. Mortgaged kanyang bahay, nagbigay ng pera sa bata. At ang negosyo ay nagpunta sa tiyan. Pagreretiro ng pera nawala. Bank foreclosed ang bahay, ang matuwid na tao, ang tapat na tao, ang ministeryo tao nawala ang lahat. Paano gumagana ang isang mabuting tao? Gumagawa ng gayong mga trahedya pagkakamali. Ibig kong sabihin, talaga, kahit sino na nakabitin sa isang simbahan at ministeryo ng sapat na katagalan, naririnig mo ang mga sermon tungkol sa kung paano nais ng Diyos na pagpalain ang mga buhay at kung paano pinapagaling ng Diyos ang mga tao at kung paano binabago ng Diyos ang mga pamilya at kung paano pinagpapala ng Diyos ang mga pananalapi. Ngunit pa rin, kung susundin mo, nakikibahagi ka, pinapanood mo at malaman kung ano ang nangyayari. May mga halimbawa ng mga taong nakarinig ng mga mensahe ngunit hindi nararanasan ang ipinangangaral at itinuro. Bakit iyan? [00:07:04][223.7] Travis Miller: [00:07:07] Sa totoo lang, kung tayo ay maging mga mag-aaral ng Bibliya, ang salita ng Diyos, mayroong katulad na mga kuwento dito. Minsan iniisip natin sa Bibliya, mabuti, ang mga kuwento sa Bibliya ay ganito. Nakukuha natin ang mga kuwento tungkol sa masasamang tao na namumuhay ng masasamang buhay. Well, totoo iyan. Well, may kuwento tungkol sa matuwid na mga tao na may matuwid na buhay. Totoo rin iyan. Ngunit ngayon, gusto kong ituro na sa aklat na ito, nakita rin natin ang mga kuwento ng mabubuting tao na gumawa ng mga hangal na bagay at mahal ang mga ito. Tama sa aklat na ito, May mga labanan nawala. May mga buhay na natapos, may mga pamilya na nasira ng mabubuting tao na kumikilos nang may kamangmangan. May mga pagpatay at pangangalunya. May mga kaharian na nawala. May mga pagkakaibigan na natapos sa aklat na ito ng mga disenteng tao na kumikilos nang walang kamangmangan. May mga pag-asa vanished at pangako extinguished at kalusugan nasayang sa fortunes forfeited at relasyon tinapos. Ang mga ito ay mga kuwento sa Bibliya na nangyari sa kamay ng mabubuting tao na nabubuhay nang hindi maganda. Bakit nangyari ang mga bagay na ito? [00:08:24][76.7] Travis Miller: [00:08:26] Sa Aklat ni Job Kabanata siyam sa berso apat, gumawa siya ng kapaki-pakinabang na pagmamasid para sa talakayang ito. Ngayon sa Job siyam, mula sa Bibliya, sinasabi ng Diyos ay pantas sa puso at makapangyarihan sa lakas. Sinong nagmatigas laban sa kaniya at guminhawa? Well, malinaw, ang Diyos ay matalino at ang Diyos ay makapangyarihan, iyan ay simple at simple, Joe declares ito. Datapuwa't nang maipahayag ang katotohanang iyan, tinanong nga ni Job kung sino ang nagmatigas laban sa kaniya laban sa Dios at guminhawa? Sino ang nagmatigas laban sa Diyos? At pa rin umunlad? [00:09:14][48.4] Travis Miller: [00:09:18] Halos bawat tagsibol, at ito ay darating muli sa buwan ng Abril, Mayo. Nais ng aking asawa na dalhin ko siya sa Skagit County at makita ang magagandang patlang ng tulipan. Minsan binibisita namin, naroroon ka, alam mo ito, binibisita mo at bota ay talagang kailangan. Hindi lang putik ang may maraming putik. Hindi kapani-paniwala Pacific Northwest ulan, tandaan, sinabi ko hindi kapani-paniwala. Ibabad ang mga patlang ng tulipan, ginagawa itong maputik at malambot. Ngunit may iba pang mga oras na binisita namin ang mga patlang na iyon kapag natapos na ang ulan at ang mga bukid ay naiiba. Ang mga patlang ay magaspang. Ako ay doon kapag ang ibabaw ay hardened at kahit crack, ito ay kaya mahirap, ngunit kapag naglalakad ka sa ito, maaari mong sabihin na ito ay isang magaspang ibabaw, ngunit may kahalumigmigan sa ilalim, ngunit ang ibabaw ay mahirap at tuyo. Ang lupa ay nawala mula sa basa-basa at maputik sa magaspang at mahirap. At alam mo kung ano? Alam natin na hindi ito nangyayari kaagad. Una, ang ulan dwindles, mayroong mas kaunting mga araw ng ulan at pagkatapos ay mayroong mas kau

    PROMISE AND BLESSING   The Blessings of Abraham. Genesis 12:1 ‘The LORD had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing… and all people on the earth will be blessed through you.” These blessings were spoken to a man who came from what is now Iraq. He was a man with a heart that wanted to find the one true God. The blessings he received were personal for him but they were corporate for both the Jewish Nation of Israel that was to come through him, and later to the whole world through Jesus.    The Blessings to Israel Israel first became a nation in Egypt, where they had been in captivity to Pharaoh for four hundred years. God then miraculously delivered them out of Egypt by the hand of Moses who led them through the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land. God gave Israel the Covenant of the Promises and blessings of the Old Testament and the Commandments of the Law through Moses when they began their wilderness journey. God said to Moses “I am going to give you the land that I promised to Abraham” (Exodus 6:6-8). However, there were conditions that applied for Israel to receive the blessings (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Moses was told to tell the people that if they loved God and obeyed all the Commandments he gave them, and worshipped God correctly they would receive the blessings of the land and its crops and have good rains in their seasons, but if they disobeyed God and worshipped other gods they would receive no rain, the enemy would take their land, and their crops would fail. In fact, the Bible records a whole page of curses for disobedience.   There was a command with a conditional blessing that God gave to them concerning the land which was that they had to give the land a rest for one year in every seven years. This was called the Sabbath Year. There was to be no work, just a happy life together as families and as a community of God's people, and in that Sabbath Year God would give their crops three times the normal yield, and he would bless them with a holiday year during which time they would bless God back with joy and thanksgiving for their prosperity.  Another example of a command with a conditional blessing to them as a nation was that if they strayed away from God but then repented and came back to him, to the temple, and prayed with a right heart then God would hear from heaven and forgive them and heal their land - meaning that he would send them rain and grow their crops etc. (2Chronicles 7:14).  For about 1500 years there were seasons of blessing and obedience, but there were also long stretches of time of disobedience and confusion, and God's judgment came on Israel. For example, they failed to obey the Sabbath Year for 490 years by not resting and for that disobedience they were sent into captivity in Babylon for seventy years for the land to get its one in every seven years rest (2Chronicles 36:21). The behavior of the people usually fell into line behind the behavior of the kings and the priests, and the prophets would have to call them back to repentance.   So what were these Old Testament blessings for and what was the point? The blessings showed the nations round about them such as Iraq and Iran and Syria and Egypt, that a supernatural God was active and powerful in the heavens on behalf of his people. The blessings were also simply an act of love and kindness from a good God to his people so that they could live a life of fulfillment and prosperity. These blessings kept and preserved the nation of Israel intact so that they could become the womb and the cradle for Jesus to come to earth and bring the most profound and wonderful ultimate blessing to them and to the whole world – The gift of God's life to humanity through Jesus, fulfilling the last clause in the blessing to Abraham which was ‘and all people on the earth will be blessed through you.' God was telling Abraham here that there would be a new kind of blessing from a new promise about the New Testament Covenant blessing that is radically different from the Old Covenant. This supernatural blessing allows all of humanity to share in the life that Jesus has with his Father in heaven, as explained by Paul in Ephesians.  Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with ALL spiritual blessings from Heaven. The law of the Commandments was given to keep Israel from destroying their moral and relational integrity because the Law was perfect in its wisdom and order for the self-preservation of a community (Psalm 19). That was the best system that could have existed to achieve that end. The Commandments if observed faithfully by anyone, even today, will preserve the integrity of any community and produce outcomes of blessings of all kinds. They are designed to bring peace and order and harmony and prosperity and honesty and good health - and no corrupt politics.  The new Blessings of the New Covenant are of a far greater supernatural order The shortcoming of the Law of perfect wisdom and order was that it could not produce a life of oneness in spirit with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. To receive this ultimate blessing of having God's life living within us one has to believe the truth of what actually happened in and through Jesus' life and death and resurrection – and that's all! It has nothing to do with the Law. However, the Bible tells us that if we are truly living in the Spirit of the life of Jesus we will live out our lives demonstrating the reality and meaning of those Commandments through the grace and power of The Holy Spirit as he makes them real to us (Romans 8:4). Our outer life may become blessed with a new dimension of order and integrity, and that is great reward, but even that virtuous natural reordering of our outward lives is not the spiritual blessings of the promised blessing of Abraham.    All Spiritual Blessings The spiritual blessing is The Holy Spirit bringing to us the impartation of God's nature of his goodness and his love and joy and peace into our hearts. This operates as an active spiritual energy of life wherever we are and in whatever circumstances we are, whether we are on a holiday or in the busy stress of work, in times of global peace or in times of a global pandemic, in a good economy under good government or under dictatorial rule. The shared life with Jesus has nothing to do with how life seems to be going on in our circumstances. The shared life with Jesus IS the blessing that reorders our life and brings all things into line with his will for our lives.   All the material blessings under the Old Covenant had a spiritual silver lining because of the supernatural manifestations of God to them in the wilderness and in the Promised Land, with miracles of provision and protection and angelic visitations. In the same way, all of our spiritual blessings bring the intervention of God into our lives in a supernatural way above what we could ask or think - and we don't get to vote on what kind of blessings we receive. They are given by God and they are ultimately better than we could ever order for ourselves.  So this life of faith is also a life of paradox because we don't always see blessings in the same way that God does. God has the big picture for our lives and he wants us to trust him for the details. The Bible says he has written the days of our lives in a book (Psalm 139). We have a friend who is on every page of that book and he gives us wisdom when we ask. We put together imperfect prayers and he designs the perfect answers that take us closer and closer to his goal for our lives in contrast to ours. Even good honest spiritual goals that we set for ourselves like becoming more holy, and serving The Lord more faithfully end up bringing us into a place of realizing our own powerlessness to achieve them. This sense of inadequacy drives us into depending more and more on Jesus and his kindness and compassion and grace to travel with us in our honest seeking for these things.  It then dawns on us that a process of total dependence upon God is the real goal. This is God's goal for us. This is where REAL FAITH happens, and this real faith pleases God. The real blessings are enjoyed in a life shared with a friend who wants the best for us. He is perfect love, and perfect love desires the best for the beloved (1 Corinthians 13). This relationship is a moment-by-moment journey that Jesus lives in – in the here and now and for all eternity. If the whole world came into this friendship with Jesus now there would be no wars, no poverty and no darkness and destruction. The world must give account in due time for the integrity of its relationship to its friend Jesus, here and now and in eternity (Romans 1:18, Acts 17:31). This eternity will exist as a new Heaven and a new earth one day, but the life of faith in Jesus as our friend can exist for us as a life of ALL spiritual blessings right here - right now. Amen              1    

Leaves for Healing of the Nations (2) (Audio) David Eells - 9/29/21 Overcoming Thoughts and Words Debbie Horton - 9/13/21 (David's notes in red)   I dreamed early this morning that I was fighting the god Ares.    (According to Mythopedia.com in Greek Mythology Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera and one of the twelve chief Olympian deities. Ares was the god of rage, terror, and violence. (The more we study this spirit the more we recognize it as a spirit of faction.) Known as the “shield-piercing” and “city-sacking,” god, he was often portrayed in the midst of battle. Though he was often portrayed as the all-encompassing god of war, Ares traditionally represented only the most brutal, impulsive, and unrestrained aspects of combat. (These people under these demons never quit fighting. Isa 48:22  There is no peace, saith Jehovah, to the wicked.) Ares' impulsiveness, temper, and eagerness to cause wanton destruction made him perhaps the least appreciated of the Olympians.  The name of the god “Ares” came most immediately from the word ‘are', which in the ancient Greek means “bane,” “ruin,” and “curse” or “imprecation.” (The factious never cease to curse others so they reap what they sow. Psa 109:17  Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him. In the Mycenaean Greek, it was used in the form 'a-re'. This word also formed the basis of the Sanskrit word irasya, meaning “ill-will,” and it survived to the present day in English words such as “ire,” and “irate.”) (This is the demon of faction in Government and Church.) Back to Deb's dream: Ares was standing motionless in full battle gear and looking straight ahead, but everything was pitch black except for him. He was all I saw. (This spirit doesn't have to do anything but be present because his host lives in gross darkness and does his dirty work for him.)  I walked around behind him and realized that he seemed to be frozen in something like glass, although you couldn't see the glass, maybe the image was just all made out of glass. (The Holy Spirit makes things that are transparent or invisible to our natural eyes visible so that we know how to wage spiritual warfare against our enemies, so do so saints.) I took my sword, which seemed clunky and had a weird sort of bubbly, dull, gray finish on it, and slammed it into the center back of Ares with all my might like a sledge hammer. That's when the frozen-in-glass image began to crack. I hit it again and again, on the right and on the left. (When our sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is dull and in disrepair because of neglect, it takes much longer to defeat our enemies. Ecl. 10:10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.) Pieces began to fall to the ground. I kept slugging at it until most of the bottom half had fallen apart and the top half of the image was finally starting to crack. How it was still standing without the bottom to hold it up, I have no idea. Then I woke up. (We must come against this railing, angry, critical spirit that makes war against the saints and cut it off at the knees so that it doesn't have any power over lives any longer. The Word of God says that Love is the greatest of all. Love conquers all.  1 Co. 13:1-13  If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; 6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth…13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.)   Policing Our Thoughts Andrew Gelinas - 8/15/21 (David's notes in red) In my dream, I was reclining on my parents bed, (Representing abiding in the continual rest that God commanded our forefathers in our New Testament Covenant.) My mother suggested I do a little fishing. As I thought about fishing, my parents bedroom expanded into a vast hanger-like space, similar to an indoor water park. (Andrew's mother represents the original Church and the Good News of the Gospel that we heard from the beginning. The water is the word, which is what we go fishing for souls with.) Now I was standing with my bare feet on the sand of an indoor beach. (God promised Abraham that He would multiply his descendants as the sands of the sea. We are Abraham's descendants when we walk by faith.) I cast my line out a good distance, and it was only a short moment before I felt something on the line. At first, it felt like it was only a hand-sized runt of a fish. (As we will see, this runt of a fish turns out to be an empty Police boat which I believe represents the absence of Policing our thoughts and controlling our tongues.)  But right as a wave started to form way out where my line was, I thought for a second that the little fish had locked itself into some rocks when my pole began bending almost to the point of snapping. (When we don't police our thoughts or we get tangled up with factious slanderers, then the waves come and make our battles harder to fight. The hidden rocks could represent what is described in Jude 1:4  For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ…  8 Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities… 10 But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed. 11 Woe unto them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. (They are bribed by the pleasures of the flesh to do wrong.) 12 These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you... clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved forever.) I remember thinking it was a miracle the line wasn't breaking. I soon realized my line wasn't snagged on a rock or log at all when it began to race from right to left with fierce strength and agility. (Our thoughts affect our mouths. Racing from right to left with fierce strength and agility reminds me of a tongue wagging out of control.) Then, I felt the strong sensation that if I didn't plant my feet firmly enough into the sand, that I was going to be dragged into the surf by this thing. (If we don't get our feet firmly planted in the Promises in the Word of God and have the faith of Abraham which makes us a part of his seed like the sand of the sea, then our tongues will drag us under the curse represented by the waters.)  So I quickly leaned back as I dug my heals into the sand as deep as I could get them. Then, I committed myself wholeheartedly to landing whatever it was that I had on the other end of the line. (We must be wholeheartedly committed to obeying the Word and quit wavering back and forth with fear, uncertainty, doubt and unbelief by being firmly planted in the Word. This allows us to police our thoughts and ‘land' or ground our tongues from speaking curses on ourselves or others around us.) As the fight went on for a short while, I could just make out the shadowy silhouette of a huge shark-like fish scuttling just beneath the surface of a large wave. It looked to be at minimum twenty feet in length. (20 Represents Judgment multiplied. 10 x 2 = 20.  2 is a number that multiplies but also represents division. The shark, like factious predator people, multiply division with their tongues.)   Just as I was beginning to feel the slightest sense of dread about the thought of continuing to reel this beast in, it suddenly burst over the peek of the wave and settled on the calm surface a few yards off shore from me. Only, it was no Moby Dick, or Jaws, but an empty police speed boat. (So this predatory large mouthed beast is really the unmanned police boat. This un-manned police speed boat again represents the trouble we get ourselves into when we lose our awareness and ability to police our thoughts and reel in our tongues to tame them. Our flesh man turns into a beast and puts up an awful fight when we allow vain imaginations to overtake our minds and our mouths. James 3:2-11 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also 3 Now if we put the horses bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.  4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. 5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind. 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: 10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?) I stood there perplexed for a moment. Then I thought that I should call 911 to let them know what I'd found. Before I could even dial 9 on my flip phone, a police officer appeared walking my way on the beach to my left. He was very grateful that I had found one of their boats, and said something like “These things keep turning up everywhere.” Then I woke up. (Many lose their policing abilities over their minds and then mouths. In this case finding the boat and putting it back under the authority of the police brings one back under the authority of God, who provides for us the fulfillment of the promises.)   UBM: Yellow Birds on a Wire Eve Brast - 9/20/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that all of us from UBM were gathered together in one place. (Representing unity in the Spirit.) Michael, whose name means: “Who is like God?” (Representing God our Heavenly Father.) was going around and coordinating all the details for our trip into the wilderness. (This represents the 7 year tribulation period that we are about to enter into.)  He was going around to different people in our group and making sure they were ready for the trip. He was like a coach going around to all his players asking them if they were ready for the game and clapping his hands and encouraging us and getting us all stoked for the event.  I was standing in a circle with everyone and all my belongings were packed in boxes about 10 feet behind me. (This represents forgetting those things which are behind and being justified by faith. Php 3:13-14 Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.)  I saw that many of the brethren were all sitting around in small groups of families or friends on top of their baggage and bedding. (The baggage and bedding could represent a mixture of being in the rest but still sitting on some baggage from the past that needs to be put behind us. )  This room was without walls. (Without walls represents transparency, nothing to hide, all sins confessed. Vanessa said this room without walls reminded her of Est. 9:19 Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. This day was a victory over the factious beasts who threatened them.)  This room had royal blue, textured carpet that had tiny, little, white pieces of paper or trash that I knew would have to be vacuumed up before we left for the wilderness trip. (Representing that there is a little cleaning up for us left to do before Jesus, in the Man-child, returns to lead us into the wilderness tribulation.) Michael came over to me and asked if I was ready to go. I said, “Yes. I've got everything packed up behind me here and I'm ready to go.” (The Bride is ready now, her baggage behind her, but some others are not ready.) Then I looked over to my right and upwards and saw a vision of us all as pale, yellow swallows with white bellies and long tails like swallows have. (The yellow coat represents putting on the works of Jesus. The white bellies or breasts represent the breastplate of righteousness.) We were all sitting uniformly and equidistant apart from one another (Representing military type discipline and respecting one anothers space.) We were on 3 power lines or communications cables that were strung between two old, wooden telephone poles. (The 3 power lines represent the power of the Father, the Son, and His Holy Spirit indwelling us. The old telephone poles represent the original word of the gospels; the Word that we heard from the beginning. (The telephone poles were also our boundaries, which are the Word.) Our power comes when we communicate the Word of God between each other and others.)  In the dream I was encouraged by this vision but thought, “Why are we so pale?” (The Bride does not go into the wilderness with 100 fold fruit which is Sun/Son glory. They are close to 60 fold fruit whitch is moon glory, which is pale. The Man-child reformers job is to raise them to Son glory.) Then I suddenly received a call from my oldest son, Noah, on my cell phone and I asked him, “What's going on?” He replied, “I'm packed but I'm not ready to go yet because I have the Mumps, so I'll be delayed.” I was disappointed because I thought that we would be able to leave at any moment.  (Eve's first born son, Noah, represents the first fruits people who are born of the Bride body. Those whom the bride is nurturing are slower to be prepared.)   Noah having the Mumps means that there is still an infection in their mouths and throats representing their words spoken contrary to the Word and promises of God. We have to align our thoughts and our mouths with God in agreement and faith with His promises for us or we will not survive the wilderness just as the Israelites didn't in the Old Testament.) (God prepares those whose words are purified by a sacrificial life of denying our own words for His. Isa 6:5  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7  and he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven.) Then a vision of a black woman who was sick with a swollen neck appeared. She looked weary and defeated. (Representing those who walk in darkness. Pro 13:15  Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.)  She was standing in front of me and to my right but was standing crooked and leaning to her left. Then I woke up. (What came to me was Jer. 12:5  If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of the Jordan?) I asked for a word by faith at random for the dream and my finger was on 'throat' in Psalm 5:9. (Mumps is an infection of the throat.)  For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue. (The Bible commands us to be patient in tribulation, Rom. 12:12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer… If we aren't doing these things when we let our flesh rule us with complaining and self-pity.) Without policing our thoughts our tongue speaks things that bring judgment and curses on our lives and our families. Rom 12:2  And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Luk 6:45  The good man out of the good treasure of his heart (or thoughts) bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Jas 1:26  If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain. Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Mat 12:36  And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Jas 3:5  So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6  And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. … 8 but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. 1Pe 3:10  For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:  We're not Playing the Enemies' Game Claire Pienaar 9/16/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamed I was in an indoor arena, and I was standing on a purple tennis court. (I think the purple tennis court represents the royal court (in Heavenly places). Our Father has ordained every trial for us, so that we can learn our lessons and be refined). There was a separate box drawn on the right side, outside of the tennis court, on my side of the court. This is where I was supposed to stand during this supposed match or practice. I was inside the little box outside the actual tennis court lines. (This represents our protection from the enemy's arrows; as long as we stay in our boundaries of having clean hearts and walking in the light He's given us. We do not fight in the flesh, or return any of the “balls” that are sent to pummel us in the flesh. Vengeance is reserved for God alone.) My children's tennis coach picked up his racquet and started pummeling me with tennis balls. He was aiming them directly at me. This was no game. His intention was to hurt me. (The demons will often times use the spiritually stunted and immature to stir up strife, division and confusion to try to hurt the corporate body of the Bride. Many of these are people who refused to go on any further in the truth and the light of God's Word and so they fell into faction and slander.) (Riaan: The coach represents factious and slanderous spirits that use the old man who is very good and proficient at fighting in the flesh, he has been doing it for years!) I've never been much of a tennis player in the natural, but in the dream I was equally useless. I could not return a single ball. It would have looked like it was tremendously unfair as I could not leave my little blocked off area on the right, but he was allowed full access to the entire court. (It seems unfair to our flesh when we make it submit and obey the Word of God, but ultimately this is our strength in the battle for if we resist not the evil God will repay them for He says in Rom 12:19  Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. Mat 5:39  but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Jas 5:6  Ye have condemned, ye have killed the righteous one; he doth not resist you. Mat 5:44  but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you.)  Riaan was cheering me on, but not in the way one would think. He seemed to be building me up without telling me to “try harder” or “hit the ball”. (The old man would want us to fight back with all our might, but our spirit man builds us up with meekness, humility, patience and self-control). (Jude 1:17-23 But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 That they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; 23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.) I am left-handed and my arm was so weak in the dream I could hardly lift it. (His power is made perfect in our weakness.) I told Riaan, “I have no desire to compete with him. I don't even like this game”. I put my racquet down, and then we got ready to leave. (For those who are used to fighting in the spirit, we don't have any real-world ammunition anyway. Our left arms are weak!) (Riaan: We don't fight with the arm of the flesh. Although the old man is tempting us to fight in the flesh and return his curses to others, but we fight in the Spirit. We must mature so much that the left arm is weak and loses muscle memory so that we can no longer even remember how we used to fight). To leave this venue, we had to walk through some kind of jungle exhibition. It was basically a hallway that was decorated like a real-life amazon jungle. So we started walking through it. (Riaan: representing the wilderness of trials). There was a green snake on the right-hand side of the corridor, pinned like it was dead, but as we walked past it, it flared its fangs at us. We didn't even blink and just kept on walking. (Riaan: Just keep walking in faith and resist the enemy's lies.) Then we saw two more snakes, but they were nothing to us. As I walked, I thought “Oh. Something's bitten me”. It was a fat python on the floor and it sunk its fangs into the left tip of the toe of my boot. (But many pythons don't have fangs so this represents a lying symptom.) (Ball pythons are not venomous,  but they have up to 100 inward-facing teeth – four rows on top and two rows on the bottom. A Ball python's teeth are very sharp. They are designed to capture and restrain their prey. (Wearing boots: represents being ready for action, for fighting in the Spirit, which means sharing the Gospel of peace.) I waited and thought, “Mmm. I'll just continue on.” I did not exhibit any symptoms and it was like nothing had happened. All of this happened during the first 1/3 of the exhibition. The remainder seemed to be “smooth sailing”, as they say. (When were don't give into fear and doubt those demons give up trying to ensnare us and our walk is much smoother and we are not tossed about any longer because we are firmly planted on the Rock which is Christ.) We walked out of the exhibition where the entrance and exit met at the same point. I saw two young girls who were terrified to go into the jungle corridor exhibition. I told them, “If you have no fear, you'll be more than fine. But be warned, there are snakes and spiders”. They squealed and shrieked with fear, and I just shook my head to get the noise out. Then I woke up. (Riaan: This walk cannot be attempted with fear, it must be done in faith.)     Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKinyarwandaKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianOdia (Oriya)PashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTatarTeluguThaiTurkishTurkmenUkrainianUrduUyghurUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version

How to enter God's presence - Old Testament vs. New Testament Covenant with Rev. Doug Click

Pastor Gus Brown

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Survey of the Old Testament is to help students to better understand the content of each of the Old Testament books, the historical events that give context to them, and to answer specific questions that help draw out the overarching principles contained in the Old Testament. This study will enhance students' understanding of how God's dealings with the nation of Israel is critical to a full comprehension of the New Testament (Covenant) based in the death of Jesus Christ.

Believe the New Testament message we preach to you. God is up to bless you tremendously.

Covenant is the only language God speaks.

THE NEW TESTAMENT (COVENANT)

Covenant is the only language God speaks. Outside a covenant, God can't be committed to anyone or thing. It is his way of showing faithfulness!

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST);Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods,****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and puts Christ, His Living Word, in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST); Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods, ****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and puts Christ, His Living Word, in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST);Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods,****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and puts Christ, His Living Word, in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST);Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods,****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and puts Christ, His Living Word, in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST); Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods, ****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and puts Christ, His Living Word, in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST); Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods, ****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and comes to live in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts.! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Thu #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST);Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods,****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and comes to live in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts.! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Thu #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)

There are so many interesting themes in today's four chapters in our daily Bible reading! The way this podcast works, for those that are new, is that I try and choose one big Bible question to discuss for each daily episode, and then one spiritually encouraging passage from a spiritual giant. My own personal goal is to try and make MOST of the shows under 30 minutes, though on deep topics that doesn't always happen. We are 15 episodes into the podcast, and I can tell you honestly that there has never been a day where I have had to really dig deep to find a topic worth talking about. In fact, almost every day, the opposite is true. There are a dozen great things to talk about in each day's reading, and I can only choose one. Today, more so than almost any day prior to this, we have many great topics and themes to choose from. Should we talk about the rich and powerful abusing the families and poor people in Nehemiah? Should we talk about how honorable Nehemiah was, in that he did not take advantage of all of the luxuries offered to him because he was mindful of the plight of his people? Should we talk about Sarai's shameful mistreatment of her servant Hagar, and how the Angel of the Lord intervened and saved the life of Ishmael, the ancestral father of the Islamic people? (Could this early mistreatment explain some of the enmity between the Jewish and Arabic peoples?!) Should we instead talk about how the Pharisees amplified their own human traditions, and presented them as of more importance than the actual commands of God? (I almost went with this one, because the church today still has this problem in a large measure.) All of the above would be excellent topics to consider; ultimately, however, I believe the big question we should discuss today is the same one the early church met about during the first churchwide council in Acts 15 - How much of the Old Testament are Gentiles like me and most of you bound to follow? Before we dive into our main question today, let me say this one MASSIVE caveat: My view on this question could be very wrong. I have been in ministry for well over 25 years. I have been a student of the Bible for a long time. I have wrestled with this particular question for over a decade, and it makes me tremble. I believe that the answer I'm going to give is the proper answer biblically, but there are many, many mighty men of God whom I respect and admire tremendously that do not agree with me. Do NOT take my word on this issue as authoritative. The majority of you listeners don't know me personally, and even if you do - this is a question that you should be wrestling with in the Scripture and in prayer. All that said - and I hope it wasn't virtue signalling, but rather a warning to do your own scriptural due diligence - I believe that Christians are NOT under the Old Testament/Old Covenant commands, but are rather under the New Testament/New Covenant commands. By this I mean that I believe that the council of the apostles in Acts 15 decided this very issue and concluded that all Gentile Christians (followers of Jesus not born into ethnic Israeli families) are under New Testament commands AND the following four commands: Do not consume food that you know was offered to idols before or during its preparation. Do not consume blood. Do not eat anything that was strangled to death Do not engage in sexual immorality as defined in the Bible. Items 1-3 all seem to be quite connected to separating Christians from the pagan practices of food preparation throughout the Roman empire. Commenting on those passages, Ben Witherington says: "Also relevant to our discussion is the evidence that the choking of the sacrifice, strangling it, and drinking or tasting of blood transpired in pagan temples. In regard to the former, we have evidence from the magical papyri of the attempt to choke the sacrifice and in essence transfer its life breath or spiritual vitality into the idol, and in regard to the latter R. M. Oglivie points to the practice, mentioned occasionally in the literature, of the priest tasting the blood of the sacrifice. The singular reference to blood at the end of the decree would be superfluous after the reference to abstaining from things strangled or choked if the meaning was to avoid meat with the blood still in it. It is more likely that each item in the decree should be taken separately and all be seen as referring to four different activities that were known or believed to transpire in pagan temples." Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 464. So - I believe these commands are still binding on Christians today. We must not knowingly eat food that was prepared according to pagan practices (though see Paul's discussions of this in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians) and we must abstain from sexual immorality. Beyond that, we are no longer under the commands of the Old Testament, but the commands of the New Testament. Does that mean we are free from Ten Commandments? It does not, because 9 of the Ten Commandments are still commanded in the New Testament/Covenant. I need to stress here that I am not at all what is known as an antinomian. I do believe that Christians are still under God's (New Testament) commands, and we must follow them. I believe that the Old Testament is still the Word of God, and we must NOT seek to be unhitched from it - but New Testament Christians are no longer under law, but under the grace of the New Covenant. Thomas Schreiner captures this quite well in his Gospel Coalition article: "Saying that the old covenant has passed away doesn't mean the Old Testament is no longer (or somehow less) the Word of God. All of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are the final authority as God's infallible and inerrant word. All of the Old Testament has a revelatory and pedagogical authority for believers in Jesus Christ. We must interpret the Old Testament in terms of God's progressive revelation in his covenants in order to discern how to apply it today. New Testament writers don't decide how to apply the Old Testament based on the moral, ceremonial, and civil divisions, where the moral law continues to function as a moral norm. Such categories are actually quite useful, and there is significant truth in such divisions, but the New Testament itself doesn't apply the Old Testament law to believers based on these categories. Doing so can introduce distortions when applying the Old Testament to our lives." https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/old-covenant-response-andy-stanley/ Here are some Scriptures to consider in asking the question: Are we under the Old Testament? Consider these Scriptures, and then go read them in their wider context! Romans 6:14-15  14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace….15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! Romans 7:6 6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law. Ephesians 2:15 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations Galatians 3: 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 5: 5 Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace...vs 18  18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. And finally, and perhaps MOST importantly: Hebrews 7 11 If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well….18 So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable 19 (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. We will discuss some other more specific issues - like the Sabbath - at a later date.

There are so many interesting themes in today's four chapters in our daily Bible reading! The way this podcast works, for those that are new, is that I try and choose one big Bible question to discuss for each daily episode, and then one spiritually encouraging passage from a spiritual giant. My own personal goal is to try and make MOST of the shows under 30 minutes, though on deep topics that doesn't always happen. We are 15 episodes into the podcast, and I can tell you honestly that there has never been a day where I have had to really dig deep to find a topic worth talking about. In fact, almost every day, the opposite is true. There are a dozen great things to talk about in each day's reading, and I can only choose one. Today, more so than almost any day prior to this, we have many great topics and themes to choose from. Should we talk about the rich and powerful abusing the families and poor people in Nehemiah? Should we talk about how honorable Nehemiah was, in that he did not take advantage of all of the luxuries offered to him because he was mindful of the plight of his people? Should we talk about Sarai's shameful mistreatment of her servant Hagar, and how the Angel of the Lord intervened and saved the life of Ishmael, the ancestral father of the Islamic people? (Could this early mistreatment explain some of the enmity between the Jewish and Arabic peoples?!) Should we instead talk about how the Pharisees amplified their own human traditions, and presented them as of more importance than the actual commands of God? (I almost went with this one, because the church today still has this problem in a large measure.) All of the above would be excellent topics to consider; ultimately, however, I believe the big question we should discuss today is the same one the early church met about during the first churchwide council in Acts 15 - How much of the Old Testament are Gentiles like me and most of you bound to follow? Before we dive into our main question today, let me say this one MASSIVE caveat: My view on this question could be very wrong. I have been in ministry for well over 25 years. I have been a student of the Bible for a long time. I have wrestled with this particular question for over a decade, and it makes me tremble. I believe that the answer I'm going to give is the proper answer biblically, but there are many, many mighty men of God whom I respect and admire tremendously that do not agree with me. Do NOT take my word on this issue as authoritative. The majority of you listeners don't know me personally, and even if you do - this is a question that you should be wrestling with in the Scripture and in prayer. All that said - and I hope it wasn't virtue signalling, but rather a warning to do your own scriptural due diligence - I believe that Christians are NOT under the Old Testament/Old Covenant commands, but are rather under the New Testament/New Covenant commands. By this I mean that I believe that the council of the apostles in Acts 15 decided this very issue and concluded that all Gentile Christians (followers of Jesus not born into ethnic Israeli families) are under New Testament commands AND the following four commands: Do not consume food that you know was offered to idols before or during its preparation. Do not consume blood. Do not eat anything that was strangled to death Do not engage in sexual immorality as defined in the Bible. Items 1-3 all seem to be quite connected to separating Christians from the pagan practices of food preparation throughout the Roman empire. Commenting on those passages, Ben Witherington says: "Also relevant to our discussion is the evidence that the choking of the sacrifice, strangling it, and drinking or tasting of blood transpired in pagan temples. In regard to the former, we have evidence from the magical papyri of the attempt to choke the sacrifice and in essence transfer its life breath or spiritual vitality into the idol, and in regard to the latter R. M. Oglivie points to the practice, mentioned occasionally in the literature, of the priest tasting the blood of the sacrifice. The singular reference to blood at the end of the decree would be superfluous after the reference to abstaining from things strangled or choked if the meaning was to avoid meat with the blood still in it. It is more likely that each item in the decree should be taken separately and all be seen as referring to four different activities that were known or believed to transpire in pagan temples." Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 464. So - I believe these commands are still binding on Christians today. We must not knowingly eat food that was prepared according to pagan practices (though see Paul's discussions of this in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians) and we must abstain from sexual immorality. Beyond that, we are no longer under the commands of the Old Testament, but the commands of the New Testament. Does that mean we are free from Ten Commandments? It does not, because 9 of the Ten Commandments are still commanded in the New Testament/Covenant. I need to stress here that I am not at all what is known as an antinomian. I do believe that Christians are still under God's (New Testament) commands, and we must follow them. I believe that the Old Testament is still the Word of God, and we must NOT seek to be unhitched from it - but New Testament Christians are no longer under law, but under the grace of the New Covenant. Thomas Schreiner captures this quite well in his Gospel Coalition article: "Saying that the old covenant has passed away doesn't mean the Old Testament is no longer (or somehow less) the Word of God. All of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, are the final authority as God's infallible and inerrant word. All of the Old Testament has a revelatory and pedagogical authority for believers in Jesus Christ. We must interpret the Old Testament in terms of God's progressive revelation in his covenants in order to discern how to apply it today. New Testament writers don't decide how to apply the Old Testament based on the moral, ceremonial, and civil divisions, where the moral law continues to function as a moral norm. Such categories are actually quite useful, and there is significant truth in such divisions, but the New Testament itself doesn't apply the Old Testament law to believers based on these categories. Doing so can introduce distortions when applying the Old Testament to our lives." https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/old-covenant-response-andy-stanley/ Here are some Scriptures to consider in asking the question: Are we under the Old Testament? Consider these Scriptures, and then go read them in their wider context! Romans 6:14-15  14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace….15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! Romans 7:6 6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law. Ephesians 2:15 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations Galatians 3: 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 5: 5 Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace...vs 18  18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. And finally, and perhaps MOST importantly: Hebrews 7 11 If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well….18 So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable 19 (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. We will discuss some other more specific issues - like the Sabbath - at a later date.

In this episode, Robby and Chris discuss if we need the Old Testament when we have the New Testament. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: If we need to "unhitch" ourselves from the Old Testament. Why we need the Old Testament even if we are under the New Testament Covenant. Why we need to follow Jesus' model for disciple making. How Jesus calling the disciples to follow him was different than how it was done previously. Shareable Quotes (#MakingDisciplesPodcast): "The problem we have as westerners when we study the Old and New Testament is that we look at the New Testament as only a manual to follow." - @rgallaty "God didn't give us a manual to follow, but He sent a man." - @rgallaty "The Old Testament for Jesus was the only Testament." - @rgallaty Additional Resources: Discipleship Blueprint Training Digital Download Lifeway Leadership Podcast Network Ask Me Anything Podcast Discipleship Blueprint Live Help Us Grow the Podcast: Please subscribe Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts

Jesus & The Godhead, The Trinity! Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST); Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio,Blog, Books, Video, Pods, ****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule, but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word, Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth, Christ God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called Grace as He comes to live in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Spirit (Grace) into our hearts.! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Pods)

Supersessionism - The belief that the New Testament Covenant supersedes the Mosaic covenant of the Hebrew Bible, and that the Christian Church has displaced Israel as God's chosen people. In this dialogue held on April 25th, 2017 at Providence College, Rabbi David Novak (University of Toronto) and Fr. Thomas Joseph White OP( The Angelicum)engage in a thoughtful, and robust conversation about their respective traditions and theological convictions. Rabbi Novak and Fr. White, both respected scholars, provide an excellent example of what respectful and responsible ecumenical dialogue can look like in the modern wold.

Supersessionism - The belief that the New Testament Covenant supersedes the Mosaic covenant of the Hebrew Bible, and that the Christian Church has displaced Israel as God's chosen people. In this dialogue held on April 25th, 2017 at Providence College, Rabbi David Novak (University of Toronto) and Fr. Thomas Joseph White OP( The Angelicum)engage in a thoughtful, and robust conversation about their respective traditions and theological convictions. Rabbi Novak and Fr. White, both respected scholars, provide an excellent example of what respectful and responsible ecumenical dialogue can look like in the modern wold.

Welcome to "How to Speak Catholic," your podcasting source for the Joy of the Gospel through the Catholic Church.  Our goal is to share the joy of being Catholic, whether you're Catholic, or just curious about what the Catholic Church teaches, we're here to help.     Exodus - Journey toward Apocalypse, Part 1 of 3.  This is now available on the podcast, as well as our new YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgEdy5XmRP-sFB2OABpX9gA.    Join us for Episode 14 of the podcast.  In this episode, we find out that the Book of Exodus is more than just "The Ten Commandments" and freedom from slavery.  It's a template for the coming of Holy Week and the Messiah - grab your Bible and join us to (re)discover the Old Testament roots of the New Testament Covenant!  This is an audio presentation of the first of the 3-part series conducted at the Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk, NE, on the 10th of March 2017.   Also, please join us for the next episode, or better yet, the next talk (if you can make it) on the 24th of March 2017, when we tackle some of the questions that, surprisingly, have their answers in Exodus - What's a tabernacle?  Why do we bow/stand/sit when we do during mass?  Bring your Bible and join us for Part II of The Book of Exodus, as we explore the Old Testament origins of the Mass and the structure of the church (the building, as well as the organization).     Scripture References:   Matthew 6:9 Deuteronomy 5:11 Luke 1:28 Exodus 20:12 Luke 1:42 Isaiah 6:3 Luke 2:14 John 2:19 Matthew 28:19 CCC 1096 Exodus 34:28 Matthew 4:2 Exodus 24:15 Luke 9:28-36 Exodus 34:29 Luke 9:29 Exodus 7:20 John 2:3-11 Matthew 26:27-28 Exodus 14:21 John 6:16-21 Exodus 37 Revelation 11:19-12:1 Exodus 16:13-33 John 6:47-51 Exodus 16:13 John 6:51-58 Exodus 24:5-8 Matthew 26:27-28 Hebrews 9:4 Numbers 17 Exodus 16 Exodus 20:40 Joh 6:47-51 Hebrews 4 John 1 Exodus 1:22-2:10 Matthew 2:13-18 Exodus 2:3-10 Matthew 2:13-18 Genesis 1 Exodus 25:1; 30:11; 17; 22; 34; 31:1; 31:12 John 1:1, 29, 35, 43; 2:1 Exodus 2:15-21 John 4:6-30 Genesis 24:10-67 Genesis 29:1-14 John 2:1 Genesis 12:3 Exodus 3:12 Exodus 19:9-15 Exodus 24:15 Exodus 12:3-8, 13-14, 21-24, 26-27 Exodus 12:6 Exodus 8:25-26 Exodus 12:7 Exodus 12:8 Exodus 12:5, 46 Exodus 12:43-45

How do we live out singleness? Though it embodies the New Testament Covenant and serves great purpose in the church it is not easily lived out.  Challenges are many. Loneliness, sexual impurity and unhealthy identity are a few of the threats that plague the single. In this episode, we tackle these issues head on and see how the single has a unique opportunity to press toward Christ likeness.

One of the very few remaining covenants that we honor today is marriage. In this covenant we make promises to each other and mesh our identity with that of our spouse. The relationship God wants with you is of the same sort. God has made promises to you and offers us the opportunity to be identified with him in Christ. Greg continued this teaching on understanding and living in biblical covenant.

One of the very few remaining covenants that we honor today is marriage. In this covenant we make promises to each other and mesh our identity with that of our spouse. The relationship God wants with you is of the same sort. God has made promises to you and offers us the opportunity to be identified with him in Christ. Greg continued this teaching on understanding and living in biblical covenant.

One of the very few remaining covenants that we honor today is marriage. In this covenant we make promises to each other and mesh our identity with that of our spouse. The relationship God wants with you is of the same sort. God has made promises to you and offers us the opportunity to be identified with him in Christ. Greg continued this teaching on understanding and living in biblical covenant.

One of the very few remaining covenants that we honor today is marriage. In this covenant we make promises to each other and mesh our identity with that of our spouse. The relationship God wants with you is of the same sort. God has made promises to you and offers us the opportunity to be identified with him in Christ. Greg continued this teaching on understanding and living in biblical covenant.