Podcasts about niv isaiah

Something we've seen over the last few weeks is that this original audience badly misunderstands Jesus.Going back to Chapter 7, we saw it first with the brothers of Jesus and then we saw it with the crowd in Jerusalem — The Jewish people, led by the Pharisees, are incredibly lost when it comes to who Jesus is; they're walking in darkness — the metaphor that will come up soon in Chapter 9 is blindness.But that's what's happening in Chapter 8! — the people are spiritually blind.And … at the same time … Jesus is different.It is the people's own problem that they can't see Jesus, but Jesus is also unlike any person they've ever met before. And that's what I want us to focus on today.We've talked enough about the Pharisees — this morning I want to show you in this passage three ways that Jesus is different. It has to do with his judgment, his origin, and his mission. And this matters for us because these three differences will guide us in our worship of Jesus and our devotion to him. Let's pray:Father in heaven, thank you for your Word, and for this moment. As best as we can, by your Spirit's help, we surrender our hearts to his work. Speak to us, in Jesus's name, amen.Three ways Jesus is different …1. His judgment is not like ours.To start, remember last week in verse 12 Jesus said that he's the light of the world, but then the Pharisees ignore what he says and try to make the whole thing a legal dispute.They said that Jesus was out of bounds to bear witness about himself, but Jesus says that's not really the case because he never does anything by himself — that's not how he works. And just like that, this dialogue presents an opportunity for Jesus to explain how different he is.So in verse 15 he says,“You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.”Now wait a minute: How can Jesus say that? We know he judges. He's gonna say in verse 26 (just a few verses away) that he has “much to judge.” He said back in Chapter 5 that the Father has given him authority to execute judgment (5:27); And he describes his judgment as just and right and true (5:30; 7:24; 8:16). So what does he mean when he says “I judge no one”? According to the FleshWell, he means it in contrast to how people judge “according to the flesh” — Jesus is saying “I judge no one like that.” Remember, we've already seen that wrong judgment is a problem for the people.This goes back to Chapter 5 when the Jews didn't like it that Jesus healed that man on the Sabbath. And in Chapter 7, Jesus refers back to that incident and he tells the people You're seeing it all wrong. Chapter 7, verse 24 …“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”Judging by appearances (ch. 7), and judging according to the flesh (ch. 8), are basically the same thing. And that's the problem. This kind of judgment is judgment based on the limited perspective of fallible humans.So catch this. This human judgment has two things going against it: one is that the lens is limited; the other is that the eyes looking through the lens are fallible.I imagine this to be kind of like those mounted binoculars you find on a fishing pier. (Y'all have seen these before, either on piers at the ocean or somewhere else that has a scenic view.) You pop a quarter in and you can look through these binoculars, but they're limited. You're constricted in how far you can turn the thing. And you can see a part of the ocean, but not the whole ocean, and then the time runs out.Well, judgment according to the flesh is like that, except also the person looking through the binoculars is legally blind (we're all like Mr. Magoo…).This is judgment according to the flesh — it's limited and fallible — and the twist here is that Jesus is not addressing this problem of judgment because of how people treat other people, but this has to do with how they see him.It's About JesusI want to make sure you catch this …There are moral implications when it comes to human judgment and how we treat one another, but that is not Jesus's first concern here.The bigger problem with broken human judgment is that it's what's keeping people from recognizing who Jesus is!We see this problem all throughout the Gospel of John:“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (1:46)“Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (6:42)“How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” (7:15)“Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” (7:41)See, the people were spiritually blind to Jesus. Blindness TodayAnd it's not just a problem with this original audience, but this has been a problem throughout history. This is part of the Christian story — because, according to the flesh, the Christian message is not very impressive.We believe that the Savior of the world is a Jewish peasant who had a three-year teaching ministry in First Century Palestine until the Roman governor had him brutally murdered. No wonder why that at the time that John wrote this Gospel people called this silly! According to the flesh it is silly… by human appearances it's foolishness. But this just means that the only way we can recognize Jesus is if we start seeing beyond what's natural to us.John tells us from the start: We must be born again — not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).To see Jesus we have to start seeing the way he sees. His judgment is not like ours.2. His origin is not from here. We're going to pick this up in verse 23. But in verse 21, Jesus has acted as a prophet and pronounced a coming judgment, and the Jews are baffled by this. They mock Jesus in verse 22. Then, verse 23: He [Jesus] said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”See how plainly he puts this? Jesus is saying I'm different.He's saying to this crowd: We are from and of different realms of reality — just wait and see what he says next week!Setting the SceneBut then Jesus says something here in verse 24 that gets their attention. He sobers ‘em up real quick, and it comes through in their question in verse 25.Everybody find verse 25. Y'all are gonna want to see this one. Verse 25. Chapter 8, verse 25:So they said to him, “Who are you?”Now, I want to back up for a minute and set this scene for you. I'm gonna describe how this might have looked (I need a little poetic license) …Verse 21 opens: Jesus is talking to a small crowd, and you gotta imagine they're basically heckling him. It's one of those group-think moments when people bond over their shared criticism. Y'all ever see that before?You can picture it — they're twisting his words and making their jokes. That's verse 22 — they say: Hey, what's this guy gonna do, kill himself? And the crowd busts out laughing, and as the laughter's dying down, Jesus says something that makes them instantly shut up and get serious. It's like the music just goes errrr — silence. And they say: “Who are you?”That's the scene.So I wanna know: What did Jesus say in verse 24 to cause that question? Let's look at verse 24:“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”What part of these words stopped the crowd in their tracks? Face-to-Face with I AMNow, it could have been that Jesus told them they're gonna die in their sins. That's pretty serious, but it's not new. Jesus said that in verse 21, and he says it twice here. I think the bombshell in verse 24 is when Jesus says “unless you believe that I am he … you will die in your sins…”That's because the words here, “I am he,” in the Greek, is the ἐγώ εἰμι — which literally translates as I AM.And this crowd has heard those words before. They know about the I AM. They know the Book of Exodus, and the story of the burning bush. They've heard the Book of Isaiah, when God speaks and says:Isaiah 41:4,“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am.” Isaiah 43:13,“… from ancient days I am; No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (NIV)Isaiah 43:25,“I am, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 48:12,“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am! I am the first, and I am the last.”These people knew Who said these words in the Book of Isaiah. And here Jesus is saying unless you believe I am the I AM, you'll die in your sins. And they're floored. They take a big gulp, and they say:For real, who are you?And Jesus says: I've been trying to telling you. It's what I've been saying from the beginning.The Big BeginningAnd this first audience hears Jesus say “beginning” and they think he's talking about when their conversation started, but we as the readers, we see that word “beginning” and we think back to John 1:1, to how this Gospel started:“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”He was in the beginning with God.This is what Jesus meant in verse 23 when he said I am from above and I am not from this world. Jesus's origin is not like ours because he had no origin, not as the eternally begotten Son of God. He has always been … Ultimate Reality, the Great First Cause, the Unmoved Mover. He is from everlasting to everlasting … Of old he laid the foundations of the world, and the heavens are the work of his hands! They will perish, but he will remain! They will all wear out like a garment, he will change them like a robe and they will pass away! But he is the same and his years have no end! (see Psalm 102:25–27; Hebrews 1:10–12).Church, Jesus is different — if you can see him. Jesus is different. His origin is not from here.3. His mission is not by himself. This is verse 28: So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. There will come a moment when Jesus's identity as the I AM will be most manifest, and ironically, it'll be a moment that these unbelievers bring about. It'll be when they lift him up. To Be Lifted UpIn the Gospel of John, when Jesus talks this way, he's talking about the cross. To “be lifted up” has a double meaning — it's another example of the layers in John — Jesus will be “lifted up” literally on the cross, to die — And he'll also be lifted up as in he's exalted and glorified in the cross event which culminates in resurrection.Both are in view.And when Jesus is lifted up, literally, on the cross, that's a moment that by appearances — according to the flesh — it looks like the worst kind of defeat. He was crucified! But that was actually the moment when the I AM blots out the transgressions of his people! So, what is most atrocious to human eyes is the greatest divine miracle ever displayed. That is the mission of Jesus. That's why he came. And he came, Jesus tells us, in collaboration with his Father. Collaborating with the FatherThat's what he says in verse 28. His mission is not a solo endeavor, but the Father is involved. Jesus has talked this way before: John 4:34,“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”John 5:19,“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”John 6:38,“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”So Jesus didn't come on a self-directed mission — he was not sent by himself — And he also didn't come by himself. Look at verse 29: “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now, in what way is the Father with Jesus? How has the Father not left Jesus alone?Theologically, the right answer is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is how the Father was with Jesus in his earthly ministry. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and he is the bond of love between them. But in verse 29, Jesus doesn't give us those theological details. He just tells us why the Father is with him. He says it's because“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now in one sense, we could say that Jesus is just stressing again the unity he has with his Father, and that's true. But in another sense, if we're taking Jesus at his word, in verse 29 he grounds the “with-me-ness of God” in what he does. He's saying: I enjoy the blessing of the Father's nearness because of what I do.The Father is with me because I do what's pleasing to him!‘Don't Try This at Home'And this is one of those things that should come with a warning: “Don't try this at home.”Because we can't talk that way. I don't recommend it. That's because one of the facts of our fallen humanity is that we often to confuse the proper placement of our doing. And the simple name for this is called “works-righteousness.”But Chip Dodd calls this confusion the DO-HAVE-BECOME mindset.Many people live their life this way. They think: “If I only could DO (x) then I could HAVE (y), and finally BECOME (z).” Get it? DO … HAVE … BECOME. Look, I'll go ahead and tell you: that's a mess in the making. It will burn you out. Because all you can do in that mindset is keep chasing, always looking for that next milestone, that next thing just above the horizon. This is the path of so many people, and it just leaves you weary and empty.The right order, though, is not “Do-Have-Become” — but “Be-Have-Do!”“Because I AM (z) then I HAVE (y), and therefore I DO (x).”That's the Christian life:Because I AM (a child of God) then I HAVE (every spiritual blessing in Christ) and therefore I DO (a life of love and witness for his glory).We must constantly be reordering our lives this way. We often get it wrong. But we should realize that Jesus is different. Because Jesus was/is the perfect man … This means Jesus lived here with absolutely perfect harmony in his being, having, and doing. Theologians have talked about this as the harmony of his person and work. His Glorious CongruenceSee, Jesus never needed to reorder anything here because he never had a hiccup between who he is and what he does. Part of his holiness was his wholeness.He is the truth and he speaks the truth. He is light and he shines light. He is life and he gives life.This is glorious congruence! Everything that Jesus ever DID was impeccably aligned with his BEING as the Beloved Son of God with whom the Father is well-pleased.He was so aligned, so congruent — his activity was so perfectly an expression of his identity — that doesn't talk of one without including the other.That's why he can say I always DO the things that are pleasing to my Father and that's why he's with me. His mission was not by himself, and here, church, is glory!Behold Him!This is a closeness of relationship with the Father and a congruence of person that we can barely fathom, but certainly adore.Back in 1738, the pastor-theologian Jonathan Edwards meditated on the person of Jesus and focused on the union of his “diverse excellencies” — Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb; he is majestic and meek, just and merciful … Edwards said,“In him meet together infinite highness and infinite condescension; infinite justice and infinite grace; infinite glory and lowest humility.”And for this, he is worthy of our adoration. … And I want to add … Just like we adore Jesus for the “admirable conjunctions of his diverse excellencies,” we adore him for the simple harmony of his person and work. Who he is is how he lived.In the most profound way, What you see is what you get — if you can truly see. So that's where we end. Can you see him yet? Do you recognize who Jesus is?If you see him, you trust him. You put your faith in him, and maybe that's something you want to do today for the first time. You can do it right now — tell him: Jesus, I see you, I trust you. And for so many of us who have seen him, don't you want to see him more? Jesus is different … in his judgment, his origin, and his mission — and we just want to see more of him! More of his glory! We wanna behold him!That's the invitation now as we come to this Table. The TableFor all of us who trust in Jesus, if you see him, let's see him anew this morning as we receive the bread and cup. We are remembering Jesus's person and work, and together, church, we behold him.

Is it possible to be better off blind? Continuing our sermon season, "Messages That Marked Us," Pastor Jon Chasteen brings a word that reminds us that faith can be challenging but worth it when we let the Lord lead. We pray this message would stretch your faith and shift your mindset on what it takes to trust in God!   Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (NKJV) Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Isaiah 42:16 (AMP)   Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/    Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/   Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/   Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok   Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM   Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919  

John 4:24 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NIV) Isaiah 52:11 (NIV) Ezekiel 20:11 (NIV) John 17:14 (NIV)

This week Special Guest Minister Shaleem Manno talks about the strength of the father in our lives!   You can now see on our Youtube Channel by following this link: Our Father Our Strength (Our Father Pt. 3)   Important Points: God's Pruning Addictions Sin Vain Imaginations Worldly Pursuits Unbelief Distractions Fear   Important Scriptures (NLT version unless stated otherwise):   Isaiah 40:28-31 (AMP) Romans 8:19-22 (NIV) Isaiah 36:4-5 (AMP) Isaiah 37:3 (AMP) Nehemiah 4:10 (AMP) Nehemiah 4:17-18 (AMP)

*This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners. This week, we’re diving into something truly transformative—the power of love to change everything. First, we hear from Father Richard Rohr, who shares his lifetime of wisdom about how experiencing deep, unconditional love—not rules or fear—is what really brings about meaningful change. Then, Pastor Zach Meerkreebs takes us to Asbury University, where a truly extraordinary event happened in that faith community. He reminds us that following Jesus’ example of humility can open our lives up to amazing possibilities. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: The Power of Love Upcoming interview: Emily Compango Jesus Calling for Moms Jesus Calling for Graduates Father Richard Rohr Franciscans Center For Action and Contemplation Hosea 2 NIV Isaiah 40-55 NIV Lamentations Ephesians 4:26 NIV Day of Grief 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV “For When People Ask” by Rosemary Watola Trommer www.CAC.org The Tears of Things Pastor Zach Meerkreebs Asbury University Romans 12:9-21 NIV Matthew 11:28-30 NIV Luke 14 NIV Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility Interview Quotes: “‘Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,’ the New Testament says. But that doesn’t say, ‘Don’t be angry.’ Right now there is so much that deserves anger—the wars in our world, how we treat the very ones Jesus told us to love, the little ones, the rejected ones. That comes from an excess of anger and a deficiency of sadness.” - Fr. Richard Rohr “An experience of infinite, unconditional love—that’s the only thing that changes us.” - Fr. Richard Rohr “We can’t authentically love one another without experiencing the authentic love of Jesus first.” - Zach Meerkreebs “Within a couple of days, it had been spread around the world that God was moving on the campus [of Asbury University], and we started having guests from South America and the Middle East and Asia to come and encounter God at our chapel service.” - Zach Meerkreebs “Humility really is a foundation in what’s countercultural, captivating, convicting and compelling of the Christian walk.” - Zach Meerkreebs “If you read Scripture and you study the person of Jesus, humility is the most captivating thing about Him.” - Zach Meerkreebs “Because I understand who I am and I understand who God is, that drives me to pray. I want to spend time with Him, because I know my life is better when I spend time with Him and when I listen to His voice.” - Zach Meerkreebs _______________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)Psalms 37:7 (NIV)Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)Psalms 46:10 (NIV)

Are we there yet? Whether it's a long road trip or waiting for God's promises, the journey can seem long and tiresome. Pastor Joey shares a powerful message about that journey and provides wisdom from scripture along the way.Scriptures referenced in this message:· Hebrews 6:10-12 (NIV)· Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)· Genesis 37:5-8 (NIV)· Psalms 37:4 (NKJV)· Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)· Genesis 37:23-28 (NIV)· Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)· Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)· 1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)· Exodus 14:14 (NIV)· Genesis 39:2 (NIV)· Genesis 39:21 (NIV)· Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)· Genesis 42:5-6 (NIV)· Genesis 50:20 (NIV)Learn more about salvation, info about Destiny Church, or how to give by visiting our website.Real | Relevant | Relationship

Pastor Jon Chasteen delivers Victory Church's annual "State of the Church Address." In this address, he covers the internal systems of Victory Church in an open, transparent way. Delving into financial details as well as the steps of accountability within leadership, Pastor Jon walks us through where Victory has been, where we are, and we're we're going. We hope that this message would encourage you as a member of the body of Christ!   Scripture references: 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) Isaiah 42:16 (NIV) Genesis 12:1-2 (NIV) Hebrews 11:8-10 (NIV) 1 Kings 18:41-46   Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/   Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/   Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/   Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok   Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM   Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4:8-11Quinton liked to run, but he was never as fast as his big brothers. He enjoyed painting but never did as well as his older sister, so he didn't do it often. It seemed like everything Quinton did, they could do better than him.One day, he expressed his feelings to his grandma as he helped her unload groceries from her car."There are a lot of things you're good at," Grandma said, handing him a bag to carry inside.Quinton sighed. "But they're better than me." Grandma shook her head as she led him into the house. "Not at everything. God has given you special talents too.""Like what?" Quinton asked."You're pretty good when we play board games," Grandma said. "And I love to read the stories you write."Quinton stuck a few cans into the pantry. "I wish I could be fast like my brothers though.""Maybe you will be when you're a little older," Grandma said. "But even if you never are, that's okay too. God gives each of us unique talents. It would be boring if we were all the same."Quinton thought about it. "Yeah, I guess it would be.""When I was young, I wanted to be an actress like my sister. She was in plays at school and I thought she was so cool. But if I had tried out for the play and made it, then I wouldn't have done cheerleading, and that became something I loved doing that helped me make lasting friendships." Grandma put her arm around Quinton's shoulders. "God made us all unique and gives each of us different talents. But sometimes we get so caught up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget why God gave us our talents in the first place--so we could use them to help others see that we belong to Jesus and show them His love." She kissed his head. "God is happy with you just the way you are, Quinton, and so am I.""Thanks, Grandma." Quinton hugged her. "If you really like my stories, I can write more of them for you instead of worrying about beating my brothers in a race."His grandma smiled. "I do, and I would love that."–Bethany AckerHow About You?What are some of your special talents? Are you thankful for the way God made you--or are you too busy comparing yourself to your siblings, friends, and everybody else? God made each of us unique so that we could reflect His goodness and love in our own special way. Instead of wishing you could be like somebody else, focus on your own talents and trust God to help you use them to point others to Him.Today's Key Verse:Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:8)Today's Key Thought:God made us all unique

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4:8-11Quinton liked to run, but he was never as fast as his big brothers. He enjoyed painting but never did as well as his older sister, so he didn't do it often. It seemed like everything Quinton did, they could do better than him.One day, he expressed his feelings to his grandma as he helped her unload groceries from her car."There are a lot of things you're good at," Grandma said, handing him a bag to carry inside.Quinton sighed. "But they're better than me." Grandma shook her head as she led him into the house. "Not at everything. God has given you special talents too.""Like what?" Quinton asked."You're pretty good when we play board games," Grandma said. "And I love to read the stories you write."Quinton stuck a few cans into the pantry. "I wish I could be fast like my brothers though.""Maybe you will be when you're a little older," Grandma said. "But even if you never are, that's okay too. God gives each of us unique talents. It would be boring if we were all the same."Quinton thought about it. "Yeah, I guess it would be.""When I was young, I wanted to be an actress like my sister. She was in plays at school and I thought she was so cool. But if I had tried out for the play and made it, then I wouldn't have done cheerleading, and that became something I loved doing that helped me make lasting friendships." Grandma put her arm around Quinton's shoulders. "God made us all unique and gives each of us different talents. But sometimes we get so caught up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget why God gave us our talents in the first place--so we could use them to help others see that we belong to Jesus and show them His love." She kissed his head. "God is happy with you just the way you are, Quinton, and so am I.""Thanks, Grandma." Quinton hugged her. "If you really like my stories, I can write more of them for you instead of worrying about beating my brothers in a race."His grandma smiled. "I do, and I would love that."–Bethany AckerHow About You?What are some of your special talents? Are you thankful for the way God made you--or are you too busy comparing yourself to your siblings, friends, and everybody else? God made each of us unique so that we could reflect His goodness and love in our own special way. Instead of wishing you could be like somebody else, focus on your own talents and trust God to help you use them to point others to Him.Today's Key Verse:Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:8)Today's Key Thought:God made us all unique

Pastor Carlos HuertasHave you heard that appearances can be deceiving? The story I bring you today is about a young man who was once again looked down upon, even by his own family. The army of Israel was ready for battle against the Philistines. They had formed ranks, and suddenly, their best weapon appeared: a very strong giant who was also very well protected. In addition to his weapons, he began to insult the army of Israel.1 Samuel 17:8-11 (NIV)- The Israelites were shocked and afraid. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt shocked and afraid? How did it go for you? It amazes me that the army prepares, for battle, but this giant makes them feel fear. Many people live in this way, full of fear, afraid of what will happen. Addictions are often the result of fears or anxieties. Infidelities are the result of insecurity. Divorces are often the result of a lack of commitment from people. We are dismayed and fearful, even within the church.1 Samuel 17:12-15 (NIV)- David was the youngest son in the family, the one who had to take care of the family's sheep. Even to his own family, he didn't seem very important. But David had found favor in the eyes of God. God Himself says to the prophet, referring to David, "I have found a man after My own heart."1 Samuel 17:22-23 (NIV)- This stirred something in David because he couldn't understand why his people were so afraid and in such a condition before this giant. He heard that whoever defeated the giant would receive a series of rewards from the king. His brothers got angry with him, but David went and spoke to the king.1 Samuel 17:32-33 (NIV)- David was neither a soldier nor a warrior; he was a shepherd. David knew that while he was in the fields, caring for his father's sheep, God was with him and gave him strength to fight against bears and lions. David had already experienced these situations. He knew that the battle wasn't his; it was God who was with him and fought for him.1 Samuel 17:40-45 (NIV)- David defeated Goliath by throwing his first stone, just with a stone.Isaiah 28:16 (NIV)- Isaiah talked about Christ Jesus, who would be the foundation for the church and all those who believe in Him. He gave himself as a sacrifice for us. Christ died for us when we fell short of God's glory. David defeated Goliath with a stone, and Christ is that rock on which our faith is built.Psalms 18:2 (NIV)- The Bible records that David had to fight with other giants. There were giants he could not defeat alone, and other people at his side beat them for him. This gives us an understanding of the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who help us fight.There are people here whose first step is to invite and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Today, some people are fighting personal battles and have tried to fight on their strength. Today, you must rest and believe Jesus has already won the war.

God has freely given us the blessing to walk in, but do we know what that truly means? There are so many things included in the blessing from God including protection, a great life, favor, and so many other things. But, we need to learn how to walk out into this blessing each and every day, and that is exactly what this series from Pastor Chris Sarno is all about. This series is specifically designed to unlock the spiritual truths you need to learn about accessing the blessing! Welcome to Relevant Church Live, the online campus of Relevant Church located in Daytona Beach, Florida. We pray that through this service you find your place, reveal your purpose, and unlock your potential! We pray this message blesses you and gives you the strength you need to do and be all that God has called you to do and be! Leave a comment below letting us know how this message impacted you today, we'd love to chat with you! #RelevantChurch #TheBlessing #Blessed #PastorChrisSarno #OnlineChurch #RelevantChurchDaytonaBeach #Church #ChurchOnline #RelevantChurchFlorida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Give: Text to Give: Text your amount to 386-968-1103 Online Giving: Visit our website http://www.relevantfl.org/giving to give via debit, credit, or ACH Mail It In: Send gift Via USPS to 920 Beville Rd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @RelevantChurch Relevant Church Website: https://www.relevantfl.org/ Relevant Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevant_fl/ Relevant Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelevantFL Relevant Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relevant_fl?_t=8mNFjdYMYoh&_r=1 Relevant Church App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1615804850?fbclid=IwAR3aHqo_6kr8Tzd_JK6xihjfJkVk6j7-iqITDj1u1wFicDLn6g6C29gL3LY Rkidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkidzfl Relevant Youth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantflyouth/ Relevant Church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nUtPIkecEehfstUWWPIVU?si=QBMEtu85SyuU3FxRM1X7lg&nd=1 Pastor Chris Sarno's Website: https://www.chrissarno.tv/ Chris Sarno App: http://www.chrissarno.tv/app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture References: Malachi 3:10 (NIV) Ephesians 2:8-10 (TPT) Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) John 14:13-14 (NIV) Philippians 4:19 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) Psalms 91:10-11 (NIV) Isaiah 54:17 (NIV) Revelations 3:8 (NIV) 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NIV) John 15:11 (NIV) Philippians 4:4-7 (TPT) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, September 22nd 2024 Pastor Chris Sarno Relevant Church What To Expect In The Blessing | The Blessing | Pastor Chris Sarno The Blessing | Week 3 | September 22nd, 2024 | Pastor Chris Sarno | Relevant Church

Credo | Week 5 | Preparing for Revival | Pastor Don Ross | Life Center Tacoma Isaiah 43:16-21 (NIV) Big Idea: We can awaken a hunger for the reality of God. 1. The Great Awakening, 1734-1743. “It pleased God to display his free and sovereign mercy in the conversion of a great multitude of souls in a short space of time, turning them from a formal, cold and careless profession of Christianity, to the lively exercise of every Christian grace, and the powerful practice of our holy religion.” -Jonathan Edwards 2. The Second Great Awakening, 1800-1840. 3. The Businessmen's Revival, 1857-1858. 4. The Civil War Revival, 1861-1865. 5. The Urban Revivals, 1875-1885. 6. The Revivals of 1905-1906. 7. The Azusa Street Revival, 1906. [Picture of Vereide half slide] 8. The Post-World War II Awakening. 9. The Charismatic Renewal and Jesus Movement. 10. The Mid-1990s Revivals. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) Isaiah 43:20-21 (NIV) Matthew 5:6 (NIV) 10 Characteristics of Spiritual Revival 1. Timing 2. Prayer 3. The Word 4. The Holy Spirit 5. Conviction 6. Glory for God 7. Reformation and Renewal 8. Manifestations 9. Messy 10. Cyclical Today, Christianity is PREVALENT but NOT POWERFUL. The solution is spiritual revival and awakening. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) [Picture of Finney half slide] 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) Questions for you... -Are you willing to humble yourself and pray? -Are there wicked ways you need to turn from? -Is there a sin you need to be forgiven? -Are you willing to hunger and thirst after righteousness?

What is Church? They are people who share, who are your companions, and your community. Diving into the Greek definitions of fellowship found throughout Scripture, Pastor Jon brings a powerful and timely message to kick off our new sermon season, "Church-ianity" with biblical and practical application. We pray that this message inspires you and motivates you in your walk with Christ and His Church! Scripture references: Mark 7:1-9 (NIV) Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)   Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/   Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/   Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer   Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/   Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok   Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM   Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919

Proverbs 6:6-9Haggai 1: 5-7 (NIV)Psalm 32:5 (NIV)Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)Psalm 51: 12 (NIV)Exodus 18 (NIV)Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)Psalm 13:5-6 (NIV)

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41:10-13Kelly fought hard to hold in the tears all day at school. When her mom picked her up afterward, they started leaking down her face.Mom touched her arm. "What's wrong, honey?""Everything," Kelly said."You'll adjust to your new school eventually," Mom said, leaning over to give her a hug. "It was just the first day."The worst first day ever, Kelly thought. She turned toward the window as she relived the past several hours, the tears continuing to flow. First, she'd nearly missed her first class because she couldn't find the room. Then she'd spilled the contents of her backpack and had to pick up her things while everyone watched and laughed at her. Then there was lunch--"You can talk to me." Mom's gentle voice broke her train of thoughts. "What happened?""Lunch was a mess," Kelly said. "I couldn't even find a table to sit at, so I just ended up eating in the corner by myself."Mom frowned. "I'm sorry, Kelly."Kelly sighed. "What if I never fit in?""You will." Mom squeezed her hand. "Did you pray and feel God with you today?"Kelly shook her head slowly, realizing she hadn't."God is always with you," Mom said. "Even when it feels like you're all alone, Jesus is there with you, offering you His peace and comfort. He understands what it's like not to fit in, and He'll help you through the hard days at your new school. He helped me through some hard days at my new job.""He did?" Kelly turned to her.Mom nodded. "I was struggling to find my place there. It's always hard when you don't know anyone yet. Plus, I couldn't even figure out the coffee maker!""Really?" Kelly knew how much her mom loved coffee."I prayed about everything, and today a nice older woman helped me figure out the coffee. I think I made a friend too." Mom smiled. "God will be with you and help you, honey. Don't give up on your new school yet.""I won't." Kelly took in a breath and wiped away her tears. "I'll pray about it and try again tomorrow."–Bethany AckerHow About You?Have you ever gone to a new school or struggled to make new friends? Did you ask God to be with you and help you through that difficult time? Jesus gave His life for you, and He cares about what you're going through and promises to be with you. Trust Him to help you through all the difficult things you face and give you His comfort and peace.Today's Key Verse:I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (NIV) (Isaiah 41:13)Today's Key Thought:God is with you

Words are a very powerful thing. Like the bible says, a tiny rudder steers the largest ships, so do your words steer your body the way it goes. This isn't just another silly term that the world created, it is actually biblical. So it is very important to speaking the right words, God filled, faith driven, powerful words that will steer your life the way you want it to go. Exactly that is what this brand new series from Pastor Chris Sarno is all about! Welcome to Relevant Church Live, the online campus of Relevant Church located in Daytona Beach, Florida. We pray that through this service you find your place, reveal your purpose, and unlock your potential! We pray this message blesses you and gives you the strength you need to do and be all that God has called you to do and be! Leave a comment below letting us know how this message impacted you today, we'd love to chat with you! #RelevantChurch #ThePowerOfWords #Words #PastorChrisSarno #OnlineChurch #RelevantChurchDaytonaBeach #Church #ChurchOnline #RelevantChurchFlorida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Give: Text to Give: Text your amount to 386-968-1103 Online Giving: Visit our website http://www.relevantfl.org/giving to give via debit, credit, or ACH Cash App: $RelevantFL (Please put your name & gift type in the notes) Mail It In: Send gift Via USPS to 920 Beville Rd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @RelevantChurch Relevant Church Website: https://www.relevantfl.org/ Relevant Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevant_fl/ Relevant Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelevantFL Relevant Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relevant_fl?_t=8mNFjdYMYoh&_r=1 Relevant Church App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1615804850?fbclid=IwAR3aHqo_6kr8Tzd_JK6xihjfJkVk6j7-iqITDj1u1wFicDLn6g6C29gL3LY Rkidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkidzfl Relevant Youth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantflyouth/ Relevant Church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nUtPIkecEehfstUWWPIVU?si=QBMEtu85SyuU3FxRM1X7lg&nd=1 Pastor Chris Sarno's Website: https://www.chrissarno.tv/ Chris Sarno App: http://www.chrissarno.tv/app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture References: Galatians 3:13-14 (KJV) Jonah 1:2 (NIV) Isaiah 55:8-11 (KJV) Jeremiah 28:14 (MSG) 1 Timothy 2:8 (TPT) Psalms 33:11 (TPT) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 4th 2024 Pastor Chris Sarno Relevant Church One Word From God | The Power Of Words | Pastor Chris Sarno The Power Of Words | Week 1 | August 4th, 2024 | Pastor Chris Sarno | Relevant Church

How can we partner with God when He wants to work little by little? By shifting our focus, knowing our job, and going at His pace. As we celebrate 30 years of Victory Church, Pastor Jon Chasteen begins a new sermon season, "Live, Move, Be," with a powerful word on God's timing. We pray this message is uplifting and encouraging in times when it's a struggle to match pace with the Lord! Scripture references: Revelation 1:8 (NIV) Exodus 23:23-30 (NIV) Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)   Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/   Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/   Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer   Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/   Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok   Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM   Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919

Bible Reading: Matthew 18:12-14Rain pelted against Jack's face as he tried to ride his bike. Three more blocks and he would be home. However, it seemed like he wasn't getting anywhere with the wind pressing against him. He peddled hard but wasn't moving fast.It's even hard to see, Jack thought and finally pulled to the side of the road. There was a big tree on the corner of the street, and he parked his bike under it so he'd be out of the rain.Jack shivered as he stood there, his T-shirt and jeans soaked. If only he had taken his friend's mom's offer of a ride home instead of biking back.Jack took a seat on the damp grass and leaned back against the tree. How long is the rain going to last? he thought. What if it keeps raining like this all night? "God, please help me," Jack whispered.He had been sitting there for a while when headlights came down the road. A vehicle pulled to the curb, and Jack's eyes filled with tears of relief when he saw his dad climb out."Jack!" His dad ran to him through the rain.Jack hugged him. "You came for me!""Of course I did," Dad said. "Your friend's mom called when it started raining. We were worried about you.""Thanks for finding me, Dad.""Anytime." Dad smiled at him. "I would leave the ninety-nine for you, you know."Jack's brow wrinkled for a moment, but then he got it. "You mean, like in the Bible?"Dad nodded as he wheeled the bike to his truck. "Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who left ninety-nine sheep to find the one who was lost. That's how He loves us as our Good Shepherd--when we were lost in the darkness of sin, He came to find us. And it's also the way I love you. I will always come to help you, and Jesus will always be there for you whenever you feel lost or alone.""I prayed when I was alone," Jack said. "Then God sent you."Dad smiled. "See? God was with you. He knew you were in trouble and He helped you."Jack climbed into the warm van and returned his dad's smile. "I'm glad you and God care about me." –Bethany AckerHow About You?Have you ever felt lost, alone, and afraid? Did you cry out to God and ask Him to help you? Jesus tells us that He is our Good Shepherd who came to find us and help us when we were lost and alone, and He promises to always be with us. Trust Him to take care of you, and thank Him for parents and other adults in your life who show you His love and care by always looking out for you too.Today's Key Verse:So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 41:10 )Today's Key Thought:God will always help you

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31Julie loved watching the birds with her grannie. There were so many colorful species to see, and her grannie knew the names of them all. "It would be fun to fly," Julie said as she watched a bright red cardinal take off from the bird feeder. "Can you imagine soaring into the sky like a bird?"Grannie smiled. "It would be fun just to see what it's like, wouldn't it?""I wonder why God made birds fly and we just have to be boring and walk."Grannie chuckled. "He must have His reasons."Julie watched another bird take off and fly through the sky, and she put her arms out like wings."You know, the Bible does mention something about us flying," Grannie said.Julie glanced at her. "It does?""In Isaiah, it says that those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings as if they were eagles," Grannie said.Julie's eyes widened. "Does it really?""Yes." Grannie smiled. "But I don't think it's meant to be taken literally--it's not saying we'll physically fly. I think it means that when we put our trust in God, it will feel like we're flying because of the strength, hope, and joy He gives us."Julie turned toward the window again as a beautiful orange oriole landed on the feeder. She would love to fly like a bird, but she was glad God had made her a human.A few days later, Julie and Grannie took a walk to look for birds. They saw many beautiful species fly about before her grannie pointed excitedly toward the sky."Look, an eagle!" Grannie said.Julie's eyes widened as she watched the huge bird soar gracefully through the sky. "Wow. That's what God can help us be like?"Grannie nodded. "Because we trust in Jesus, we can soar like that strong eagle. Jesus gives us strength to face life's difficulties, and one day, when He returns, He will give us new bodies that will never grow tired or weary.""Wow," Julie said again. It was fun to see how much larger and more majestic the eagle looked than the other birds, and it was amazing to know that God could make her soar just like it. –Bethany AckerHow About You?Have you ever seen an eagle fly? The Bible says those who trust in the Lord are like powerful eagles that can fly through the air without growing weary. Whenever we feel tired or weak, we can look to Jesus for strength and remember the hope of eternal life we have in Him. Trust Him to give you strength, hope, and joy so that you can soar like an eagle. Today's Key Verse:But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV) (Isaiah 40:31)Today's Key Thought:God makes you soar

At church today we embark on a journey to uncover the rich, multifaceted nature of peace as presented in the Scriptures, and we're going to do that by: * examining its various manifestations in the Old and New Testament * exploring three of its dimensions, namely relational, societal and personal * and confronting the challenge of a lived experiential peace in our daily lives Bible References:

You will spread out to the right and to the left (NIV) Isaiah 54 : 3

"Fighting Words"5 Ways to Use Your Words Like a WarriorGuest Pastor Doug ReedDecember 31, 2023SERMON NOTES:Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)The REAL BATTLES of this WORLD are being waged (won or lost) in the REALM of WORDS.John 1:1-5 (NIV)Proverbs 18:21 (AMP)James 3:2 (NIV)James 3:3-5a (NIV)WORDS are the GUIDANCE SYSTEM of your LIFE. If you don't like where you're GOING… change the way you're SPEAKING!Job 1:20 (ESV)Job 1:22 (MSG)Job 2:10 (NKJV)5 WAYS TO USE YOUR WORDS LIKE A WARRIOR:#1 - SPEAK IN FAITHANYONE can repeat what THEY ARE SEEING. PEOPLE of FAITH repeat what GOD IS SAYING.#2 - SPEAK LIFE OVER YOURSELF AND OTHERSEphesians 4:29 (AMP)#3 - CONTROL YOUR SPEECH AS YOU WOULD A DEADLY WEAPONJames 3:5-6 (MSG)Proverbs 26:18-19 (NLT)#4 - USE WORDS TO MONITOR THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEARTLuke 6:45b (NKJV)Matthew 12:34b (NLT)WORDS are a THERMOMETER that indicates your spiritual CONDITION.Matthew 15:18 (NLT)BASIC TRUTH:You THINK a WORD before you SPEAK a WORD.Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)#5 - REPEAT WHAT THE SPIRIT REVEALS (PROPHESY)1 Corinthians 2:13b (NLT)PROPHESY is simply SPIRIT-LED APPLICATION of the WORD.Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)Isaiah 6:6-7 (NIV)Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)Psalm 19:14 (NLT)Oasis Church exists to help people see Jesus more clearly.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion (NIV) Isaiah 61 : 7

I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places (NIV) Isaiah 45 : 2,3

“Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ People create many plans for themselves throughout life. However, these plans will only come to past if it's in God's Will and if it's part of his plan for you. Trusting God's plan can be difficult when there is so much unknown. ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us to put our complete trust in God because his ways and plans are always better than our own and to trust that everything included in His plan is for a greater good. At first, it can be hard to understand the reason why certain things happen to us, both good and bad. But in those moments, remember this: there's a reason for everything. As said in the Bible, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” – Ecclesiastes 3:1. It might not always be our own plans that are being fulfilled; however, God's plans for you will always be fulfilled.

Katherine reflects on a recent reunion with childhood friends that brought into striking relief the gap between the expectations they had for their lives, and the reality of the lives they are actually living. She walked away from the experience convinced we must expect more of God and less of the world. But how exactly can we do that? Katherine tells us how she's doing it. ----- Treasures in the Dark: 90 Reflections on Finding Bright Hope Hidden in the Hurting will be  available April 9, 2024. Pre-order today. Camp Desoto for Girls Hope Heals Camp ------- Scriptures Referenced: John 16:33 - “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV) Isaiah 43:2 - “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (NIV) Isaiah 45:3 - “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (NIV) Want some hope in your inbox? Sign up for our semi-monthly Hope Note for a little dose of hope and encouragement along the way. Learn more about us here: Hope Heals Hope Heals Camp Mend Coffee Find us on Instagram

I will not forget you! (NIV) Isaiah 49 : 15

Bible Reading: Psalm 143:8-10; John 14:23-26"Rerouting…rerouting…"Landen heard his dad's GPS talking in a lady's voice. "What does rerouting mean?" he asked."It means to change direction. We need to stop by the grocery store on the way to Aunt Cyndi's party, so I went a different direction than the one my GPS recommended. Now the GPS is rerouting, figuring out a new way to get to the party.""Is that a bad thing? The lady sounded mad."Dad chuckled. "She doesn't get mad, Landen. She's a machine. But, to answer your question, rerouting isn't necessarily bad. It certainly wasn't in this case. We can't have a party without ice cream!""Let's get mint chocolate chip!" yelled Landen's younger brother, Archer."Good idea." A minute later, Dad spoke again. "Remember last summer, when you two played ball in the house?"Landen wasn't sure he wanted to remember. He and Archer both nodded but didn't speak.Dad continued. "God tells us to obey our parents, and you two usually do. But that day, you and Archer went off course and did what you were told not to do.""Big mistake," admitted Landen. "It took six months of saving our allowance money before we had enough to buy a new lamp. Worse than that, Mom cried because the one we broke was her grandmother's." "When we choose to go a different direction than the one God commands, it often doesn't end well. Instead of trusting God to help us obey Him and show His love to others, we follow our own selfish desires, and people get hurt." Dad parked in front of the store and turned around to look at the boys. "I think the Holy Spirit did some rerouting for you both. Once you made your wrong turn, the Holy Spirit guided you back in the right direction by showing you how your disobedience had been hurtful and prompting you to admit you were wrong and ask for forgiveness." Landen sighed. "It would've been a lot easier to do the right thing from the beginning." Then he grinned. "But we sure won't be throwing balls in the house anymore!""No way!" agreed Archer."Good," said Dad. "Now, let's go buy that mint chocolate chip ice cream and get back on the road!"-Bonnie CarrHow About You?Did you ever do anything you knew was wrong? We all have. But, when we trust Jesus as our Savior, He gives us the Holy Spirit to be our GPS. The Holy Spirit fills us with the love of Jesus and guides us in loving others. When we don't follow the Holy Spirit's prompting and instead do wrong, hurtful things, the Holy Spirit will help reroute us in the right direction.Today's Key Verse:Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (NIV) (Isaiah 30:21)Today's Key Thought:Let the Holy Spirit guide you

Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem. (NIV) Isaiah 31 : 5

Bible Reading: Job 23:8-10; Romans 8:28Soren quietly stepped onto the back porch where his grandpa was enjoying the sunshine. He watched as Grandpa began to shape the mustache of the wooden cowboy in his hands with his favorite knife."Carving again, Grandpa?" Soren asked.Grandpa looked up and smiled. "Good to see you, Soren. Have a seat and tell me about your day."Soren frowned and plopped down in a brown folding chair. "School was okay, I guess. Math is weird. I can't figure out this geometry stuff Mrs. Thompkins is trying to teach us. She keeps trying to explain it, but it's hard to pay attention, since I get kind of distracted sometimes.""Thinking about the treatments your mom is going through?" asked Grandpa.Soren nodded. "And Jasper told me today that he's moving because his dad got a new job. We won't be able to play together anymore. He'll be living too far away." Soren put his chin in his hands and frowned. "It seems like everything is going wrong all at once."Grandpa slowly scratched his chin and looked at the wooden figure in his hand. "Soren, when I decide to carve something, what do I start with?""A block of wood," Soren replied. "Right. I have to cut it, sand it, and carve it to make it a cowboy, or a bird, or whatever else I want it to be." Grandpa blew tiny flakes of wood off the cowboy's face. "That's what God is doing with you, buddy. Just like I work hard carving details on a figure to make it look just right, God is shaping you into the person He wants you to be, and He even uses the difficulties you face in life to do that. I know you're going through some tough times, but He can use them to teach you about patience and trust and other things that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. He loves you and promises to be with you all through your life--even in difficult times." Grandpa etched a couple more lines into the cowboy's mustache, then handed it to Soren. "Finished. He's all yours."Soren slowly ran his fingers across the cowboy's delicate wooden face and smiled.-Mike DizeHow About You?Are you facing a lot of problems right now? Maybe you're having trouble at school or someone you love is sick. Dealing with problems is never easy, but Jesus promises to be with you and can use those things to help you learn to trust Him and grow in your faith. Remember that He is with you in tough situations, and trust Him to use them to help you grow in your relationship with Him.Today's Key Verse:We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:8)Today's Key Thought:Let God shape you

Today's Teaching:

I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder (NIV) Isaiah 29:14

You will spread out to the right and to the left (NIV) Isaiah 54:3

Welcome to Passionate Life Church! Today Dee Dee shares how her experiences as a child therapist brought her closer to God. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All I really need to know about God I learned in the Play Room CS Lewis “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” “Therapists are grown ups who make sure your heart still beats even when you are sad” Here's what I've learned about God in the Play Room: He comes to seek and save the lost Ezekiel 34:11-12 NIV Luke 19:10 NIV Matthew 18:12 NIV He is with us: Isaiah 41:10 NIV Psalm 139:7-10 NIV Psalm 145:18-19 NIV Hebrews 13:5 NIV He sings a song over us and heals us Zephaniah 3:17 NIV Psalm 118:1, 4-7 NIV Isaiah 40:29-30 NIV Psalm 107:19-20 NIV Psalm 147:3 NIV ----------------------------------------------------- Thanks for listening! If you were positively impacted by this message, please leave us a comment! Be sure to like and subscribe to our channel to stay connected to this house. Join us every Sunday at 9:00am or 10:30am Spotify: http://bit.ly/passionatelifechurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passionatelifechurch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionate.life.church/ 10393 W Alamo Pl Littleton, CO 80127 Need Prayer? Contact us at passionatelifechurch@gmail.com — ► Subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL88... — Passionate People. Multicultural Environment. Atmosphere to Experience God. You will feel Loved, Refreshed, & Empowered Loved: We have an atmosphere of acceptance and an environment that creates a “come as you are” message. Everyone will feel loved! Refreshed: We serve a God of the Fresh Start! No matter where you've been or what you've done, God wants to refresh you today and every day. Empowered: God wants to grow you into everything He's called you to be and do. We want to give you all of the tools you will need in order to empower you to live a life fully devoted to Jesus Christ. We are non-denominational & believe that the Bible is truth and fully written by God through man. Need Prayer? Contact us at passionatelifechurch@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/passionatelifechurch/message

Series:  The Accounts of the Messiah Sermon: An Account of Shadows (John 18; 19) Join us as we follow Jesus from the Upper Room to the Cross through the eyes of the Apostle John. The Betrayal (John 18:1-18) The Condemnation (John 19:5-16) The Sacrifice (John 19:17-37) Rev. Jason E. Robbins Highlawn Baptist Church (www.HighlawnBaptistChurch.org)     Ref. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) Ref. John 3:14-15 (NIV) Isaiah 53 (NIV) Isaiah 44:12-20 (NIV) Ref. Revelation 20:11-15; Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) Morning Service March 26, 2023 (Palm Sunday)   If you feel led to support our ministry, you can find us on Tithe.ly.  You can either click here to create an account and give online, or you can download the app for Apple or Android.  (Note: use the "green" app).  Create an account and search for "Highlawn Baptist Church" in "Saint Albans, WV".  Thank you!   FIND US ON YOUTUBE!  Sunday Morning sermons (as well as this sermon) can be found by searching for "Highlawn Baptist" on YouTube, or by clicking here.   Live Streams of Sunday morning services can also be found on YouTube at about 11:00 AM, every Sunday.  Subscribe and "ring the bell" for our YouTube page to be alerted when the live stream starts!  We've now added live streams of our Wednesday evening "Journey Through the Bible" lessons! Join us at 7:00 to walk through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. PROGRAMMING NOTE: THE "JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE" SERIES IS BACK!   As with this podcast - Subscribe, Like, and Share our YouTube channel to help us get the message of the Good News out to a world in need of hope!

Series:  The Accounts of the Messiah Sermon: An Account of the Revealed Messiah (John 12) Reverend Jason Robbins Highlawn Baptist Church (www.HighlawnBaptistChurch.org)   Today's Scriptures: John 12:12-50 (NIV) Luke 19:39-40 (NIV) Psalm 118:22-29 (NIV) Ref. 2 Kings 9:1-13(NIV) Ref. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) Ref. John 3:14-15 (NIV) Isaiah 53 (NIV) Isaiah 44:12-20 (NIV) Ref. Revelation 20:11-15; Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) Morning Service March 26, 2023 (Palm Sunday)   If you feel led to support our ministry, you can find us on Tithe.ly.  You can either click here to create an account and give online, or you can download the app for Apple or Android.  (Note: use the "green" app).  Create an account and search for "Highlawn Baptist Church" in "Saint Albans, WV".  Thank you!   FIND US ON YOUTUBE!  Sunday Morning sermons (as well as this sermon) can be found by searching for "Highlawn Baptist" on YouTube, or by clicking here.   Live Streams of Sunday morning services can also be found on YouTube at about 11:00 AM, every Sunday.  Subscribe and "ring the bell" for our YouTube page to be alerted when the live stream starts!  We've now added live streams of our Wednesday evening "Journey Through the Bible" lessons! Join us at 7:00 to walk through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. PROGRAMMING NOTE: THE "JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE" SERIES IS BACK!   As with this podcast - Subscribe, Like, and Share our YouTube channel to help us get the message of the Good News out to a world in need of hope!

Series:  The Accounts of the Messiah Sermon: An Account of the Good Shepherd (John 10) Reverend Jason Robbins Highlawn Baptist Church (www.HighlawnBaptistChurch.org)   Today's Scriptures: John 10:1-30 (NIV) Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV) Morning Service March 19, 2023   If you feel led to support our ministry, you can find us on Tithe.ly.  You can either click here to create an account and give online, or you can download the app for Apple or Android.  (Note: use the "green" app).  Create an account and search for "Highlawn Baptist Church" in "Saint Albans, WV".  Thank you!   FIND US ON YOUTUBE!  Sunday Morning sermons (as well as this sermon) can be found by searching for "Highlawn Baptist" on YouTube, or by clicking here.   Live Streams of Sunday morning services can also be found on YouTube at about 11:00 AM, every Sunday.  Subscribe and "ring the bell" for our YouTube page to be alerted when the live stream starts!  We've now added live streams of our Wednesday evening "Journey Through the Bible" lessons! Join us at 7:00 to walk through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. PROGRAMMING NOTE: THE "JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE" SERIES IS BACK!   As with this podcast - Subscribe, Like, and Share our YouTube channel to help us get the message of the Good News out to a world in need of hope!

Episode Summary:  Human trafficking is a much bigger issue than most people realize. Today we're going to be talking with an expert who can shed some light on this global epidemic and provide us some hope for better understanding human trafficking, how we can help, and what needs to be done for ending human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Today's guest is currently a North American Cloud Strategist with a background in Broadcast Journalism and Coding and Development. She is also an advocate for the complete eradication of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in South Carolina and across the globe. As a Constitutional Republic Preservationist she believes We the People are the solution and through Christ we can do all things. Together we can return our Nation to God, and He can heal our land.  Quotables from the episode: Through many trials and tribulations, I have made many mistakes but have learned from each of them. I now view challenges as an opportunity to overcome and bring glory to God. We often see a misconception in society around Human Trafficking. In order to efficiently combat this atrocity we need to inform, educate, and shift the mindset associated with this issue. We also need to focus on loving one another better, setting one another up for success from the beginning by laying a firm foundation of Faith. This alone will help to combat Human Trafficking. Awareness is where we start the fight against human trafficking. There are four main types of human sex trafficking: peer trafficking, familial trafficking, gang trafficking, and survival trafficking. The United States is the #1 buyer of trafficking victims with over a $90 billion annual revenue stream. Trafficking starts at a point of vulnerability and works to get the victim's trust, and then start grooming them. If there is a bidirectional interaction there is an opportunity for trafficking. Trafficking is most prominent in coastal and border areas, and in hubs that connect major cities, but it happens in every city. 4 Major Myths about Trafficking: 1) it doesn't happen to men; 2) all traffickers are men; 3) trafficking only happens in far off lands; 4) trafficking only starts in parking lots. There are millions of individuals who have experienced Human Trafficking and the most important message we can give to these victims is that “You Are NOT Alone”. Their experiences do not define them but instead give them an opportunity to become victors. Sometimes, we must travel through the darkness in order to recognize the Light. Start loving yourself. Every day that we wake up, we are given yet another opportunity to be a better version of ourselves. It is so important that we love ourselves and that we take the time to say to ourselves, no matter what we've been through, no matter what mistakes we've made, that was yesterday. Mindset is everything. If we constantly degrade ourselves by negative self thoughts, we limit our view of what we can be. However, if we begin to view each day as a gift, an opportunity, then we can start to imagine ourselves being great. Then it will be so.  Scripture References: John 1:4-5 In him was life and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. NIV Isaiah 42: 6-7 I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand, I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the nations, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. NIV Acts 13:46-47 Then Paul and Barnabus answered them boldly, “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a Light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” NIV Recommended Resources:  www.humantraffickinghotline.com  Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 TEXT BeFree to 233733 www.polarisproject.org  https://www.scag.gov/human-trafficking/data-reports  www.justice.gov/humantrafficking Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be Another Good Day Breaking Anxiety's Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety's Grip Free Study Guide Free 7-Day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety's Grip Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor's Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader's Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader's Choice Award Trusting God Through Cancer 1 Trusting God Through Cancer 2 Revive & Thrive Women's Conference Subdue Stress and Anxiety: Fifteen Experts Offer Comprehensive Tools in Ten Minutes a Day. Use my link plus discount code BENG99 to save $90 on course (course will be $99.) Free Download: How To Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win   Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Breaking Anxiety's Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube Guest: Dakota Fitzgerald is a Constitutional Republic Preservationist and advocate for the complete eradication of Human Trafficking. She has a background in Survival Training, Women's Self Defense, Broadcast Journalism, Coding and Development and is currently a North American Cloud Strategist for a prominent IT company. Her mission is to bring together unique skills and perspectives to grow awareness and address the fastest growing global crime - Human Trafficking. She works within her local community to shine light on this issue, provide inspiration and hope to others and to be a voice for the voiceless.  Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you (NIV) Isaiah 66 : 13

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)Deuteronomy 32:11 (NIV)Isaiah 11:2 (The Message)

The people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. (NIV) Isaiah 43:21

Whoever attacks you will surrender to you. (NIV) Isaiah 54:15

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion (NIV) Isaiah 61:7

You will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. (NIV) Isaiah 54:14

I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (NIV) Isaiah 46:4

Bible Reading: Isaiah 64:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-5"Okay, Dad!" Mateo exclaimed as he ran into the garage. "I'm ready to help with Rocco's doghouse now."Mateo picked up a hammer and nail. He positioned the nail carefully and pounded it into the board. "Did you see that, Dad? I drove the nail in perfectly straight!" He stepped back to admire his work."Yes, that's great," said Dad. "You've gotten really good at this!"Mateo smiled. "When I first started, I would hurry, and the nails would bend when they went in.""Yes, and look at you now!" said Dad.Dad and Mateo continued to work on the doghouse. When it was finished, they lifted it off the workshop table and brought it out to the yard."Come on, Rocco," called Mateo. "Come see your house!"Rocco wagged his tail and let out a happy bark, running right into his new dwelling.Dad smiled. "You know," he said, "this project kind of reminds me of what Jesus did for us.""How so?" asked Mateo."Well," said Dad, "the Bible says that because we are sinners, even the good things we do are like filthy rags. I guess you could say our good deeds are like bent nails.""Bent nails?" Mateo frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."Dad laughed. "You're right. That wasn't my clearest word picture. I guess what I'm saying is that bent nails weren't good enough for this doghouse and, in a similar way, our good works aren't good enough to save us. Nothing we could ever say or do can earn God's love or make us right with Him. It all comes down to Jesus's work on the cross."Dad picked up a hammer and nail. "Jesus was perfect, and He was nailed to the cross for our sins because we weren't able to save ourselves from sin and death. That's how much He loves us."Mateo nodded. "God really loves us a lot!""Yes," said Dad. "As Christians, we know we belong to Jesus. And even though we know that our good deeds are a lot like a crudely constructed doghouse, we know His love for us is secure. We see that in His work on the cross. I hope we'll both remember His love whenever we see this doghouse." -Darlene AndersonHow About You?Do you know how much Jesus loves you? He loves us all so much that He came to die on the cross for our sin--the things we do that hurt God and others. As Christians, when we see wood and nails, they can be a reminder that God loves us and that Jesus beat sin and death through His death and resurrection. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.Today's Key Verse:All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (NIV) (Isaiah 64:6)Today's Key Thought:Our good deeds can't save us

The LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (NIV) Isaiah 52:12

Sometimes our plans in life can be misdirected and net us emptiness. When we decide to live selfishly and aren't open to where God is leading us, we effectively put God “in a box” by limiting ourselves from the vast potential for light and goodness He wants to bring to our lives. Each of our guests this week had life experiences that required them to let go of their ideas of what their lives were supposed to look like so that they could grow into the plans that God had for them. Jesse Bradley admits he never thought he'd ever be a pastor. His goals were professional sports, and he achieved that success. But when his body had an allergic reaction to some medication he was taking, he had to make a shift and found God transforming him for new pursuits and new passions. Tovares and Safa Grey have—in a very short time—helped many young people navigate the world of dating and relationships. They understand that many young people feel the pressure of being in a relationship. They feel the key to staying open to what will unfold in our lives is letting go so that we don't put God in a box. This place of compromise is a scary place—a mental battleground—but it holds tremendous potential for God's goodness to manifest itself in our lives.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nate Pyle Upcoming interview: Tamera Mowry-Housley PFR   Thank you to our sponsor, Samaritan's Purse!   Jesse Bradley Grace Community Church University of Minnesota  Golden Gophers  Dartmouth College C.S. Lewis Psalm 63:8 NIV Psalm 62:8 NIV Isaiah 41:10 NIV Every Group www.jessebradley.org    Tovares and Safa Grey Godly Dating 101 Proverbs 5 NIV Ephesians 5:25 NIV www.godlydating101.com   Interview Quotes: “The inside story is the real story and the full story. And sometimes you're the only one who knows it and God knows the inside story as well. And the outside looked like success, but the inside for me, there was emptiness.” - Jesse Bradley “Pain has been a big part of my transformation.” - Jesse Bradley “You want a godly marriage, you want a healthy marriage. But there are some people who desire a marriage because everyone else on their timeline is married.” - Tovares Grey “My advice to other young people who are dating today, don't limit God to your idea of who you think you should be with.” - Safa Grey “[God's] concerned about every single aspect of our lives. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants us to have a relationship.” - Safa Grey “At the end of the day, everything points back to God, and so we have to date with that intention in mind.” - Safa Grey ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website  

Bible Reading: Isaiah 40:28-31"I'm tired from all this walking," Caleb groaned. He was hiking with his family in the mountains of British Columbia in Canada. "I'm ready for a break.""Don't worry, we're almost at the lookout," Caleb's mom announced. In a few minutes, the family reached a platform that looked out over the forested valley. "We can see everything from up here!" Dad exclaimed.Suddenly Caleb spotted a group of huge birds with white heads perched in a pine tree. "Look!" Caleb shouted and pointed to the tree. "There are bald eagles in that tree! A whole family of them!""Those are impressive birds," his dad agreed.Mom pointed to a sign on the railing of the platform. "There's a sign with facts about the eagles." She began to read aloud. "Did you know that when a bald eagle stretches out its wings, the distance from one wingtip to the other can be more than two meters wide? That's over seven feet!""Wow, that's huge!" Caleb grinned and stretched out his arms. "My wingspan isn't even close to that."Mom continued reading the sign. "It says here that eagles can fly for hours without having to land and rest.""That's crazy," Caleb said. "How can eagles fly for that long without getting tired?" "The eagles don't just fly, they soar," Mom explained. "When they soar, they rely on the wind currents and let the wind carry them." She paused, thinking. "You know, it reminds me of one of my favorite Bible passages in Isaiah. It says that even young people get tired.""Yeah, I definitely do!" Caleb agreed. "I'm tired after that long hike."Mom continued, "But those who put their hope in Jesus and trust in Him will find strength in Him so they can soar like eagles without being tired.""And that's more than just strength to go for a long walk," Dad added. "When we trust in Jesus and remember how He saved us from our sins and gave us a future with Him and eternal life, we have hope and strength to persevere through any challenge in life.""Wow," Caleb said. "That's even better than being able to fly like eagles." -Abby CionaHow About You?Do you ever feel tired or discouraged? When you feel down and weak, remember what Jesus has done for you--He died for our sins and rose to life again, defeating sin and death so we can live with Him forever. Jesus has overcome the world, and He will never leave us. Put your hope in Him, and rely on His strength to carry you through every challenge you face.Today's Key Verse:But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV) (Isaiah 40:31)Today's Key Thought:Rely on God's strength