Podcasts about nlt then jesus

Jesus' Not-So-Triumphal Entry Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the Great River to the ends of the earth. Jesus had spoken about His coming death on more than one occasion.Mark 8:31–32 (NLT)“Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later, He would rise from the dead. As He talked about this openly with His disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand Him for saying such things.” Mark 9:31 (NLT)“For He wanted to spend more time with His disciples and teach them. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later, He will rise from the dead.'” Mark 10:32–34 (NLT)“Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that     was about to happen to Him. ‘Listen,' He said, ‘We're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence Him to die and hand Him over to the Romans. They will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him with a whip, and kill Him, but after three days he will rise again.'” The disciples, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with their request.Mark 10:35-45 (NLT)“'Teacher, they said, ‘We want you to do us a favor.' ‘What is your request?' He asked. They replied, ‘When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.'… When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. So, Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you, it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.'” Jesus knew His purpose… And He knew His timing.            2 Kings 9:13 (NLT)“They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!” Will we allow His rule of grace, peace, and reconciliation in our lives?Luke 19:41-42 (NLT)“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. ‘How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.'” True Shalom Peace, Godly wholeness peace, will not just come in a change of circumstances…A New Political ClimateA New Marriage PartnerA Man Cave Away from TensionA New Set of ClothesA New HaircutA New BodyA New ChurchA New JobA New House If you want to know peace, you must come to a place of surrender to Jesus. 

Stasi is happy to welcome back Liz Wright — best-selling author, international speaker, and CEO and Founder of the International Mentoring Community — whose life is a beautiful testimony of profound transformation because of the love of Christ. Today's conversation is a divine invitation. Jesus is calling us into rest — not just as a moment of pause, but as a way of continually living in Him. Together, they unpack the power of trusting Jesus and the freedom that comes when we surrender and believe. May your heart be drawn closer to Him as you receive the rest He so freely gives!…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Psalm 62:1 (NIV) – Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) – This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'Hebrews 4:1-3 (NLT) – God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news – that God has prepared this rest – has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,'” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.Matthew 11:28 (NLT) – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT) – For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT) – Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.Philippians 4:19 (NLT) – And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.…..LIZ WRIGHTWebsite: https://lizwright.org/Website: https://www.jointheimc.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lizwrightShow: https://www.god.tv/ministries/liz-wright/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizwrightministries/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizwrightministriesLIZ WRIGHT BIOLiz Wright's story is one of radical transformation. She was miraculously healed of Motor Neuron Transmission Disorder and delivered from the pain of traumatic life events. In a desperate situation, she had a physical visitation from Jesus Christ that turned her world upside down and everything she had believed to be true. She understands suffering and the power of the Cross to heal and restore. Liz is a living miracle!She walks a life of encounters with Jesus as a messenger to His Bride and is called to activate people into encounters and the experience of His love. Liz has done this for thousands across the globe through her ministry.Liz is host of the Charisma podcast Live Your Best Life with Liz Wright, presenter of the TV show Encountering God with Liz Wright, a best-selling author, international speaker, and CEO and Founder of the International Mentoring Community. Her passion is that you would become all that Jesus created you to be.…..Quote: Elisabeth Elliot – “Rest is a weapon given to us by God. The enemy hates it because he wants us stressed and occupied.”…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: https://wahe.art/4jFlAXuSpotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

Join Stasi and her favorite guest – her husband, John – for an encouraging and insightful conversation about living in daily, intimate communion with Jesus. Drawing from John's new book, Experience Jesus. Really., they share personal stories and wisdom from the saints, revealing how God's presence is not just a metaphor but a reality available to all who seek Him. If you're longing for deeper experiences with God and all that is available, this episode is for you. Open your heart and step into the invitation of deeper communion with God.…..SHOW NOTES:…..Go deeper with John's newest book Experience Jesus. Really: Finding Refuge, Strength, and Wonder through Everyday Encounters with God  https://amzn.to/4jEwBZ7VERSES: Revelation 3:20 (NLT) – Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) – Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Ephesians 2:6 (NLT) – And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT) – Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.John 15:4–5 (NLT) – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.John 6:35 (NLT) – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

The Beatitudes, Pt. 1 | February 16, 2025Pastor Wes MorrisMatthew 5:3-12 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Matthew 5:3 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.✓ Spiritual Brokenness - A deep awareness of our need for God.Matthew 5:3 (NLT) God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.We will never depend on something we don't think we need.✓ True fulfillment isn't found through self-sufficiency but in surrender.✓ When we acknowledge our need for God, we open our hearts to His power.Psalm 73:26 (NIV) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.Psalm 73:26 (MSG) You're all I want in heaven! You're all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithfulBROKEN AND BLESSEDII Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I. FIND PURPOSE IN THE PAIN.I Peter 5:10-11 (MSG) Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.II. FIND INTIMACY WITH GOD.We enjoy God on the mountaintops, but we get to know Him intimately in the valleys. - Rick WarrenPsalm 51:17 (NLT) The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.Psalm 23:4 (NIV) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. III. FIND HEALING IN SURRENDER.Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. God cannot heal what we refuse to surrender.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 NLT   HOW TO PARTICIPATE: 1. ATTEND WEEKEND SERVICES. 2. READ ALONG IN THE GUIDE EACH WEEK. 3. DISCUSS IN YOUR LIFE GROUP.    THE BETTER YOU KNOW GOD, THE BETTER YOU HEAR GOD.    1. THE BIBLE IS WRITTEN FOR US, NOT TO US.   You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT   And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture… 2 Peter 3:15-16 NLT   For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT   2. THE BIBLE IS A LIBRARY, NOT A BOOK.   All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT   3. THE ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION.     AUTHOR WRITTEN EARLIEST COPY TIMELINE # of MANUSCRIPTS Caesar 100-44 B.C.       900 A.D. 1,000 yrs 10 Plato 427-347 B.C.       900 A.D. 1200 yrs 7 Thucydides 460-400 B.C.       900 A.D. 1300 yrs 8 Tacitus 100 A.D.       1100 A.D. 1000 yrs 20 Suetonius 75-16 A.D.       950 A.D. 800 yrs 8 Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C.       400 A.D. 500 yrs 643 New Testament 40-100 A.D.       125 A.D. 25-50 yrs 24,000     4. THE WAY THE BIBLE POINTS TO THE PERSON OF JESUS      “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. John 5:39-40 NLT     “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Gandhi   …The scripture cannot be broken John 10:35 KJV   “We're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”. Matthew 20:18-19 NLT   Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself; Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:27;31-32 NLT   The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 NLT

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:19 NLT   He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT   'Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 NLT   Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:14-21 NLT   DO YOU WANT JUSTICE OR FREEDOM? DO YOU WANT VENGEANCE OR PEACE?    Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Romans 12:17 NLT   Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15 NLT     for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin. Acts 8:23 NLT   Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 4:31-32; 5:1-2 NLT   YOUR GREATEST FREEDOM IS WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T NEED GOD TO CHANGE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU NEED GOD TO USE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO CHANGE YOU FOR THE BETTER.    In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Psalms 118:5-6 NLT   3 QUESTIONS TO KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE TO MY COMMITMENT AS A DISCIPLE   1. ARE MY CHOICES LEADING ME TOWARD COMPROMISE?   You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT   WE BECOME MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO COMPROMISE WHEN WE HAVE NEGATIVE REFLECTIONS OR UNHEALTHY ASSUMPTIONS.    'But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NLT   So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34 NLT   2. ARE MY ACTIONS REPRESENTING HEAVEN?   Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT   PRAYERFULLY ASK YOURSELF DAILY, “HOW WOULD JESUS RESPOND” AND THEN OBEY THAT.   Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 NIV   Makarios: Joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and changes of life.   AS GOD'S CHILDREN WE ARE CALLED TO STRIVE FOR PEACE AS WE… LOVE OUR ENEMIES But I say, love your enemies! Matthew 5:44 NLT PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44 NLT pray that God will bless them. Romans 12:14 NLT BLESS OUR ENEMIES Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them. Romans 12:14 NLT BE THE BIGGER PERSON Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone; Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Romans 12:18;20 NLT 3. AM I CLOSED OFF TO THE NATURE AND HOLINESS OF GOD?   Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT   My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT     Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24-26 NLT

THE NEED FOR CONTROL IS THE CAUSE OF EVERY PROBLEM   Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT   Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT   For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT   'Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3 NLT   HEALTH IS NOT STUMBLED UPON IT IS PURSUED AND IGNORING PROBLEMS WILL NEVER LEAD TO HEALTH.    THE PREREQUISITE TO TRUE FREEDOM IS TO DECIDE THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SUFFER ANYMORE   YOU HAVE TWO FOUNDATIONAL CHOICES.  ONE CHOICE IS TO LEAVE THE PAIN INSIDE AND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE OUTSIDE.  THE OTHER CHOICE IS TO MAKE THE DECISION YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND YOUR ENTIRE LIFE AVOIDING THE INNER PAIN AND YOU'D RATHER GET RID OF IT.    WHEN YOU AVOID PAIN AND CHANGE YOU BELIEVE EXTERNAL SITUATIONS ARE WHAT CAUSE INTERNAL PROBLEMS.   I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NLT   OUR NEED FOR CONTROL AND THE FEAR THAT IT PRODUCES BLOCK OUR HEARTS.   Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34 NLT   UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE IS ROOTED IN A GODLY IDENTITY.    And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 NIV   Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matthew 7:7-11 NLT   YOU ARE DEEPLY AND COMPLETELY LOVED.        HOW DO YOU REMOVE THE THORNS?   1. DEAL WITH PAIN IMMEDIATELY   When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Psalms 32:3 NLT   2. RELEASE YOUR PAIN AND SURRENDER TO GOD   Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalms 55:22 NLT   So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT   Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 NLT   3. DECIDE YOUR GOD-GIVE IDENTITY AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PURSUE THAT    Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3 NLT   WHAT DO YOU WANT?             ➡️ WHAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY?   ⬇️   WHAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY?           ⬅️ WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?   ⬇️   WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT? ➡️           WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO COMMIT TO DO?     They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.” 1 Peter 2:8-10 NLT

In this episode of Captivated, Stasi Eldredge invites writer, speaker, and mother of eight Bethany Kimsey for a conversation on what it means to be a “Warrior Mom.” Stasi and Bethany share about the transformative power of prayer, highlighted through Bethany's creation of a year-long prayer journal designed for mothers (but totally transferable to others) to help them intentionally pray for their children. Through personal stories and biblical insights, this episode will encourage you to engage in a deeper prayer life, recognizing your unique and powerful role in the lives of those you care about.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Colossians 4:2 (NLT) — Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Psalm 37:5 (NLT) — Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.Matthew 11:28–29 (NLT) — Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) — It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) — Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.Titus 2:4 (NLT) — These older women must train the younger women to…Genesis 2:18 (NLT) — Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. …”Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) — For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.Ephesians 2:5 (NLT) — that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)Romans 5:17 (NLT) —  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.…..BETHANY KIMSEYPodcast: The Warrior Mama  https://wahe.art/3UyI6FJWebsite: bethanykimsey.comInstagram: @bethanykimsey A Warrior Mama's Prayer Journal  https://wahe.art/4afZrJwBETHANY KIMSEY BIOAs a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, Bethany wants to see a generation of Grace Filled Warriors stand together and walk triumphantly behind the One who sets them free from performance, doubt, and fear. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other mothers.…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

The wonderful Jennie Allen joins Stasi for a conversation fueled by honesty and whimsy. Jennie shares her personal journey of falling in love with Jesus, her emotional awakening, and her fabulous new book, Untangle Your Emotions. She shares how emotional vulnerability and authenticity foster a closer relationship with God and community. Friends, there is great power in not walking alone in our pain, and because we are the focus of God's affection, we can come to him honestly, where we will receive his compassion and mercy. He is always with us. His invitation is to come close, pay attention to the gift of our emotions, and share with him our hearts in their fullness.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Romans 5:1 (NLT) — Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.Psalm 16:9 (NIV) — Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,Romans 15:3 (NLT) —  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.Genesis 1:31 (NLT) — Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! …Genesis 6:6 (NLT) — So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.Exodus 32:10 (NLT) — Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”John 11:35 (NLT) — Then Jesus wept.2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) — We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT) — And “don't sin by letting anger control you.” Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.1 Corinthians 15:32 (NLT) — And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”…..JENNIE ALLENIf:Gathering:  ifgathering.comGather25: gather25.comWebsite: jennieallen.comPodcast: jennieallen.com/podcastInstagram: instagram.com/jennieallenYouTube: https://wahe.art/3TtinOuFacebook: facebook.com/jenniesallenJENNIE ALLEN BIO:Jennie Allen, Bible teacher, author, and the visionary behind IF:Gathering, leads a new chapter as the Founder & Visionary of Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer gathering. Driven by a deep love for God and an unyielding belief in the potential of this generation, Jennie's mission is to disciple a generation of Jesus followers to live what they believe.Through her writing and teaching, Jennie seeks to convey a simple yet profound truth: God sees you, loves you, and invites you to play your part in His unfolding story. She has witnessed firsthand the miraculous work of Jesus when people fully surrender to Him.Jennie is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie is the New York Times' best-selling author of Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People and Get Out of Your Head. Jennie has a masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Zac, and their four children.JENNIE'S BOOKS (mentioned)Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It – https://wahe.art/3TGJzuuGet Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts – https://wahe.art/3PsZSbX…..RESOURCES:The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge – https://amzn.to/49jL6MG…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT   But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 NLT   “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:15-16 NLT     “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39 NLT     Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT   “Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the Yoke of Christ and follow Him. It is Grace because Jesus says, My yoke is easy and my burden is light.'” Dietrich Bonhoeffer   1. We Come   Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 NLT   Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NLT   So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36 NLT   “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it's all free! Isaiah 55:1 NLT   Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 NLT   2. We Take   Take my yoke upon you. Matthew 11:29 NLT   Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Galatian 6:8-9 NLT   WHAT YOU HOLD ONTO BECOMES YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN, BUT WHAT YOU SURRENDER TO GOD HE BEARS. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT   3. We Learn   Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart… Matthew 11:29 NLT   Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 NLT   Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:15-16 NLT   “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. John 14:15-17 NLT   And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1 NLT   4. We Receive Rest   Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT   The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT   What is a yoke?   Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 18-20 NLT   But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NLT     “When we are called to follow Christ, we are summoned to an exclusive attachment to his person. And Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

NOTES: The Illusion of CONTROL: The cognitive bias that leads us to believe we have CONTROL over OUTCOMES when in reality, we don't.  He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? Matthew 26:38–40 (NLT) Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”  Matthew 26:42 (NLT) So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Matthew 26:44 (NLT) WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL,  BUT WE CAN ALWAYS SURRENDER. FOLLOWING GOD'S WILL IS RARELY EASY,  BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD! BOTTOM LINE: TRUE FAITH BEGINS BETWEEN THE IF AND THE YET. THE CHALLENGE: PRAY YET.

Happy Easter everyone! Today we'll take a fresh look at the Easter story, but we're not going to start at the traditional place - the gospel, the story of Jesus rising from the dead on the third day in triumphant glory. Don't worry, we'll be sure to end up there! But today we're going to start with a verse in the Old Testament, from the prophet Isaiah. We want to show you that the Easter story was not some surprise event. It was predicted by the prophets hundreds of years before it happened, and even though the disciples didn't see it coming (they were expecting a different kind of triumph), it was part of God's brilliant plan all along. The Bible bears this out, because there are traces of the cross throughout the Old Testament. Here's one of them: Rend the HeavensIsaiah 64:1-2 (NIV) Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!Let me tell you about why this passage was so important to Jewish people in Isaiah's day. And then I'll tell you why it should matter to you on this Easter Sunday, thousands of years after it was written. Let's focus in on the passage:Rend the Heavens - pay attention to this phrase, cause we'll see it again in the NTSpeaks of God's revelation of himselfIsrael had hoped God would reveal himself as conquering king! Come down and make the nations quakeThis is what many of Jesus followers were looking for from him: a conquering Messiah who would overthrow the Romans. Then he ended up hanging on their cross.Q: How do you see God? What are you hoping for from him?Jesus' MinistryWe've been studying the Gospel of Mark as a church since the beginning of the year. In chapter 1 we looked at the baptism of Jesus. Let's look at it again with Isaiah 64 in mind: Mark 1:10-11 (NIV) Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”This is the beginning of the Isaiah 64 prophecy - Jesus starts his earthly ministry(Notice the Triune God here…)But instead of a fire to make the nations quake, here's a sampling of what Jesus did:Heals a leper (“I am willing…”)Heals a paralytic (only after he forgives his sin)Invites fishermen and tax collectors to follow himChallenges the religion policePreaches good news, not hellfireTorn in TwoFast forward to the crucifixion. This is where it gets really interesting. Jesus was convicted at a sham Jewish trial, beaten by Roman soldiers, and nailed to a cross. Pay attention to what happens the moment after Jesus dies on that cross:Mark 15:37-38 (NLT) Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.This is the climax of the Isaiah 64 prophecy. “Oh that you would rend the heavens…” Matthew 27:51 (ESV) And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.Exodus 26:31-33 (NLT) “For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. Hang this curtain on gold hooks attached to four posts of acacia wood. Overlay the posts with gold, and set them in four silver bases. Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.Hebrews 10:19-22 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and...

Sermon Notes "HELLO, I am ____________." "Whatever word you write in that blank has significant power over your life because everything flows from what we would identify as core to our identity. We have a tendency to focus heavily on behavior and not say much about identity."- Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan Luke 3:16b NLT "...but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals." Matthew 3:13-15 NLT "Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. 'I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?' But Jesus said, 'It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.' So John agreed to baptize him." Luke 3:21-22a NLT "One day, when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove." Luke 3:22b NLT "And a voice from heaven said, 'You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.'" Luke 3:22b NEV "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my one dear Son; in you, I take great delight.'" Luke 3:22b MSG "And along with the Spirit, a voice: 'You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.'" "After church one weekend I was talking to a fairly successful business guy in his mid-forties. He told me he had been struggling lately with feelings of failure. We talked for a few minutes about where those feelings were coming from. I finally said to him, "It doesn't make a lot of sense. Anyone who looked at your life would say that you are a success." And without pausing to think he added, "Anyone, except for my dad." It turns out that early and often his dad had conveyed the message, you are a disappointment. You are never going to be good enough. You are never going to be successful. And all these years later that's still who he sees when he looks in the mirror. A CEO who feels like a failure." - Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan Philippians 3:7-9a NLT "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him." When your identity is rooted in Jesus, it transforms YOU. Place your identity in Jesus, not your behavior! Repent. Give your life to Jesus. Be baptized. Begin to lead from a transformed heart and mind by making Jesus part of your EVERY DAY. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

  So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT   “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16 NLT   If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal 1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT   “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16 NLT   We are multipliers! We are a Great Commission Church which means we are multipliers. Individually, we are all responsible to disciple those younger in their faith and invite those far from Jesus into a life-giving community. Corporately, we are called to plant churches, pastor cities, and father and mother leaders to multiply the Kingdom impact. We are multipliers!   God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10 NLT   When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-19 NLT   1. A PERSON OF POSITIVE INFLUENCE BREAKS THE DISEASE OF ME.   This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:12-13 NLT   But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45 NLT   2. A PERSON OF POSITIVE INFLUENCE WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONES HEALED   Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:2-5 NLT   “Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone.” James 4:4 NLT   “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered — how fleeting my life is. Psalms 39:4 NLT   (God) who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 NLT   Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”Luke 13:18-21 NLT   We are multipliers! We are a Great Commission Church which means we are multipliers. We are multipliers!      

Thank you for listening to The Daily Still Podcast and Happy New Year!   If you would like to help support our podcast, we now have Venmo and Paypal options. All donations are greatly appreciated and go directly towards production costs, and will allow us to continue to offer free meditations without advertisting. Support The Daily Still Podcast via Paypal or Support The Daily Still via Venmo   Paypal: @thedailystill (Cindy L. Helton) Venmo: @thedailystill (Cindy L. Helton)   Today we begin Season 7 - Meditating on the Words of Jesus. If you struggle with anxiety, fear, busyness, distractions, or if you're simply looking for peace and calming moments in the midst of a loud world, here is space where your soul can breathe.   You may want to pause and journal these prompts: As we begin a brand new year, where do you find yourself? What hopes do you have? What burdens are you carrying? What was life giving for you in the past year? What would you do differently?   Join us each Monday as we meditate on the Words of Jesus and seek to live in unforced rhythms of Grace.   Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30 NLT Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”    Matthew 11:28-30 The Message “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and light   Hosted and written by: Cindy Helton, Spiritual Director   

John‬ ‭11‬:‭41‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “…Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.” Even though Jesus knew that he was the son of God, he never felt entitled or took anything that his Heavenly Father did for him for granted. He was always filled with gratitude to God in every situation, no matter how difficult or challenging.

Numbers 18 (NASB) 18 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your father's household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary (that is, you should do the work), and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt (that is, you should do the work) in connection with your priesthood.    Point number 1 in your notes: God has appointed people to manage His church.   Numbers 18: 20-21, 25-26 (NASB) Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. 21 “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.    Leviticus 27:30  (NASB) 30 ‘Now all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. This is the instruction that God gave to Aaron and the priests who were to run the houses of worship.     Numbers 18: 25-26 (NASB) Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.      Point number 2 in your notes: Everyone has a responsibility to Tithe.     Deuteronomy 12:13-14, 19 (NLT) Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. 14 You may do so only at the place the Lord will choose within one of your tribal territories.19 And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.     Point number 3 in your notes: God did not allow anyone to make an excuse not to give Him His tithe.         Matthew 23:1-3 (NLT) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.    Matthew 23:23 (NLT) 23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.    Mark Batterson "Let me be blunt, because on the subject of money Jesus was. Obedience can be measured in dollars. So can faith. So can sacrifice. It's certainly not the only measure, but it's one of the most accurate. If we give God 2 percent of our income, can we really say we are 100 percent committed to Him? I think not. If we withhold the tithe, can we really say, “In God we trust”? If we give God our leftovers instead of the firstfruits, can we really say we're seeking first His kingdom?" ― from "All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life"       Point number 4 in your notes: What if our love for God was measured by our obedience to giving?

Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 NLT   Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. Mark 11:22-24 NLT   1. YOU MUST START DREAMING 2. YOU MUST START DESIRING 3. YOU MUST START BEING AUDACIOUS 4. YOU MUST BEGIN 5. YOU MUST START EXPECTING   6. YOU MUST START AFFIRMING   SPEAKING ACTIVATES BELIEVING   Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. James 3:2-5 NLT    YOUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL   The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21 NLT   YOUR WORDS ARE DIRECTIONAL   And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. James 3:4 NLT   YOUR WORDS HAVE A QUICK IMPACT   But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. James 3:5 NLT   Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NLT   "Feelings are important in many areas but completely unreliable in matters of faith" Eugene Peterson   7. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TIME OF WAITING   Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. -Oswald Chambers   Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 NLT   TRUST SAYS THAT LIFE WILL NEVER MAKE SENSE APART FROM GOD AND I WILL TRUST HIS NATURE AND HIS TIMING DESPITE WHAT SEASON I AM IN.    SOMETIMES YOUR SEASON OF WAITING IS BECAUSE YOU NEED PRUNING   I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:1-2 NLT   “My child, don't make light of the lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” Hebrews 12:5-6 NLT   HE CANNOT BE A GOD THAT LOVES AND A GOD THAT IGNORES BECAUSE THEY CONTRADICT THEMSELVES.   We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans 5:3-4 NLT   Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalms 51:7-10 NLT   SOMETIMES YOUR SEASON OF WAITING IS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO START SOWING     SOWING IN SHORT IS OBEDIENCE AND THAT IS THE FOUNDATION THAT PRODUCES GROWTH.   8. YOU MUST SURRENDER   May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NLT     He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39 NLT   While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9 NLT   God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:22 NLT   If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: Your towns and your fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven! The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. Deuteronomy 28:1-8 NLT

Matthew 16:24 NLT  // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. You can't carry your cross and your opinion at the same time. Proverbs 11:24 MSG  // The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. We GIVE to WORSHIP, not GIVE to GET Forgiveness Luke 17:1, 3-5  // Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come… So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,' you must forgive them.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” What do you do when you're really hurt? FORGIVENESS IS NOT: Minimizing the seriousness of the offense. Reconciliation. Forgetting what happened. Forgiveness is a one player game Why don't we forgive? We don't think it's fair. Matthew 18:21-35  // Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants... This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” - Anne Lamont We don't think we can do it. Philippians 4:13  //  I can do everything through him who gives me strength. We don't feel like it. Choices lead, feelings follow. Forgiveness is a choice. How do I respond? 1. Pray for them. Matthew 5:43-44  //  “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 2. Bless them. Luke 6:27-28  // But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Romans 12:14  // Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 3. Do good to them. Romans 12:17-21  // Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Ephesians 4:31-32  // Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Forgiven people forgive people.

Matthew 16:24 NLT  //  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Give up. Take up. Follow. We've settled for a comfortable faith. We need to trade our comfortable faith for a functional faith. Matthew 4:18-22 NLT  //  One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.  Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.  A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. 1. Listen to Jesus Jesus called, they listened. 2. Follow Jesus wherever He leads Matthew 4:19  //  Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” You have to learn before you lead. You attract who you are. 3. Release the things that keep us from Jesus Matthew 4:22 NLT  //  They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. What are you holding onto that is holding you back from all that God has for you? Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. You can't carry your cross and your opinion at the same time. 4. Receive the authority of Jesus Matthew 10:1-8 NLT  // Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James's brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God's lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Your mission is collaborative and collective in the church. Your gifting is unique.

Prayer can be complicated. But it doesn't have to be. So join me over the next few weeks as we look how we can get a better understanding of prayer so it doesn't have to be complicated. [1] “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” - Mark 1:35 NIV “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.” - Matthew 14:22-23 NLT “Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, ‘Sit here while I go over there to pray.'” Matthew 26:36 NLT “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.” - Luke 6:12 NLT [2] “‘Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'” - Jeremiah 33:2-3 MSG [3] “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34) “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34) “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46)

In 1956 the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. described the goal of the boycotts he had led to advocate for desegregation. At a victory rally, he said, “The end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the Beloved Community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opponents into friends.  I think 68 years ago he knew what I was going to preach on today, because I'm after the exact same result… reconcile & redeemThe etymology of “RE" a powerful prefix directly from the Latin means; a going back to its original place, to make new, to undo, to have again “to turn” rem - that Redeem—to “receive back by paying the obligation"Today begins with some reflection, rehearsing, reiterating, repetitiveness and redundancy OK I'm done with the re-wordsMatt 3:16&17 NLT After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”"Great joy" because of what he'd done? No! Who he was, his son!Matt 4:1-4 NLT Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”And the identity Challenge begins…Jesus should know his identity, the father said who he was… but the enemy attacks anywaythe enemy wants Jesus in a "Performance trap” & you in one too!Stones/Bread—"Man shall not live on bread…"Top/Temple—Foot/Stone “You Shall not test the Lord…”Mountain/kingdoms—bow/worship “worship the Lord and serve only him"see it? He wants to position Jesus in a place where he serves him…He does the same with you, for some it's working… and to that I say "Repent" let me explain…So Jesus has been baptized, tested & tempted Now Jesus has moved to CapernaumSo what's the first thing he says to begin his ministry?Still in Matthew 4:17 NIV From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Repent His very 1st word…I had such a REligious understanding of REpentto “repent" was meant to beat me up, tear me up & make me feel undeserving Where I should fall on my face, and recognize what a horrible person I was…The problem? I'd do all that, cry, run to the altar, confirm my unworthiness & admit I was a dog!I'd even promise God that I'd never do again, what I just did again — that I promised the last time I repented that I'd never do again…And that cycle continued without any freedom or breakthroughBecause my understanding was so wrongSo what does "repent" Really mean? Recall the meaning of “RE”?Turn around, go back, make new & undoREPENT—met-an-o-eh'-o = often an emotion causing us to think differently, re-consider — to turn & go a different direction…my emotion? I'd feel horrible replaying my wrong doing never dreaming I was still in right standing our emotions should be that of grateful & thankful knowing that are wrong doing didn't take us out of right standingWhen Jesus said "repent for the kingdom is near" he was imploring us, to draw near - not pull awayJesus said "repent" to takeoff off self-performance issues, the enemy & people have put on usExamine The context here? In God's Kingdom you don't have to prove, or perform, to validate who you areif repent was meant for us to beat ourselves up, then why'd Jesus take a beating for us?What we need to repent of (turn from) is the worthless worm, dead dog mentality…Repent & be redirected to the thoughts that God has of youOur father God's heart to repent is to redirect you, restore you and to reconcile you to Him 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, (Good to know - no effort/work on my part) who reconciled us (PT) to himself through Christ and gave us (PT) the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Oh he's committed it to us, but are we committed to it?It's Not about us being reconciled, but about us helping others be restored & redeemedSee how the father reconciled our sins? "In Christ, God's not counting" KJV “not imputing their trespasses”That's not a message that makes people feel badGreek says "God's not taking inventory" if there's no inventory, then the warehouse is emptyYet some of us not only take inventory, we label our sins by categoryI used to "remind" people of their sins, but I repented & now I'm committed to God's message of reconciliationWhich means To be restored by God's divine grace, by making atonement for usLook at all this…If you are in Christ — you are brand new youWhat's past is past, God did it all — no work to be done…He brought you and he bought you - the finished work purchased by ChristTo repent, redirects us, to remind us, that He's redeemed us & restored usAnd When you're restored, you're better than before (1967 Candy apple red convertible Camaro)

His Father Was His Reason.    “Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn't know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?” But they didn't understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” -Luke‬ ‭2:46-52‬ ‭NLT‬‬   Being Right Wasn't His Reason.   “When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.” -Luke‬ ‭4:28-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬   Labels Weren't His Reason.   “Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” -John‬ ‭1:45-48‬ ‭NLT‬‬   His Reference Wasn't His Reason.   “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” -Luke‬ ‭22:42‬ ‭NLT‬‬   “Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.” -Luke‬ ‭23:46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” -‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:17-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬   KEEP IT SIMPLE: Do What Jesus Said And Do What Jesus Did. What Jesus said- “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” -Matthew‬ ‭22:36-40 NLT What Jesus did- “Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” -Matthew‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, ‘I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.'” -Matthew 15:32 NLT Commitment To God Is Commitment To People. Obedience Is How You Build Your Life. “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” -Matthew 7:24-27 NLT Be More Committed To Jesus Than Consumed By Circumstances.  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” -Philippians‬ ‭4:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬  Make The World Better. Don't Let The World Break You.  “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” -Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NLT

Guilt - Religion & the Right SeatPoint #1 The Guilt GameGUILT: That feeling of deserving blame especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacyPoint #2 Religious ObligationsMatthew 23:1-3 TPT Then Jesus addressed both the crowds and his disciples and said, “The religious scholars and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat as the authorized interpreters of the Law. So listen and follow what they teach, but don't do what they do, for they tell you one thing and do another. Matthew 23:4 TPT They tie on your backs an oppressive burden of religious obligations and insist that you carry them, but will never lift a finger to help ease your loadPoint #3 The Right Seat, is the Right Seat!Matthew 11:28 NLT Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.Matthew 11:29-30 NLT Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”Eph 2:6 NIV And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…Hebrews 1:3 NLT The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.Hebrews 12:2 Prms Keep your eyes focused and fixed - fastened on the eyes of Jesus, our champion and the one who perfects our faith. It was because of the joy before Him, that Joy beyond the cross that He endured the cross and you are His joy! The pain and shame meant nothing, as He was finishing the work He came to do. And then He sat down, in the place of honor He alone deserves, seated at the right hand of God our Father.

It's hard to talk with people who have known you for a long time, especially about spiritual matters. They think they know you. In most cases, they're right, but not with Jesus.Mark 6:4 NLT Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myeveningdevotional.substack.com

Gen 2:8-9 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen. 2:15-17 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Gen 3:1-7 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'” “You won't die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. #1. Temptation diminishes our view of God. Psalm 119 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don't let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. #2. Temptation downplays sins Consequences. Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? #3. Temptation elevates me over Him. Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT) My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

We Do Our Part God Does His | Obedience 6.13.6 Matthew 16:24 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 1 Samuel 15:1-3 (NLT) One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! 2 This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 1. God's instructions may not make sense to us, but they are still HIS instructions. 1 Samuel 15:4-6 (NLT) So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from Judah. 5 Then Saul and his army went to a town of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Saul sent this warning to the Kenites: “Move away from where the Amalekites live, or you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites packed up and left. 1 Samuel 15:7-9 (NLT) Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. 8 He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. 9 Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. 2. There is no such thing as being obedient enough Mark 10:17-22 (NASB) As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 1 Samuel 15:10-15 (NLT) Then the Lord said to Samuel, 11 “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. 12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord's command!” 14 “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded. 15 “It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.” 3. The battle is not ours, and the victory is not ours. 1 Samuel 15:16-22 (NLT) Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the Lord told me last night!” “What did he tell you?” Saul asked. 17 And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel. 18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' 19 Why haven't you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord's sight?” 20 “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. 21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 4. There is nothing more precious to God than your obedience. 1 John 5:1-5 (NLT) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Psalm 119:57-64 (NLT) 57 Lord, you are mine!     I promise to obey your words! 58 With all my heart I want your blessings.     Be merciful as you promised. 59 I pondered the direction of my life,     and I turned to follow your laws. 60 I will hurry, without delay,     to obey your commands. 61 Evil people try to drag me into sin,     but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. 62 I rise at midnight to thank you     for your just regulations. 63 I am a friend to anyone who fears you—     anyone who obeys your commandments. 64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;     teach me your decrees.

A New Step Matthew 3:13-17 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 (NLT) Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT) 1. Baptism is saying to the world, “I belong to Christ!” So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT) “If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT) 2. Baptism is showing I've died to my old life. Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. Romans 6:3-4a (NLT) Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:5-7 (NLT) 3. Baptism is living a new life. …And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:4b (NLT)

The Comparison TrapPart 1: The Curse of ComparisonEcclesiastes 4:4 (GNT) – I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.Comparison Always Results In:1. JealousyJealousy makes us resent God's goodness in other people's lives and ignore God's goodness in our own lives. 1 Samuel 18:6-7 (NLT) – When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. 7 This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”1 Samuel 18:8-9 (NLT) – This made Saul very angry. “What's this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they'll be making him their king!” 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.2. PrideLuke 18:9-10 (NLT) – Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.Luke 18:11 (NLT) – The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!Luke 18:12 (NLT) – I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'Luke 18:13-14 (NLT) – “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”Pride is man's path to pursue favor; humility is God's path to give it to you.---------------------------------------Visit our Website

Sermon Notes - February 28, 2021LUKE: Misunderstood - Grant Hickman Called for Action Called for Purpose Luke 4:14-19 (NLT) Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written. “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come. Luke 4:20-22 (NLT) He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you've just heard has been fufilled this very day!” Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn't this Joseph's son?” Luke 4:23-24 (NLT) Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself' —meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.' But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. Luke 4:25-27 (NLT) “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent to a foreigner—a widow of Zaraphath in the land of Sidon. “And many in Israel had leprosy in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.” Luke 4:28-30 (NLT) When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. - A- - - B- - - - - C- - - - - - - D- - - - - C- - - B- A Luke 4:14-19 (NLT) “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come. Are you blind? We are called to be FOR others

To continue our series on the Gospel of Luke, Grant Hickman teaches through Luke 4:14-30. Sermon Notes - February 21, 2021LUKE: Misunderstood - Grant Hickman Called for Action Called for Purpose Luke 4:14-19 (NLT) Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written. “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come. Luke 4:20-22 (NLT) He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you've just heard has been fufilled this very day!” Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn't this Joseph's son?” Luke 4:23-24 (NLT) Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself' —meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.' But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. Luke 4:25-27 (NLT) “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent to a foreigner—a widow of Zaraphath in the land of Sidon. “And many in Israel had leprosy in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.” Luke 4:28-30 (NLT) When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. - A- - - B- - - - - C- - - - - - - D- - - - - C- - - B- A Luke 4:14-19 (NLT) “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come. Are you blind? We are called to be FOR others

Thank you for joining us online this weekend! Message Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/48452344 Taking a break is about TRUSTING GOD. Mark 2:27 NLT Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. Livestream Schedule: SATURDAY 6:15 PM SUNDAY 9 AM, 11:30 AM To get to know us more, be sure to check out our website: http://www.coastalcommunity.tv --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coastalchurch/message

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourdailybible)

Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 27The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourdailybible)

Today, the opening scene is Jesus, just before His arrest, trials, and crucifixion. (Matthew 26:36-39, 45-46 NLT) Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he came to the disciples and said, “… look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” (Matthew 26:36-39, 45-46 NLT) The most courageous moment in the history of humankind is when Jesus made the final decision to redeem us. As fully human, like you or me…He stood at the last crossroads before the actual cross and said yes for us. The turning point in that battle was when He stated, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” In our final day of this week’s series on courage, the way we may live in confidence and express courage in the face of any trial is by stating to God: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Think about the stories we have visited this week, David, Gideon, Ruth, and Esther—each one had to come to the place of saying “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Even David the warrior would have preferred to not risk his life that day, but he knew there was a much higher purpose for his life than protecting sheep. Where in your life today are you battling a decision or struggling with a calling? Where do you need to let go and follow Jesus into saying, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” And even repeat His words: “Look—the time has come. Up—let’s be going.” The reality for you, though, is that your decision will not end in death. In fact, your personal courage could potentially create far more life than you ever knew before. Let’s pray: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You made the choice for me in the garden. You chose God’s will for redemption and sacrificed your own will and life. Help me now to follow Your example and continually say to You: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” As above, so below.”

Remember Who You Are by Pastor Sharon Kelly 1. We are Christ followers. Matthew 16:24 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 11:29 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out […] The post Remember Who You Are appeared first on Wave Church.

Facing Crisis Matthew 8:1-27 Matthew 8:23-25 (NLT) Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Big Idea: Jesus can be trusted in the storm. 1. Crisis is a launch pad for God’s activity. 2. Crisis can blindside us at times. 3. Crisis doesn’t affect everyone the same way. 4. God invites us to say no to fear and yes to faith. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/palmharvest/message

(apologies for sounds quality) http://ordinaryfaith.net/sermons/live-in-the-same-way-as-jesus/ Part 2 of 3 - The An Old Path to a New Day Series We have all likely worked for (or lived with) someone who didn't just want something done, but they wanted it done theirway. It’s also likely that the situation presented some definite challenges to overcome. The same was true with Jesus and His disciples. Jesus lived in an entirely different way. Followers of Jesus, or disciples, must learn to live His way. That is what Jesus meant in: Matthew 16:24 (NLT) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me. Jesus invites us into His Kingdom which is far different than the place many of us reside. Today we will talk about how that different Kingdom produces a different way of living.

  Fruitfulness is the natural outcome of healthy fruit trees and believers. It's how we glorify God and demonstrate that we are disciples of Christ. So of course we want to be fruitful. Recently, I talked with you about  "What it mean to follow Jesus." Jesus describes the qualifications in Matthew 16:24 NLT Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.   (If you missed myblog/ podcast, What does it mean to follow Jesus? Here’s the link. I'll put it at the bottom of this post as well.)  I've also put the link for the cheat sheet and the outline for this week's podcast. I’ve got to tell you that in John 15, Jesus takes the relationship of a believer or follower of Christ to a whole ‘nother level! His challenge and command deepens both the relationship and the responsibility from following to abiding. More than following...abiding! Let’s look at John 15. Jesus is painting a word picture that they will understand readily, but it takes some explaining when you have not been exposed to an Agrarian culture and mindset. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Pruning seems brutal. Don’t forget the hands that hold the pruning shear belong to the Father that loves you passionately. Pruning is essential for fruitfulness. Don’t resist the pruning. Allow God to prune you, to shape you, to remove the things in your life that distract and rob you of the vitality to produce the fruit He has called you to produce. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Never doubt the power of God’s Word to clean, to prune; even train us. Hebrews 4:12 NIV For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Bible is so much more than information for your brain… 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. Your ability cannot produce the fruit that God is expecting from your life. You must stay connected. Do you see the mandate? Not just follow Jesus, but abide in Him! It happens at the new birth. What a life changing event! 1 John 4:15   If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. Jesus purchased our redemption; paid our debt of sin. When we confess, or agree with God, Believe on Jesus and accept His gift, the result is He is in us and we are in Him. The root stock is the source of life for the branch. The root stock drinks the water and nutrients; turns them into sap and sends them off to the branches. The sap is the life blood of the grapevine. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. If we abide= fruitfulness. Don’t abide= no fruit. NONE! Do you want to be fruitful? Where is fruitfulness on your list of priorities?   You have a part in this process. How are you abiding in Him? What area can you grow in that process? That requires action on our part…so understanding what and how to do that is very important. What does God say about abiding in Him? Abide. What do you believe God is saying when He tells us to abide in Him? 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”     But to put it in context of Scripture I believe abiding is best described from Thayer’s Bible Dictionary https://biblehub.com/greek/3306.htm “to maintain unbroken fellowship with one.” What do you hear Jesus saying to you in this verse? I hope you’ll spend some prayerful thought on this verse before you answer. God wants to lead you deeper in Him. It’s a very personal thing. How do I maintain unbroken fellowship on my end?   What about you? Does His Word challenge you to abide in Him? What does that challenge look like to you?   Stay in the Word. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. When His Word abides in us, we can expect answered prayers. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Your fruitfulness brings glory to God. Did you see that the Father is glorified and it proves that we are His disciples. 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. Obey Obey is one of the biggest little words in the Bible. It doesn't need to be explained. It just needs to be done. Joy 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. His joy in you! Wow! Not temporary laughter or pleasure...I love to laugh and have fun...but you can have His enduring joy...His joy...in you! His joy isn't fragile! Download this week's cheat sheet. To get even more from this blog/podcast. Click here to download the outline for this blog/podcast. While we're on the subject... here's more blogs that will help you abide in Jesus. What does it mean to follow Jesus? Believe to Receive Looking for a speaker for your next conference or to minister in your church. Text me at 904 287-2869 or email me at pat@patriciaholland.                                                                                    

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. Sometimes we trust people better than we do Jesus. Jesus says “Follow Me.” This command isn’t just for people in the Bible. It’s for us too. 1 Peter 2:21 NLT For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. How can I follow Jesus if I can’t see Him? Matt 16:24 NLT Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. There are numerous things we see in Jesus example… Suffering is the one He listed here . But His example also includes His Love Knowledge of Scripture Prayer Life Miracles John 14:12 NLT “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. I want to give you a reminder to put in a 5X7 frame in your house. See the link below. And why was going to the Father so significant?   Following God had been the real question Israel faced 40 years prior to the event in Joshua 3. Joshua 3:2 NIV After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits (about ½ mile) between you and the ark; do not go near it.” God was saying “Follow the ark.” Why was that so important? They had never been that way before. Follow the ark is a picture of following Jesus. Obey Him at a new level. Go deeper. Grow your faith. Who do you need to witness to? Who do you need to have over for dinner to encourage them? What is your step of obedience! What was so special about the Ark? I am so glad you asked that question…you did ask, didn’t you? It’s a picture of Jesus. It helps us know Jesus better! Hebrews 9:1NLT That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. 2There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. 3Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. 4In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.   How is the Ark of the Covenant a picture of Jesus? The Ark was made of wood Overlaid with gold- Jesus- fully God and fully man Lid of the Ark of the Covenant Pure gold. The gold represented God. Only God can redeem us. We call it the Mercy Seat. That name comes from the word comes "khapporet" which simply means to make atonement, restitution or amends. Blood on the lid once a year. The atonement- Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:14-15) Covering- the blood of animals could not cleanse sin, it could only cover it. Jesus, the lamb of God gave His life to cleanse us from sin completely. Meeting place Moses met with God and God talked to him from the Ark. (Exodus 25:22) God wants to meet with you. Talk to you.   Inside the Ark Laws of God- His covenant with believers that was fulfilled in Christ Pot of Manna- Provision Aaron’s rod that budded- Spiritual Authority Follow the ark When the Israelites were instructed to follow the ark they were following more than ideology, they were following God. They were following the picture of a promise that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus. He is both the atonement and the High Priest of the atonement. He is the final authority. He satisfied the covenant so you can enjoy the benefits of that covenant. Obedience is not like a buffet where you can pick and choose. Even when His ways seem hard, follow Jesus. You not following Jesus if you are doing things YOUR way. You can’t follow Jesus running ahead of Him. I want to give you a free reminder. I like to have reminders in my home and on my phone that help me remember truths that are important to me. I made two simple reminders for you that simply say “Follow Jesus” that will fit in a 5X7 frame that you can put beside your bed or wherever you will see it to remind you during your day. When you see the reminder, ask yourself, "Did I follow Jesus today?"  In my choices? attitudes?  with my time? with my talents?    I encourage you to change your reminder when you need a different one. Free Reminder- Follow Jesus Tree Background- http://traffic.libsyn.com/preview/patriciaholland/follow-Jesus-trees-5-7.jpg White Background- http://traffic.libsyn.com/preview/patriciaholland/remember-follow-jesus.jpg      

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 28 (NLT) "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”What comfort we can find knowing that we don't have to be driven to perfection as the world prescribes, but rather we can be led our Lord who does all the heavy lifting on our behalf. So don't be driven.....be led!Melbourne Inclusive Church (MIC) boldly and proudly proclaims Christ’s equal love for all people regardless of their ability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, gender or culture

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 28 (NLT) "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”What comfort we can find knowing that we don't have to be driven to perfection as the world prescribes, but rather we can be led our Lord who does all the heavy lifting on our behalf. So don't be driven.....be led!Melbourne Inclusive Church (MIC) boldly and proudly proclaims Christ’s equal love for all people regardless of their ability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, age, gender or culture

2018/8/26 David Yu Categories: Video: https://hongkong.mylifehouse.com/tv/message/in-jesus-you-are-on-the-winning-side *在耶穌裡、你必得勝* *In Jesus, you are on the winning side* 約翰福音 16章33節 (NCV) 我把這些事告訴你們，是要使你們在我裡面有平安。在世上你們有患難風暴，但你們放心，我已經勝了這世界。 John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. ‭‭ 約書亞記1章2-7節 (NCV) 2 “我的僕人摩西死了；現在你要起來，和全體人民過這約旦河，到我現在要賜給他們以色列人的地去。3 你們腳掌踏過的每一處地方，我都照著我應許摩西的賜給你們了。4 從曠野和這黎巴嫩，直到大河，就是幼發拉底河，赫人的全地，以至大海日落的地方，就是你們的疆界。5 你一生的日子必沒有一人能在你面前立得住；我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在；我決不離開你，也不離棄你。6 你要堅強勇敢，因為你必使這人民得著我曾經向他們列祖起誓，要賜給他們的那地作產業。7 你只要堅強，十分勇敢，謹守遵行我僕人摩西吩咐你的一切律法，不可偏離左右，好使你無論到哪裡去，都可以亨通。 Joshua‬ ‭1:2-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 拿出勇氣去打美好的的仗 Go forth and fight with courage 提摩太前書 6章12節 (CUV) 12 你要為真道打那美好的仗、持定永生．你為此被召．也在許多見證人面前、已經作了那美好的見證。 ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 聆聽正確的聲音 Listen to the right voices 馬太福音 26章36節 (CUV) 耶穌同門徒來到一個地方、名叫客西馬尼、就對他們說、你們坐在這裏、等我到那邊去禱告。 Matthew‬ ‭26:36‬ ‭NLT‬ Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 發出讚美的聲音 Sing out a song of praise 詩篇 103章1-2節 (CUV) 我的心哪、你要稱頌耶和華．凡在我裏面的、也要稱頌他的聖名。 我的心哪、你要稱頌耶和華、不可忘記他的一切恩惠 Psalms‬ ‭103:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

The Pharisees weren’t ready for Jesus.    They weren’t prepared. They had not trained for this.    They had studied and memorized and perfected all of the traditions to a “T”…But they weren’t ready for Jesus.    They had signed up for this life of religious duty to be living examples; to be guardians of God’s word; to be teachers and moral compasses for other Jews looking to grow in their faith… They were comfortable with pointing out the faults in others, and holding each other to incredibly high standards… They believed the way to please God was by meticulously following a long list of rules and regulations.613, to be exact.    So, as you can imagine, they weren’t ready for Jesus.    Theywereready to preserve thelast thing God had done, and continue passing it down from generation to generation—They were ready toPRESERVEwhat God had said500 years agoand keep it safe and shiny and preserved…    They were ready to be preservatives in the last batch of bread God made… but Jesus wasn’t looking for preservatives; he was looking for yeast. Something wild and active to work its way through theNEW THING He was up to.    The Pharisees weren’tready for thenew thing God was doing in their midst.    Here was this no name, blue collar guy from Nazareth(“Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?”John 1:46) And he was causing quite a stir.    By all measurable standards, Jesus was athreatto what the Pharisees were doing.  He didn’t follow in-step with what the Pharisees had defined as the social norm.  He broke the rules. The Pharisees were all pointed this way but Jesus hada new direction.    It would be like someone that would come to our church service and stand up in the middle to interrupt with some sort ofuncomfortableidea. I don’t know how honest you’re willing to be, but if someone just stood up and starting causing a ruckus here my first reaction would be“Jake! GET HIM! Get him outta here!” Because Jake is my personal body guard.    The Pharisees weren’t ready for Jesus.    I want to share today from Luke 6, a moment in Jesus’ life where He breaks the Law, and then we’ll “turn the gem” to see a few layers deeper of what Jesus was up to.    In this series, we’re using this metaphor of “turning the gem.” It’s a phrase we borrowed from the Jewish tradition where Rabbis talk about scripture having 70 faces. Just like a gem, when you turn it, or allow the sun to shine through it, you will see somethingnewandoften unexpected.So each week, we read a story from Jesus’ life, and then turn the gem to reveal a few other angles and facets of what was really going on.    Let’s read today’s text,Luke 6:1-11 NLT One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain. 2 But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus replied, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions.” 5 And Jesus added, “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.” Jesus Heals on the Sabbath 6 On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. 7 The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. 9 Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” Matthew12:11-12 “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” 10 He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 11 At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.   Jesus breaks the Law.  (The first part of this text, Jesus and his disciples are walking through some grain fields is actually where this tattoo comes from.) It was known amongst the Jewish community that Sabbath was taken very seriously. This was something that God himself ordered us to observe. And it wasn’t some obscure holiday only happening once a year—This wasweekly. At this point in Jesus’ life, He had literally experienced over 1,500 Sabbaths. None of these actions were by accident.    This was Jesusintentionallyandstrategicallychallenging the Pharisees—who are symbolic of the status quo, the societal norm, the accepted culture at the time.    Jesus is poking, prodding, agitating thesespecific rulesthe Pharisees—and most of the Jewish people—were following.He was redefining what Sabbath meant.It wasn’t a day simply to follow as many rules as possible. It was a day to behuman. To rest from work, to acknowledge the Lord as Creator and provider, and to be a “humanbeing” rather than a “humandoing” the other 6 days of the week.    Jesus had this wedge driving into the legalism of the Pharisees, and He was prying it open… Proving to them that their rules were getting in the way of God.Their rules were getting in the way of God. Beyond that: These rules were getting in the way of Jesus being Jesus.    I wonder if we ever let “rules” get in the way ofusbeing Jesus…    What a radical teaching…Here were these rules supposedly established by God in the Old Testament. 39 categories of activities that the Mishnah explicitly says are prohibited: Sowing, Plowing, Reaping, Kneading, Baking, Shearing wool, Weaving, Trapping, Slaughtering, Building, Demolishing, Starting a fire, extinguishing a fire, putting the “finishing touch” on an object…    And Jesus says… “No, no, no… These rules and regulations are actually getting the way ofgoodthings happening.”    MARK 2:27 NLT Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”    This—my friends—was radical.    Jesus was saying, “You’re beingtoo literal… You’re beingTOO LITERALwith what God has revealed to you. These boundaries were supposed tohelpyou to enjoy the Sabbath, not begrudgingly submit to it. These were guidelines from a loving Father, not rules from a sadistic monster. You’ve missed the point.”    And thank God—Jesus was willing to confront it. And challenge them. God Himself, in the flesh, helping us realize many of the rules we were following were missing the heart of God entirely.    Now that’s sort of what’s happening on the surface… The first facet of this story.    I want toTURN THE GEM here a bitand look at what Jesus is doing. Jesus was valuing the “spirit of the law” over the “letter of the law.” The SPIRIT over the LETTER. Maybe you’re familiar with these phrases… This is essentially the debate in politics around the Constitution—What did the founding fathers mean when they wrote what they wrote? This is the world ofINTERPRETATION, and it’s a murky water we’re stepping into.    Letter vs. Spirit. When someone obeys theletterof the law but not thespirit, they're obeying the literal interpretation of the words (the "letter") of the law, butnot necessarily the intent of those who wrote it.    2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 NIV He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.   Paul goes on to write about the previous covenant that Moses wrote down on tablets of stone, and how this New Covenant is written on the tablets of our hearts.Paul is distinguishing from an old way of writing down rules and following rules and a new way that is written on our hearts by the Spirit of the Living God.    Letter vs. Spirit is the reason our Constitution has 27 Amendments to it. Within 2 years of it being ratified, 10 new amendments were submitted for ratification. Clarifications on the interpretation, to make sure the SPIRIT of the Constitution was upheld over the LETTER. A literal reading, void of emotional intelligence and human conscience, would leave loopholes for people to exploit. Hence the amendments…    And over time, as humanity progressed, new amendments were made to uphold SPIRIT over LETTER. 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude. 15th Amendment allowing any race to vote. 19th Amendment allowing women to vote.   All of this: Jesus breaking the Law and confronting the Pharisees is Jesusdoing away with legalism. I believe that Jesus never wanted us tofocus on rulesandaccidentally miss God’s heart in the process.    Jesus valuedfeeding His disciplesover and abovefollowing the Law around Sabbath. As did King David.    The Parable of the Good Samaritanis one of Jesus’ most famous parables—these little story-illustrations that Jesus would use to drive home a point. They’re memorable, they’re meaningful… Jesus knew that the way to our hearts was through story.    It’s documented inLuke 10:25-37, when anexpert in religious law stood up to test Jesus… (Don’t you wish you had half the courage of that guy? Standing up to “TEST”Jesus?) He gives Jesus a pop-quiz about the Old Testament (“Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”) and Jesus does His typical Jesus-thing and responds with a question of His own:“What does the Law of Moses say? How doyou read it?”    27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”   Verse 30: “Jesus replied with a story…”    Oh man, if Jesus replies with a story, you know you’re in for it. Look out, “expert in religious law,” you’re about to have your tail handed to you.    So Jesus tells this story…  LUKE 10:30-37  Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along,(Disabled, transexual Muslim) and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them.(Oh, 1st century medicine how I love you) Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.   This is a beautiful story, and I don’t miss what Jesus did here: A priest (“expert in religious law”) and a Temple Assistant both have an opportunity to respond in love to this wounded man. They’rebothgiven the opportunity andbothallowGod’s RULESto get in the way ofbeing Jesus in that man’s life.   The Priest and the Temple Assistant uphold theletter of the lawOVER thespirit of the law and they miss the opportunity to “Be Jesus” in that wounded man’s life.    MATTHEW 25:42-45 NLT 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’   Have you ever recognized an opportunity to be Jesus in someone’s life, but then you had all these second thoughts and fears creep in…“What will people think of me? What if ‘so and so’ finds out? What will my pastor think if I’m seen hanging out with that type of crowd?”    I find it happening all the time in my life… For me, (and this is just me personally), I find that I’m surrounded by people in theLGBT communitythat are hurting… People that have been beaten up by the Church and left on the side of the road. People that see “experts in religious law” and “temple assistants” crossing to the other side of the street and avoiding them for fear of being made unclean… on their way to do their religious duties.    I see opportunities to be Jesus in these people’s lives and then… the second thought comes. There’s always that damn second thought…  And I wonder what people at Harbor might think or me.  And I worry about folks on Facebook and what they might think of me.  And I’m paralyzed.    People in the LGBT community need to know the love of Jesus, and they need to be served and supported and treated with dignity and be told that they are sons and daughters of the King, just like you and me… but for me, the traditional understanding of the “rules” get in the way, and more times than not, I do nothing.    And it’s not just the LGBT community, that’s just an example.I see womenthat have clearly been given the gift of teaching and preaching and leadership being told by their senior pastors and male-dominant elder boards that 1 Timothy 2:12 clearly says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”    And I wonder if we’re letting theletter of the lawoverrule the Spirit…    Luckily, our leadership has done important work over the last few years for women and recognized these “few and far between” verses were culturally specific—for a specific time and place [NEW ROMAN WOMAN]—not God’s eternal timeless will for all of mankind.But realizing that took an enormous amount of work.    There are over 20 verses in the Old Testament that explicitly call us to sacrifice animals as worship to God.  But then David spoke out against it, the prophet Hosea reaffirmed it, and then Jesus Himself quotes Hosea, saying"I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”  Thank God, for the animals AND us, that we recognize those texts were for a specific place and time, not God’s eternal timeless will for all of mankind.  There are dozens of Old Testament & New Testament texts condoning slavery (and indentured servitude). But thank God we recognized that those texts were for a specific place and time, not God’s eternal timeless will for all of mankind.  There are 6 verses in the Bible that mention homosexuality, (the word “homosexual” not showing up in English translations until the 1940s) none of which I believe are talking about the same monogamous, faithful, same-sex relationships we’re seeing in 2018.  There’s 1 verse in the NT banning women from leadership.And yet that’s all it took for centuries of women being barred from teaching, preaching, leading worship, etc.    When Jesus broke these “laws” surrounding Sabbath, He was boldly teaching us how to interpret Scripture…    If following the law means that people go hungry?Break the law. Jesus did. If following the law means that people go un-healed?Break the law. Jesus did. If following the law means that hurting people go unloved?Break the law. Jesus did.   I believe that the beauty of even having the Old Testament available to us also presents some theological problems to resolve… butthey’re worth resolving. EVERYTHING humanity knew of God, prior to Jesus, needs to be re-evaluated in light of Jesus. Every Old Testament text, every Psalm, every tradition… When Jesus came to the earth, suffered at the hands of man and then was resurrected… That changed everything.And as a result, we now must read the Bible backwards.    We start with Jesus and then go back into these previous texts.Ifany interpretationof God’s character or heart in the OT isn’t accurate to the face of Jesus,then it isn’t fully accurate.Jesus was teaching us to interpret the Scriptures in this exact way with how He lived (and broke the “law”) on the Sabbath.    I’m not saying we need to do away with the Old Testament,I’m saying we need to read it through the lens of Jesus.Jesus is the most accurate picture humanity has ever seen of God.    Jesus, in the middle of His sermon on the mount (maybe when He noticed people were starting to get ruffled and bothered by this “You’ve heard it said but I now say to you…” stuff…   MATTHEW 5:17-18 NLT 17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.   Jesus says that He didn’t come to throw away the Torah, but to accomplish everything it was trying to accomplish. Not to abolish the Law but to FULFILL it…    So the question must be asked:“Did Jesus accomplish what He came to accomplish? Did He fulfill the Law?”I believe yes.Jesus didn’t say the Law and the prophets were somehowuntrue, but He certainly said that they wereunfulfilled. They weren’t complete as is. If they were, He wouldn’t have come.    Jesus Himself is the Word of God, and I believe He’s still speaking through His spirit to us today.He’s teaching us how toBe Jesusin a day and age ofsocial media, and24 hour news cycles, andglobalization… We know more now than any culture in the history of humanity. If something terrible happens in Tibet, we see in 10 minutes later on the news. We can hop on Skype and video chat with someone in Tasmania right now.   The Bible doesn’t have specific verses in it about how to honor one another on Facebook threads, or how to honor God with your BitCoin… Or how to love your crazyDemocratneighbor or your crazyRepublicanneighbor.The United States of America didn’t even exist when these men and women were writing and compiling the Scriptures...That’s why we have theSpirit of Godto speak directly to us about how tobe Jesusin 2018.    1 THESSALONIANS 5:19-21 NLT 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. (then) Hold on to what is good.   Testeverything,filtereverything, and then hold on to what is good.    Brian Zahndsays this:  “God has a face and he looks like Jesus. God has a disposition toward sinners and it’s the spirit of Jesus. This is the beautiful gospel… God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus; we haven’t always known this, but now we do… God is not a sadistic monster who abhors sinners and dangles them over a fiery pit. God is exactly how Jesus depicted him in his most famous parable: a father who runs to receive, embrace, and restore his prodigal children.”    I fear that poor Bible interpretation over the years has gotten in the way of us trulyBEING JESUSin people’s lives… I worry when people uphold Old Testament texts that seemingly contradict the heart of Jesus (texts of violence, genocide… Any text depicting an Angry and exclusive God), and then they side with the Law instead of the Spirit.    I just had a lady tell me on Facebook that getting tattooed is a form of hating your body…Leviticus 19:28clearly says,“Do not mark your skin with tattoos.”But a few verses before it says that men can’t trim their beards, or eat your Filet Minion anything other than well-done. It also says we can’t cross-breed animals, so any of you that have a Labra-doodle or are eating Genetically-Modified corn at home—you’re breaking Levitical law.   I don’t bring this up to poke holes or have a light-hearted view of Scripture, I believe that this is actually having a HIGH VIEW of Scripture… one in which we dive as deep as we possibly can go, through every single verse in the Bible until we end back at Jesus.Any biblical interpretation that doesn’t end back at the image of God we see in Jesus isn’t good biblical interpretation.    I’m not saying you have to believe all of this exactly like I do, but you do need to study this as carefully and critically as I have.Having a high-view of Scripture means NOT just taking it at it’s face value. Dive deep.    2 TIMOTHY 3:16 AMP  16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable (and useful) for instruction, for conviction of sin, for correction, for training in righteousness...   It’s all helpful, it’s all useful…We just need to know how to apply it. Some scriptures are included in the Bible as examples of howNOTto act. The entire OT essentially proving that following a bunch of rules to impress God doesn’t work.Jesus came and shifted the entire conversation.    We need to follow Jesus. What did we see in Jesus as He walked the earth and interacted with the people in His life?Let’s live like that!    Jesus wasn't angry. Jesus wasn't exclusive. Jesus wasn’t afraid of other nationalities or sexual orientations or genetic anomalies… God is exactly how Jesus depicted him in his most famous parable: a father who runs to receive, embrace, and restore His prodigal children.    Jesus broke all sorts of cultural “rules” and flew in the face of stereotypes and prejudices.    I want to end with a few photographs[SERMON.jpg] from the artist David LaChapelle, because I think it helps us understand culturally how radical He was…    [INTERVENTION.jpg]In John 8, Jesus stands up for a woman caught in the act of adultery.    JOHN 8:3-11 NLT 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.   4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”   6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.   9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”   11 “No, Lord,” she said.   And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”   [ANOINTING.jpg]InLUKE 7:36-38 NLT 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt ...at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.   39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”   40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”   “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.   41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”   43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”   “That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.   47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”   49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”   50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”   [LAST SUPPER.jpg] The Pharisees weren’t ready for Jesus…Far too radical. Far too controversial. How dare this man redefine the Law and what it means to be in relationship with God the Father? How dare He…    But when I look around Harbor, I see Jesus at work. I see His spirit moving people to love people that aredifferentfrom them. People with different backgrounds, different cultures, different tax brackets and yes, even different sexual orientations.    I see God motivating all of us to be good Samaritans, even if we are despised in the eyes of the religious , to find the hurting people and nursing them back to emotional, spiritual, physical health… To help more and more people find their way back to God.    Let’s never let poor Biblical interpretation or previous, primitive ways of thinking get in the way of usbeing Jesusin people’s lives.    God is doing a new thing in our midst, and I pray, unlike the Pharisees, that we’re ready for it.    Let’s pray.

It Is Written - Week 03 - A Trustworthy Book 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 1 Peter 3:15 if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. Apologetics is the religious discipline of defending or attempting to prove the truth of religious doctrines through systematic argumentation and discourse. #1 It Is Historically Accurate Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right and true. 1. Eyewitness Accounts 2. Recorded And Copied With Extreme Care 3. Archaeological confirmation #2 Scientifically Accurate Psalm 148:5-6 (NLT) Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. 6  He set them in place forever and ever. Job 26:7 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. Jeremiah 33:22 the stars of the sky cannot be counted. Job 25:5 The moon… it shines not. Genesis 1:16 God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. Leviticus 17:11 (NLT) The life of the body is in its blood. Psalm 12:6 the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. #3 It Is Prophetically Accurate 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT) No prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. #4 It Is Thematically Unified The Bible is 66 books, written by 40 different authors, over 1,600 years, in 3 different languages, on 3 different continents. Luke 24:27 (NLT) Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. #5 It Is Trusted By Jesus One out of every 10 times Jesus spoke, he was quoting Scripture.  Matthew 5:18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. #6 It Has Survived 1 Peter 1:24-25 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. #7 It Has Transforming Power John 8:31-32 If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

“Stay in Awe” Awe: A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. Psalm 33:1-8 (NLT) For the word of the Lord holds true and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Psalm 33:1-8 (NLT) Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. Psalm 33:1-8 (NLT) Fear = respect / Awe = to dwell in; inhabit Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 (NLT) Embrace the JOURNEY “The progress a traveler makes is driven by His passion for the destination.” – Levi Lusko You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord… Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NIV) If you are going to seek Him with all your heart… you are going to have to leave what you've always known. King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” Matthew 2:3-4 (NLT) “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” Matthew 2:5-6 (NLT) Fight FAMILIARITY If we aren't careful, the FAMILIARITY of Christmas can steal from us the WONDER of Christmas. Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” Matthew 2:7-8 (NLT) Make a PERSONAL discovery Come near to God and he will come near to you… James 4:8 (NIV) After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9 (NLT) "You will never fully understand God... But you can constantly discover Him." - Brady Boyd When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 (NLT) Worship HIM What we worship… is what has our deepest attention and affection. Worship is not a religious duty… but a relational response. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1-4 (NLT) I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:1-4 (NLT) I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. Psalm 63:1-4 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) Worship establishes lordship. Worship eliminates pride. Worship exchanges burdens. Worship elevates Jesus.

(Luke 2:9-11) (NIV) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.Title: You (John 8:12) (NLT) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”(Acts 26:17-18) (NLT) Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.  The Law, The Love, The Light. 1.  The law reveals our guilt. (John 8:1-3) (NLT) Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.(John 8:4-5) (NLT) “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” Until we see ourselves as sinners we will not see our need for a Savior. 2. His love reveals His grace.(John 8:6)(NLT) They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.(John 8:7)(NLT) They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”(John 8:9)(NLT) When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.(John 8:10)(NLT) Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?”(John 8:11)(NIV) “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared.  The language of the dark speaks death, the language of the light speaks life.  (Luke 8:11)(NIV) “Go now and leave your life of sin.”3.  The Light reveals our hope.(Luke 8:12) (NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

REALationships: Don't give up. Culture doesn't have to define your relationships. You can be honest and real. In this series, we're going to get real with relationships and build strong families. We'll take a look at how to be real in our marriage, friendships, relationships, family and community Title of Message:  Keeping it Real The key ingredient to a successful relationship is authenticity.  The Love Stages: 1.    Wow 2.    Vow 3.    How 4.    Pow 5.    Now (Proverbs 20:25) (NIV) It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows.  1.    We get distracted (Mark 4:19) (GNT) but the worries about this life, the love for riches, and all other kinds of desires crowd in and choke the message, and they don't bear fruit. 2.    We get complacent (Romans 12:11) (GW) Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord.   How to have a REAL Marriage Relationship. 1.    Commit to pay the price.  Commitment: Be willing to be unhappy until we work it out. (Matthew 16:24) (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. (1 Corinthians 4:7) (NIRV) The wife's body does not belong only to her. It also belongs to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong only to him. It also belongs to his wife. 2.    Give it your best effort. (Proverbs 14:23) (RSV) In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to want. 3.    Keep your eyes on the prize. (Proverbs 4:25-27) (NLT) Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. 4.    Commit to Christ first. (2 Chronicles 16:9) (NLT) The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.