Podcasts about only god

We're back with Part 2 of this special conversation, continuing Cara's powerful journey toward redemption. Hear Cara describe the life-changing moment when she finally got honest with God and His grace became real. This episode beautifully illustrates God's relentless pursuit of our hearts and the tangible power of prayer. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and join us again!Got a question about today's episode or something else you'd like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! Episode recap:Start by writing down Micah 7: 7-8 (0:13)Jesus changed everything for Cara at this point in her story (3:30)Cara was living a double life, stuck in a cycle of rebellion and shame (9:40)A dear friend called Cara out (11:28)Dot's learning when to speak, when to act, and when to pray (12:47)Cara finally gets honest with the Lord (22:11)Pouring out her heart allowed light and God's grace to come in (24:04)Dot gave Cara over to God and focused on trusting the Lord (27:30)Cara no longer carries the weight of her sin, she is free because of Jesus (29:59)What does Micah 7:7-8 mean to Cara? (32:09)Only God can change a child's heart (38:33)Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at hello@dotbowen.com.Watch Write this Down! on YouTubeFind Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook Scripture Verse: Micah 7:7-8 (ESV)“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”

We all want what someone else has. Coveting lurks deep in our hearts, cloaked behind reasonable sentiments like prudence, planning, and fairness. In this message, Pastor Lutzer raises four crucial questions about the nature of covetousness. Only God alone can break this pattern and give us a heart of repentance. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

We all want what someone else has. Coveting lurks deep in our hearts, cloaked behind reasonable sentiments like prudence, planning, and fairness. In this message, Pastor Lutzer raises four crucial questions about the nature of covetousness. Only God alone can break this pattern and give us a heart of repentance. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

This week Pastor Kevin Pinkerton continues our series, Feel-Good Faith, by discussing the saying “You cannot judge me, Only God can judge me.” God wants us to challenge fellow believers, real love doesn't always support your choices, it speaks truth because judgement is coming to all. Verses: Matthew 7:1-16, 1 Corinthians 5:1 5:9-13, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:14-15

The wisdom and understanding that the people of God were warned about then is the same that we should give heed to Today. That is don't think that just because God has allowed for much prosperity in life the prosperous believer is still required to conduct their lives in humility, compliance to scripture, and reverence for God. God hates even a proud look. Therefore, we should not be as non-believers, praising God in our worship services and live contrary otherwise. Only God knows the heart of man. Let's be real and honest; we can never fool God. Look at the world, the USA, the states, the counties, the cities, the towns, the communities, the neighborhoods, our homes and see God at work; because of disrespect and disobedience.

The wisdom and understanding that the people of God were warned about then is the same that we should give heed to Today. That is don't think that just because God has allowed for much prosperity in life the prosperous believer is still required to conduct their lives in humility, compliance to scripture, and reverence for God. God hates even a proud look. Therefore, we should not be as non-believers, praising God in our worship services and live contrary otherwise. Only God knows the heart of man. Let's be real and honest; we can never fool God. Look at the world, the USA, the states, the counties, the cities, the towns, the communities, the neighborhoods, our homes and see God at work; because of disrespect and disobedience.

The wisdom and understanding that the people of God were warned about then is the same that we should give heed to Today. That is don't think that just because God has allowed for much prosperity in life the prosperous believer is still required to conduct their lives in humility, compliance to scripture, and reverence for God. God hates even a proud look. Therefore, we should not be as non-believers, praising God in our worship services and live contrary otherwise. Only God knows the heart of man. Let's be real and honest; we can never fool God. Look at the world, the USA, the states, the counties, the cities, the towns, the communities, the neighborhoods, our homes and see God at work; because of disrespect and disobedience.

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Saturday, 19 July 2025   At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Matthew 12:1   “In that time, Jesus, He went – the Sabbaths – through the grainfields, and His disciples, they hungered, and they began to pluck kernels and eat” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 11 finished with Jesus' words concerning His yoke being handy and His burden being light. Chapter 12 now begins with, “In that time.”   It is a particular time, noted by the word kairos (a particular time or season) rather than chronos (time as it marches on). In other words, Matthew is highlighting the season in which they are walking. Of this phrase, Barnes notes –   “Luke 6:1 fixes the time more particularly. He says that it was ‘the second Sabbath after the first.' To understand this, it is proper to remark that the ‘Passover' was observed during the month ‘Abib,' or Nisan, answering to the latter part of March and the first of April. The feast was held seven days, commencing on the fourteenth day of the month Exodus 12:1-28; Exodus 23:15, on the "second" day of the paschal week. The law required that a sheaf of ‘barley' should be offered up as the first-fruits of the harvest, Leviticus 23:10-11. From this day was reckoned seven weeks to the feast of ‘Pentecost' Leviticus 23:15-16, called also the feast of weeks Deuteronomy 16:10, and the feast of the harvest, Exodus 23:16. This second day in the feast of the Passover, or of unleavened bread, was the beginning, therefore, from which they reckoned toward the Pentecost. The Sabbath in the week following would be the ‘second Sabbath' after this first one in the reckoning, and this was doubtless the time mentioned when Christ went through the fields.”   Understanding the time of year, Matthew next records, “Jesus, He went – the Sabbaths – through the grainfields.”   There are two new words. The first is sabbaton, the Sabbath. It is the seventh day of the week corresponding to the day of rest from the labors of creation noted in Genesis 2. It became a mandatory requirement for the Hebrew people, being first introduced as such in Exodus 16. It was to be a day of rest, including no secular work of any type.   The word is often in the plural, indicating the weekly nature of the appointment. This is like someone in English saying, “My Sundays are always set for church time.”   The second new word is sporimos, a word coming from sporos, scattering (and thus, sown). As such, it refers to a planted field. While on a Sabbath, Jesus is walking through the fields, which would have included both barley and wheat at this time of year. It was also ready for harvesting. However, He is not alone, as indicated by the words, “and His disciples.”   It is a group of Jesus and His disciples walking through the grainfields. As they did, it says that “they hungered.” This helps to explain the use of the word kairos rather than chronos. One can walk through the grainfields in September, and there won't be anything to harvest. However, at this time of year, there would be stalks all around coming to full maturity. As such, Matthew notes, “and they began to pluck kernels and eat.”   There is another new word here, tilló, to pluck or pick in order to pull off. The word will only be seen here, in Mark 2:23, and Luke 6:1. All three uses refer to the same incident. As for the words, they seem innocuous enough. Here is a group of people walking through the grainfield. As they walk, they are hungry. Because they are hungry, they take the time to pick some grains and eat them.   From our modern thinking, one might think, “What are they doing, they have no right to eat someone else's grain.” That would be incorrect. In the law, it says –   “When you come into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container. 25 When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.” Deuteronomy 23:24, 25   Thus, they are doing nothing wrong in eating in this regard as they go through the fields. Their actions are in accordance with the law concerning that particular aspect of the matter.   Life application: Jesus came to fulfill the law. The gospels are a record of His life and actions in relation to the law. This is one of the main purposes for which they are recorded, and it is the reason why there are three separate but similar gospels known as the synoptics.   They provide a witness and testimony to the conduct of the Messiah as He lived under the law. In Leviticus 18:5, it says –   “You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”   From the time of the giving of the law until the time of Jesus, the record of Israel, including every person of Israel, was a record of failure. The law promised life to the one who would do the things of the law. And yet, they all died, generation after generation. Elijah was taken directly to heaven for a particular purpose. If he had remained, he would have died too.   Jesus came. He was born under the law. The gospels record His life under the law, demonstrating that He was without sin. It is the reason why Jesus is alive to this day. He prevailed over the law, even in His death, because His death was in fulfillment of the law. Because of this, He rose again. It is the sure proof that He was without sin and that He is God because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.   Only God incarnate was born and lived without sin. Therefore, when we see an account about Jesus' life, even if we think there is wrongdoing, such as His disciples picking and eating someone else's grain, we can be certain that what occurs is acceptable according to Scripture. Be sure to think about why the law records things as it does. In it, we will find Jesus' perfection highlighted for us.   Lord God, it is marvelous to think about what You have done, coming under the law that You gave to Israel, living it out perfectly in the Person of Jesus, and then granting us the life that You possess while redeeming us from sin and death. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Jesus Delivered Us (5) (audio) David Eells – 7/16/25 Saints, I want to point out to you that if you want deliverance from any demon, do not put the responsibility for the sin upon the demon. What did Peter say to Ananias and Sapphira? (Act.5:3) … Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit …? Was Peter blaming the lying spirit, or was he blaming Ananias? Some people have demons they inherited through the bloodline (Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9), but we are born in sin. Psa 51:5  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.  If you have a demon because of what you have done, guess what? You are still guilty. The Bible does not let you get off without being guilty. So the solution is 1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins (not the demons sins), he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (Pro.26:2) As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not. See, there are people who just run from ministry to ministry looking for somebody to give them deliverance, but they will not first repent. They think all they need is deliverance, but God says they need to repent, because you can get delivered of anything and everything if you repent and believe. So there may be things you have never been delivered of yet, but God's plan is to deliver you from lusts of the flesh and demon spirits that take advantage of them. Let's look at some Old Testament types and shadows about delivering the Promised Land that show us the way God leads us from the time we come to know Him. This “house,” your body, is supposed to be ruled over by the spiritual man, and for that to happen, the carnal man who lives in your house has to be driven out and killed. This is a type of taking the Promised Land. Those Israelites represent the spiritual man, and those Canaanites represent the carnal man. God told them the Canaanites had to be driven out and killed, and the Israelites had to live in their houses. God said in (Deu.7:2) And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them. And He also commanded, (Exo.23:33) They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods (demons), it will surely be a snare unto thee. You see, if you leave one of the lusts of the flesh in your land, it is going to cause you to sin, so don't leave them and don't bow down to their gods. (Exo.23:20) Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. By the way, you have an angel, too, as the Bible says in (Heb.1:14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? These spirits are with us to bring us into this salvation that Jesus provided. Exodus 23 is an exact parallel. (Exo.23:21) Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him. God's Name, which is His Nature, Character, and Authority, is in those angels. His Nature is so strong in them that they are perfect prophets for the Lord, and when an angel speaks to you, he speaks to you with the Voice of God. In the Book of Acts, Stephen said it was an angel who spoke out of the burning bush to Moses. (Acts 7:30) And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. An angel spoke to Moses with the Voice of God. (Exo.23:22) But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; (We see the Lord is speaking, but it is the angel's voice.) then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies. If you obey His Voice, He will be an enemy to your enemies. If you do not obey His Voice, He is not going to be an enemy to your enemies. You may run around everywhere looking for your deliverance from flesh and spirit, but you will fail when you are not obeying His Voice. (Exo.23:23) For mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: and I will cut them off. These are the original inhabitants of the land. They represent the lusts of the flesh that live in our Promised Land right here, and the Lord is going to lead us to sanctification from every one of these lusts. Each group of these original inhabitants represents the old man ruled over by demon gods with matching specialties and each of their names has a meaning. “Canaanite” means “to bend the knee, to humiliate, to subdue.” “Amorite” means “prominent,” and of course, one of the evils of the flesh is pride. “Hittite” means “terror, fear.” There are many different kinds of demons of fear, and God wants to deliver us from all kinds of fear. Your flesh fears many things; you could have a fear of rejection or a fear of heights and so on. “Perizzite” means “to separate.” Think about it; religions separate from religions and nations separate from nations. Factions separate. When religions separate from each other, it's “sectarianism,” which Paul listed among works of the flesh. (Gal.5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these:] fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like… Paul called them “lusts of the flesh”; we call them “denominations.” And countries naturally have a bias toward the people who live in their nation, but we are not supposed to be divided from Christians anywhere in the world. We are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). We are “one man in Christ Jesus.” (Gal.3:28) There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. That means a Christian over in Russia is my brother; I am not going to fight for America to kill a Christian over in Russia, or anywhere else. It is wrong! This is worldly thinking and we need to understand that Jesus said, (Joh.18:36) My kingdom is not of this world… We are one holy nation, so no matter where on earth we are living, we are supposed to be a part of (Heb.12:22) … the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. “Jebus” was the old name for Jerusalem, and it's interesting that “Jebusite” means “trodden down.” The Bible says that Jerusalem will be “trodden down.” (Luk.21:24) Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Revelation 11 talks about the outer court being trodden down. (Rev.11:2) And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Jesus told us in (Mat.5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. It's the old Jerusalem, not the New Jerusalem, who is going to be trodden down. Old, unregenerate Jerusalem was Jebus. They were trodden down that New Jerusalem could take their place. Going on in (Exo.23:24) Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works… Notice two things in this verse: “their gods” and “their works.” If you live after the lusts of your flesh, that is your works, and if you “bow down to their gods,” then you're being ruled by demons. It says in (1Co.10:20) But [I say,] that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. You see, every one of the lusts of the flesh has a demon spirit that rules over it. Jesus Christ sowed a Seed in us to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, but the demons have sown other seeds in mankind. They have sown seeds of anger, seeds of lust, and seeds of rebellion, and the flesh has been bringing forth what is called the “lusts” of the flesh, which is another way of saying “fruit” of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 2:10-19). Demons are the ones who sowed the seeds that have brought this forth. They are the gods of the lusts of the flesh and God commanded us to kill them and not to serve their gods. (Exo.23:33) They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. He is talking about marching through this Promised Land, and putting to death, one by one, the lusts of the flesh. And He is talking about not submitting, not bowing down, to their gods. If you are throwing out their “flesh,” you are throwing out the demon gods' power. If you simply throw out the demon gods and hold on to the flesh, they will be back. We are this Promised Land that has to be sanctified. The word “sanctified” means “separated from sin, separated from the curse, and separated unto God.” As God led the Israelites through their Promised Land and they put to death the original inhabitants with a physical sword, so we are led of the Holy Spirit through our promised land to put to death the lusts of the flesh with the “sword” of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Heb.4:12) For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. And it is two-edged because one edge is for you. We are commanded to Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Col.3:5) The devil fears you if you know your authority and you are walking with God. Now, what about casting out demons from the lost? Are we authorized to do that? One time, I had been asking God about casting demons out of my mother. She had come to live with us in our house, but she didn't know the Lord. Most people do not know you need permission from God to cast demons out of a lost person, but it's biblical. (Luk.11:24) The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. (25) And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. (26) Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. You see, the lost person will get them seven times worse if you cast the demons out without the person turning to God. There are “loopholes” in the Bible, and so I asked God for permission to cast the demons out of my mother on the basis that my house is not cursed, but she was in my house and bringing me under a curse. I asked, “God, I am not under the curse. Can I cast the demons out of her because she is bringing a curse upon me?” God gave my daughter Jennifer a dream that night. She saw my mother's house in the middle of my house, except it was three stories tall, sticking out of the top of my house. Out of the second floor, representing the soul, there was a plank leading out to the street. Five chickens, representing unclean spirits, were on it and they were walking the plank to the street. Well, I knew exactly what the Lord was saying. That night, Mama, full of demons, came to our bedroom door and her demons threatened us, “I am going to keep you awake all night!” I said, “Oh no you're not!” My wife and I jumped up and went into her room, and as we stood there, God gave us five spirits to cast out. We didn't even wait to see them come out. We just commanded, “Come out in the Name of Jesus!” as fast as we could name them. Then we marched out, went back to bed, and slept peacefully all night. The next day, we noticed that it was awfully quiet in that room. Not knowing what was going on, we opened the door and peeked in to see that her room was a total mess. And there was my mother, crawling out from under the bed! She had been wrestling in there with something all night long, but when she came out, she was humble, meek, and submissive. I never knew my mother to be that kind of person. She had been demon-possessed all of her life; she had been taking medication all of her life to keep those demons in subjection. Her “religion” had kept her from turning to God when she had the opportunity, but as long as she was in my house, we had peace. When the demons started drifting back, the Lord took her out of my house. As she was dying she returned to peace. There are several reasons why God will give deliverance to the lost, and we should read the Bible like a lawyer because God put loopholes in there so you can step through them sometimes. Another great loophole that the Lord showed me is that if somebody is a blessing to you, you can be a blessing to them. It does not matter if they are lost. We have the example of when Paul was shipwrecked on Melita and the natives of the island came to the rescue. They were very kind to Paul and the others who were cold and wet. The natives dried their clothes and got them out of the rain (Acts 28:1-2). (Act.28:7) Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously. (8) And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him. He never preached the Gospel to him; he just healed him. Then they brought all the sick people on the island to Paul. He prayed for them and God healed them. (Act.28:9) And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured. You do not see this elsewhere in the Bible because “healing is the children's bread” (Matthew 15:26), so I asked, “Why is this, Lord?” The Lord answered, “They were kind to them.” God will let you pray for somebody and heal them because they were good to you. He said, (Gen.12:3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. This is talking about us; we are the “Israelites.” There's one loophole, too, that's the mercy of God. The demoniac described in the Gospels was so far gone that you could not expect the man to have faith or make a rational decision, and Jesus cast the demons out of him, knowing what kind of decision he was going to make afterward (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). Sometimes God does this, but He does not have to do it. Now let me share with you the following testimony: Delivered from Scoliosis by D. M. My brother-in-law once bought me a book by Henry W. Wright entitled “A More Excellent Way: A Teaching on the Spiritual Roots of Disease.” I found the book to be fascinating and, as the British say, “spot-on” in many ways. (There is definitely a connection between a sin and its curse. Quite often, a sickness can identify the sin.) I have a good friend named “A” whom I've known since I was saved. We have conversed via phone for years, since we live in different states. A couple of years ago, he mentioned that he'd had scoliosis since childhood. I didn't say anything to him, but I went to Henry Wright's book and looked up what he had to say about scoliosis. I kept this to myself because I didn't feel right bringing it up to “A.” I knew the time would come as the Lord gave me freedom to do so. Today, I received an email from “A” asking me to pray for him for deliverance from a particular sin. He did not go into detail but gave me a hint. I replied that I would pray for him in a moment. But first I wanted to know when his scoliosis had begun, and if, in fact, it had begun about the time of his traumatic incident. He replied back that it did begin right afterwards. I decided to give him a call. We talked. He made a full confession of the incident. I quoted (Jas.5:16) Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. And I told him that there was now nothing in the way of his deliverance. I prayed over the phone with him in agreement. Glory be to God, a hundred-pound weight came off my friend and he was delivered from the evil spirit of scoliosis and was healed! Awesome! Praise the Lord! Saints, we need to be led of the Spirit and wait for the Lord's leading so He can open the way for us to minister to others. Here's another testimony I'd like to share with you. Delivered from Lung Cancer by Linda L. (This lady was healed of a spirit of cancer when I for the brethren in our meeting rebuked it, although she was not present at that meeting. She related to us how, later that same night, what looked like smoke came out of her nose and she knew she was healed. Please note that she had faith to be healed.) My doctor's office called to tell me I had an inconsistency on my chest x-ray. I needed to go to the hospital for another x-ray. The second x-ray was not any better than the first. A CT scan was ordered. The suspicious spot was a ten-centimeter (approximately two inches) sized nodule in the upper right lobe. That night after numerous internet searches, I was devastated to learn that most nodules are malignant. My father had died of lung cancer in 1998. I am very familiar with the disease. At this point I started to do a lot of praying. Even though I knew Jesus heard my prayer, I did not have peace yet. My doctor sent me to a pulmonary specialist. The first thing Dr. Wagner told me was that I was not to worry. The surgeon would remove my lobe. I would not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. He started to ask questions about health, lifestyle, etc., and we talked more. He decided to wait and repeat the CT scan in two months. At this point, I told Dr. Wagner that God would heal me. He did not say anything, but I am sure he thought I was deluded. I am a very reserved person. I usually do not share information of this nature with many people. However, the Holy Spirit prompted me to tell Dr. Wagner how Jesus would heal my lung. When I saw Bob, a UBM elder, I told him my predicament. And as we talked, I asked his group to pray for my healing. Jesus would heal me. This was a Tuesday. I did not see Bob during the week, but I KNOW his prayer group prayed for me. A peace beyond all understanding came over me Saturday night. During the middle of the night, I saw an evil spirit leave my lungs! I KNEW I was healed. The next month arrived. It was time to repeat the CT scan. The doctor at the Imaging Center observed the entire scan. He reported the nodule was starting to calcify. In his opinion the nodule was now benign. Tears and praise flowed, as Jesus had healed me. Dr. Wagner told me I was one lucky lady. I reminded him that Jesus would heal me. The doctor did not acknowledge anything yet, but he knows that this healing from a deadly lung nodule was a miracle. Jesus hears our prayers and heals those who ask and have faith. He knows our pain. He honors His commitment to us when we believe Him and the works of His hands. Amen! That's so true! Praise You, Lord! Let's look at this parable in the Old Testament, how God delivers us. The Lord says in (Exo.23:27) I will send my terror before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. (28) And I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. You know, it's easy to win a battle when your enemy is afraid, and making your enemy fearful is a proven strategy of warfare. There have been great battles won by very small armies against very large armies, all because fear was in the larger army. This happened to Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War when Arabs attacked them from all sides. Israel won overwhelming victories against all odds because God put fear in the hearts of their enemies. It's a quick battle when the enemy is fearful. Only God is able to do this! He did this in many places in the Scriptures, giving the Israelites tremendous victories. We have a good example where they sent spies into the Promised Land to understand their enemies' thinking. (Jos.2:1) And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there… (8) And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; (9) and she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that the fear of you is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. (10) For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt… Going through the Red Sea was their salvation experience. Guess who knows immediately about our salvation experience? Demon spirits. They know who we are, but the problem is not that they know; the problem is, do we know? This is why we need to study the Scriptures; it's important that we find out who we are. Unless we know who we are, demon spirits can, and do, take advantage of us, but when you know who you are according to Scripture, the demons are fearful. In the dream that the Lord gave my daughter, the Lord had a sense of humor because He pictured the five demons as five chickens. Our enemies know that they cannot keep us from taking our land. (Jos.2:10) For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, unto Sihon and to Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. (11) And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath. All of these verses are types and shadows of our enemies being fearful of us. (Jos.1:5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (6) Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. (7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. (8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Spiritually speaking, the Lord is talking about taking this “land” in which we live, taking this land of the soul, which is our mind, our will, and our emotions. God says, (Exo.23:29) I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee. From this example, we see that it is not God's plan to purify us instantly, but almost every Christian religion teaches some form of “instantaneous sanctification.” They say all you need to do is get saved and you're sanctified. A number of them also believe that you're automatically filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words, there's a line you just step over and that's all there is to it; then you can sit down and take it easy. No, we can never sit down and take it easy because we have a land to conquer. God goes on to say, (Exo.23:30) By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. “Little by little” is God's plan. People who have their “instantaneous sanctification” theology do not understand that sanctification is when you are delivered of all the lusts of the flesh to the point where you're not even going to be tempted anymore. The ultimate end of sanctification is when the flesh is dead. We can all think of things in our lives from which God delivered us. They do not even tempt us anymore because that flesh is dead, but God wants to continue that process until He goes through all of our “Promised Land.” God wants to lead you to your enemy, give you the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), and put the fear of God in you (Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; etc.) He wants to give you understanding to know that you have victory through the Gospel and through the Blood of Jesus. So the Lord said, (Exo.23:22) But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. But He also says, (Exo.23:29) I will not drive them out from before thee in one year… and (Exo.23:30) By little and little I will drive them out from before thee… Well, the people of Israel did not “hearken unto his voice” to do all that the Lord spoke. We read in (Jdg.21:25) In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Jdg.2:20) And the anger of The Lord was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; (21) I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died; (22) that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of The Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. (23) So the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua. If you break God's Covenant, He is not going to do a quick work of delivering your enemies into your hand. The Blood is our weapon to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The New Testament says, (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The Blood cleanses as we walk in the light and as we obey what we know to obey. We cannot do anything about what we do not know, but as we do what we know to obey, the Blood cleanses. These “lusts of the flesh” and their “gods,” which have the same names, have to be driven out. Every lust of the flesh has a “god.” It's the demon spirit, having the same name, that rules over that particular lust. God said He is not going to be in a hurry to drive out your enemies if you are going to rebel. The Bible says in (Luk.12:48) And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required. If you do something with what God gives you, He will give you more, but if you do not do something with what He has already given you, He is not going to give you anymore. You're going to stop right in your tracks because God is a merciful God. Otherwise, you would be condemned for not doing even more, and so when you stop doing something with your Sword against your enemy, God is going to stop. God does not flood us with knowledge of our every evil. He leads us to each individual evil, step-by-step, and He expects us, at that point and time, to do something about it. If He were to just flood our minds with the knowledge of all of the evil in us, we would be overwhelmed and probably lose faith. And if we didn't do something with all that knowledge, we would be condemned. When you have a lot of knowledge, Scripture warns us, (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. When you have a lot of knowledge, yet do nothing, you have a lot of sin. God brings these enemies up, one at a time, in front of our face. This usually occurs through temptation, through something happening around us. When He brings these enemies up in front of our face, we have an opportunity to use the Sword to come against that enemy. We can reject that lust of the flesh and command it to go in the Name of Jesus. If there is any demon spirit in our flesh, or if there is any demon spirit using that lust of the flesh to exercise authority in our soul, we can come against it, and we can win right there. We do not have to live with these demons all of our lives or go searching for some deliverance ministry, because we have authority over demon spirits and the flesh (Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 10:19; etc.) We're told, (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. This is what we have to believe. We are dead unto sin, but alive unto God. We have total authority over the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Canaanites, and so forth. We have total authority over them and their gods. Every one of us can learn to exercise our Sword, the Word, against the lusts of the flesh and those spirits. We don't have to live with them anymore, but God is only going to continue this process as long as we cooperate. We are here to conquer our Promised Land, and there's no time for us to rest in the flesh. Our rest is in the Spirit. Our rest is in the promises of God. We can safely rest in His Word. The quicker we submit to him and resist the devil, the quicker we win. It says in (Psa.81:10) I am the Lord thy God, Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt (He delivered you from the power of the old man at the Red Sea baptism.): Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. That is, “Say what I say,” speak as an oracle of God (1 Peter 4:11). And (11) But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me. (12) So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels. (13) Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways! (14) I would soon subdue their enemies (If we obey and fight the enemy, we will “soon” win.), And turn my hand against their adversaries. And they will be conquered. (15) The haters of the Lord should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever. (16) He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee. It's our obedience that brings the blessings. Remember, we are to be vigilant when we are in a trial because it's our opportunity to come against that particular enemy in our Promised Land and win. God brought us to this enemy for us to conquer it, and to do it now. This is why we are here. He has given us total authority over that enemy. There is no such thing as a “giant” in our Promised Land since even the least of us has total authority over the mightiest demon that comes into contact with us. God is walking with you. You need to realize that He wants your enemies to be conquered here and now, day by day, little by little. (Psa.81:11) But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me. (12) So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels. You see, if you're resting in the flesh, rather than resting in the Spirit, then you are not doing anything. We are here to redeem the time and to win a battle. (Eph.5:15) Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; (16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. What is His Will for us if we walk in His ways? (Psa.81:13) Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways! (14) I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries. You may say, “Well, David, that's exactly my problem, walking in His ways,” but there is always a step you can take, however small it may be. If He makes us responsible to walk in His ways, then we can walk in the light. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. We can take those steps. (Pro.4:18) But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. You can take one step at a time, and God will be with you each step.

Delivered by Evelyn from the Parish of Holy Spirit in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Exodus 3: 13-20; Rs psalm 105: 1.5.8-9.24-25.26-27; Matthew 11: 28-30.KNOWING GOD BY HIS NAME The title for our meditation today is:Knowing God by His Name. Yesterday we reflected on the identity of God throughthe pronouncement of the name of the ancestors of Israel to Moses. By this wayMoses could immediately associate himself with his own ancestors and then beable to imitate their examples of the faith. Today, the book of Exodus leads us toknow God in His own name. This knowledge touches the very personal being ofGod, that is by mentioning His own name. To Moses God mentioned his name withthe expression: I am who I am. In this identification God revelas himself as asingle Godhead, a personal principle of God. The pronoun "I" refersto the wholeness in oneself and cannot be put together with something else toexplain or clarify it. For example, for me, I must say myname is Maria, I am a woman, I am a nun, I am a professional, I am part of thisfamily and so on. There are so many elements attached to me to explain what andwho I am. But God does not use these complementary elements because He isalready perfect, complete. So God calls himself "I" means that He isperfect and total. He is eternal. For the name "I" whichaffirms the principle of self, it does not refers to the selfishness of God.Only God can maintain this principle because He is almighty and omnipotent.With this superiority, Moses and all of us make as an opportune of bringingGod's superiority to face evil enemies and those who oppose His will, even todefeat those enemies. For us humans, an affirmation of oneself only, the ego orselfishness, it is actually a great weakness and evetually failure. Whendealing with works, challenges or even threat from enemies, this weakness isnot a big deal to face the problem. It is obvious our human ego is so differentfrom the ego of God. The "I" affirmation of Godis also carried out by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, especially when He alwayssays: Amen, I say to you. Here Jesus continues to declare the name of God inHis Word. Jesus never says in His teachings, saying: “Jesus says to you.” Thisaffirmation of "I" for Himself also means to bring all those who hearand believe come to Him, stay with Him and follow His way of life. Today, Jesusinvites us to come to Him to draw from His great mercy in this expression:"Come to Me, because I am meek and humble." Let us always believe andrely on God's name as I AM WHO I AM. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O good Lord, thank you so much for showing yourself to uspersonally, may we always rely on your love and power. Glory to the Father andto the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...

July 13, 2025 | Dr. Ben Mandrell preaches in view of a call to become the next Senior Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church on Psalm 127. In this message, we learn that unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor do so in vain. Only God has the ability to keep us safe and satisfy us, so we shouldn't look to the world for purpose or trust only in our own strength to help us prevail.For more sermons each week, be sure to subscribe so you can stay in the know. If you've liked what you've heard in this message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Spotify. Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN | bellevue.org

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John 6:28-29 “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” In the previous verse, Jesus told the crowd to work for the food that endures to eternal life. Their response shows they missed the point Jesus was making about Himself being the giver of the food. Their natural frame of reference was work they had to do to get eternal life. We want to be careful not to make the same mistake. Notice, Jesus didn't say, “This is the work you have to do; believe in Him whom He sent.” Jesus didn't answer their question directly. Instead, He told them the work that God is interested in. It isn't the work of man, but the work of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus told them the work God does, namely, believing in Him. We are going to learn later in this chapter that, indeed, it is God who does the work in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus (44-45). In effect, in this verse, He told them to do something they cannot do. They cannot do the work of God. Only God can do the work that results in eternal life. This is why it is misleading to tell people to put their faith in Jesus, which by the way, isn't in the NASB. When I typed in “put your faith in” in the search box of my Bible app, the app replied, “There are no verses in the current range of the NASB which fit the current search entry.” To tell people they must put their faith in Jesus to be saved is dangerous and destructive in two ways. First, it implies that God gives eternal life on the basis of something they do. It puts the power of salvation in their hands, so to speak. That's exactly what the crowd was looking for. “What shall we do?” Second, it robs the person of assurance. Faith is the assurance we receive as a witness from God that we have eternal life in Christ. This is clearly taught in Hebrews 11. As Jesus said in this verse, faith is the work of God. It is a witness to us and to the church that we belong to Christ. Peter testified to this reality after the Gentiles believed in Christ in Acts 15:8-9. “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.” Furthermore, later in this conversation Jesus confirms this truth by saying no one can come to Him unless they are brought and taught by God. It is God's work that they believe in His Son. Jesus spoke the truth in love to this crowd, and we should as well when people ask what they can do to be saved. We should say what Jesus said. It is God's work that you believe in Jesus. Share the gospel. God sent Jesus to die for the unjust, to do what they cannot do—namely, pay the price for their sinful, self-glorifying lives, putting an end to their attempts to justify themselves by anything they do (1 Pet. 3:18). Then three days later, God raised Jesus from the dead to declare that the sacrifice of His life is acceptable and pleasing to Him. God raised Jesus from the dead because He is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Jesus has been authorized by the Father to give eternal life to those the Father gave to Him (John 17:2-3). Jesus was raised to live for them and produce fruit in their lives for the glory of God (John 15:7-8). He therefore calls all men to repent and believe in Jesus, which entails turning from reliance on their own efforts to live for God. Dying to their own life in this world, and turning from seeking to please God in their own strength and good deeds. Rejecting the desire to receive glory and significance from men rather than from God.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off the week with discussions about a cancer patient ministry with Phil Zielke and how to make the most of a screen-free summer with your kids, with Arlene Pellicane. First, Phil Zielke joined us to share his testimony of how he drew near to God when he was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then how God placed it on his heart to start a ministry that serves cancer patients. Phil’s Friends is a ministry that provides Christ-centered support and hope to those affected by cancer. Then we had Arlene Pellicane join us to talk about the importance of parents connecting with their children by limiting their screen time. Arlene is a speaker, author, and host of the Happy Home podcast. She is also a marriage and parenting expert. Arlene has also authored several books, including “Screen Kids.” We then discussed our need for God’s grace. We were born into sin, so it is in our nature to be sinful, but when we are born again through Christ, we are renewed by God’s grace. Romans 7:18-25 affirms this, as Paul tells us that sin dwells within us and affects how we move and think without God. Only God can deliver us from sin through Jesus Christ. We also heard updates from Karl, who was broadcasting remotely from the Maranatha Bible Missionary Conference, Vacation and Retreat Center. Dr. Josh Stephens joined Karl to discuss the sovereignty and providence of God as shown throughout the book of Ruth. Dr. Stephens is the Lead Pastor of Cape Bible Church in Missouri and is also the founder and executive director of the Biblical Counseling Alliance. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Gospel (Need for God) [ 05:55-17:30 ] Phil Zielke Interview (Phil's Friends Ministry) [ 44:25-55:18 ] Arlene Pellicane Interview [ 55:28-01:06:34 ] Dr. Josh Stephens (Book of Ruth breakdown) [ 30:50-43:50 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All throughout Scripture, you encounter stories that make you pause and say, “Only God.”Today, we continue our year-long Bible study in the book of Exodus, The Gospel: One Rescue at a Time. In this episode, Paul unpacks the birth and rescue of Moses and shows how, through ordinary people and circumstances, God accomplishes extraordinary things for his glory and the good of his people.To hear more from this Exodus series, visit PaulTripp.com/Exodus.

All throughout Scripture, you encounter stories that make you pause and say, “Only God.”Today, we continue our year-long Bible study in the book of Exodus, The Gospel: One Rescue at a Time. In this episode, Paul unpacks the birth and rescue of Moses and shows how, through ordinary people and circumstances, God accomplishes extraordinary things for his glory and the good of his people.To hear more from this Exodus series, visit PaulTripp.com/Exodus.

Acts 4:32-35 NLTAll the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.All were united in heart and mind. Sharing what they had. No one needy among them.Only God can change the human soul to cooperate, unite, and love like that, selflessly, literally bringing Heaven to earth.Today, His life is available. His love is available. His Spirit can touch our lives to love, care, and share like those first disciples.This passage creates a longing to be united in heart and mind with other believers.Can you make yourself available to love selflessly today?Read once more this time from the Message Bible:The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That's mine; you can't have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person's need.No matter how independent we may think ourselves to be, we need care. We need help. We need others. True community is finding common ground coupled with unity. Focused on what draws us together, rather than divides. Peace over chaos. Responsibility over rights. Giving. Caring. Loving like Jesus.Let's pray together: “Lord of all, thank You for Your Spirit that unites us in one heart and mind. Thank You that in You we can meet one another's needs, share our blessings, and love with the kind of love that only Heaven can give. As above, so below.”

Send us a messageIn his blasphemous agenda to replace the One True and Only God of all Creation, Lucifer has fashioned many counterfeits to the Unadulterated Word of God's Truth. And in that mutinous effort, he has orchestrated his own gospel that presents his own “Christ” which is preparing the world for his final and greatest forgery – The Antichrist – through whom he plans to gain the worship of the world that he has always lusted for.It must be noted here that this pompous and lying devil will never succeed in his mutinous agenda – because he has already been defeated by the Blood of the Lamb!However, the Lord God Almighty will allow him to continue for a time - until all that has been written before the foundation of the world is brought to perfect conclusion in the finished work of Jesus Christ – the Living Word of God. Then, this dread enemy dubbed as Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire – and evil will be put away forever.And as every Prophetic detail is being played out in the world, God's “born again” offspring have been anointed as His Ambassadors of Truth – and as a sacred reflection of the One Who is the True Light – to show the Way unto Eternal Life tothose who have been called to be chosen. For the time is near – and Jesus  comes quickly!Support the showVisit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

Istrouma Baptist Church (ASC) Jul 6, 2025 ========== July 6 - These Words Changed My Life Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo The Church As Family Mark 3:31-35 (CSB) Mark 3:31-35 (CSB) 31 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside asking for you.” 33 He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers? ” 34 Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said,“Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” I. We Are Members of God's Family Through His Obedient Son Ephesians 1:3-6 (CSB) Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. Dietrich Bonhoeffer — “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community or more or less than this…Without Christ we should not know God, we could not call upon him, nor come to him. But without Christ we also would not know our brother, nor could we come to him. The way is blocked by our own ego.” II. As Members of God's Family We Have a New Father and Belong to a New Household A New Family Salvation is a community creating event Matthew 13:54-55 (CSB) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55 Isn't this the carpenter's son? A New Father Displays the Authority of God has over His Church Matthew 23:8-9 (CSB) “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.” A New Father Displays the Care of God for his People Matthew 7:10-11 (CSB) “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” III. This Family Language Establishes How We Should Relate to One Another in the Church Acts 9:13-17 (CSB) 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him,“Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” How We Relate as Family 1. Commitment 2. Conflict 3. Care 4. Cost IV. The Church is a Real Family Not a Perfect One Trevin Wax — “It's paradoxical but true. You can only truly benefit from the community of faith in its healthiest expressions when you don't expect something from the church that God alone can give. The church doesn't solve loneliness. Only God does that. Yes, often he does that through his people. But the way he accomplishes this work is by putting you through the difficult, sanctifying process of loving people who don't seem to love you back and remaining fiercely committed to people who may be a source of heartbreak in your life. This is the hard part of seeing the church as family: bearing with your siblings through thick and thin, recognizing Jesus in them but also realizing they're not Jesus. That's the only way we can live and love as the family of God, without idealistic expectations crushing our spirits.”

Your God is Too Small July 6, 2025 Elwyn Johnston Job 38 – 42 Verse of the Week: “I Am Who I Am” Exodus 3:14 1. Change our perspective of God “I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.” Job 42:3 Fear the Lord “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” Proverbs 8:13 “In the fear of the Lord there is security, and His children will have refuge” Proverbs 14:26 2. Embrace the character of God. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb. 13:8 “God never changes” James 1:17 “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6 “God is love” 1 John 4:8 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.'” Leviticus 19:2 “Only God is truly good.” Mark 10:18 “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.” Nahum 1:7 “O taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8 “God who calls you is faithful” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 “God does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 “the Lord longs to be gracious to you.…For the Lord is a God of justice.” Isaiah 30:18 “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

When we talk about judging others, the world has a lot to say. “Don't judge me” or “Only God can judge me” get thrown around often, but what did Jesus really teach about this? In Luke chapter 6, Jesus gives us a clear picture of the heart behind judgment. He doesn't call us to abandon discernment, but he warns us against prideful condemnation. We're not the judge, jury, or executioner. Only God is. And when we assume that role, we fall into the same trap as the Pharisees, thinking we're superior when we're actually blind to our own sin. Jesus calls us instead to show mercy, to forgive freely, and to be generous in grace.We must ask ourselves, what kind of guide are we? Are we the blind leading the blind, or are we following the humble path of Jesus, our perfect teacher? He shows us that real spiritual sight begins with humility. Before we worry about the speck in our brother's eye, we must deal with the log in our own. Jesus doesn't say ignore the speck; He says deal with our hearts first so we can help others in love, not pride. That is the kind of judgment He teaches, one rooted in humility and shaped by the cross. So today, are you walking in pride, or are you walking in mercy?

God's Law reveals our true condition. All we can do is cast ourselves on God's grace. In this message from Hebrews 12, Pastor Lutzer contrasts Mount Sinai where God gave the law with Mount Zion, where He gives grace. Only God's grace can bridge the gap between God's presence and sinners.  This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. 

As I think about surrender, I'm reminded of how much of a struggle it can be for us. After all, surrender feels like losing. No one wants to raise the white flag of surrender.Main Points:1. We must see that everything we need is on the other side of surrendering our life to Jesus. As long as we are resistant and focused on ourselves, we'll miss out on what God could have done in and through our lives.2. In prayer, let's search our hearts today and listen for the Holy Spirit to address those areas of our own lives that we may not have surrendered to God.3. Let's experience the joy of a life fully surrendered to God. May we be able to truly say, “All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”Today's Scripture Verses:Mark 10:17-22 - “As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.”  “Teacher,” the man replied, “I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven't done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

•Deanna Ransom an Award-Winning Gospel Recording Artist | Minister | Inspirational Voice for a Generation•A voice that transcends genres and touches souls, Deanna Ransom stands as a radiant force in the world of Gospelmusic. An ordained Elder, award-winning recording artist, and dynamic speaker, Deanna masterfully blends anointing, artistry, and authenticity into every moment she ministers, whether in song, word, or service.• Her latest single, “Only God,” produced by the renowned Pastor Franklin “Bubby” Fann, is quickly solidifying her placeamong Gospel's most celebrated voices. Currently climbing the Billboard, Mediabase, and Gospel Top 40 charts, “Only God” is a bold testament to Deanna's spiritual conviction, artistic excellence, and timeless appeal. Supported by apowerhouse radio promotions team led by industry icon Fred “Uncle Freddie” Jerkins III of We Break Records, Deanna's music continues to reach hearts across the globe.•Over the course of her career, Deanna has released an impressive body of work, including the critically acclaimed albums “Never Say Never,” “I Hear You,” and “Never Say Never...Again,” the soul-baring EP “The Real Me,” and the Billboard-charting anthem “You Reign.” Her ability to bridge classic Gospel richness with contemporary innovation has positioned her as a trusted voice of both inspiration and transformation in the industry.•“Only God” is available for downloads and streaming on all digital platforms. •Please send Let's Talk: Gospel Music Gold an email sharing your thoughts about this show segment also if you have any suggestions of future guests you would like to hear on the show. Send the email to ⁠⁠⁠letstalk2gmg@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ •You may Subscribe to the podcast and be alerted when the newest episode is published. Subscribe on Spotify and we will know you are a regular listener. All 4+ Seasons of guests are still live; check out some other Podcast Episodesover 200 episodes are available. •LET'S TALK: GOSPEL MUSIC GOLD RADIO SHOW AIRS EVERY SATURDAY 9:00 AM CST / 10:00 AM EST ON WMRM-DB INTERNET RADIO STATION  AND WJRG RADIO INTERNET RADIO STATION 12:00 PM EST/ 11:00 AM CST •There is a Let's Talk: Gospel Music Gold Facebookpage ( @LetsTalk2GMG ) where all episodes are posted as well.  •The Podcast and Radio shows are heard anywhere in the World on the Internet! •BOOK RELEASES"If We Can Do It, You Can Too!" •“Legacy of James C. Chambers And his Contributions to Gospel Music History”HOT OFF THE PRESSES!•RELEASE DATE JULY 2025 PRE ORDER TODAY!•"Molding a Black Princess"Pre-Order Information https://www.unsungvoicesbooks.com/asmithgibbs

Main point: Someday Jesus is coming back to judge. 1. Only God knows when (36-41) 2. Since you don’t, always be ready (42-44) 3. How to be ready now for what Jesus will do then (45-51)

Full Text of ReadingsSolemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Lectionary: 590, 591The Saint of the day is Saints Peter and PaulSaints Peter and Paul's Story Peter (d. 64?) Saint Mark ends the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax. He has recorded doubt, misunderstanding, and the opposition of many to Jesus. Now Peter makes his great confession of faith: “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29b). It was one of the many glorious moments in Peter's life, beginning with the day he was called from his nets along the Sea of Galilee to become a fisher of men for Jesus. The New Testament clearly shows Peter as the leader of the apostles, chosen by Jesus to have a special relationship with him. With James and John he was privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising of a dead child to life, and the agony in Gethsemane. His mother-in-law was cured by Jesus. He was sent with John to prepare for the last Passover before Jesus' death. His name is first on every list of apostles. And to Peter only did Jesus say, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:17b-19). But the Gospels prove their own trustworthiness by the unflattering details they include about Peter. He clearly had no public relations person. It is a great comfort for ordinary mortals to know that Peter also has his human weakness, even in the presence of Jesus. He generously gave up all things, yet he can ask in childish self-regard, “What are we going to get for all this?” (see Matthew 19:27). He receives the full force of Christ's anger when he objects to the idea of a suffering Messiah: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:23b). Peter is willing to accept Jesus' doctrine of forgiveness, but suggests a limit of seven times. He walks on the water in faith, but sinks in doubt. He refuses to let Jesus wash his feet, then wants his whole body cleansed. He swears at the Last Supper that he will never deny Jesus, and then swears to a servant maid that he has never known the man. He loyally resists the first attempt to arrest Jesus by cutting off Malchus' ear, but in the end he runs away with the others. In the depth of his sorrow, Jesus looks on him and forgives him, and he goes out and sheds bitter tears. The Risen Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep (John 21:15-17). Paul (d. 64?) If the most well-known preacher today suddenly began preaching that the United States should adopt Marxism and not rely on the Constitution, the angry reaction would help us understand Paul's life when he started preaching that Christ alone can save us. He had been the most pharisaic of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Mosaic lawyers. Now he suddenly appears to other Jews as a heretical welcomer of Gentiles, a traitor and apostate. Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity. No human effort—even the most scrupulous observance of law—can create a human good which we can bring to God as reparation for sin and payment for grace. To be saved from itself, from sin, from the devil, and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus. Paul never lost his love for his Jewish family, though he carried on a lifelong debate with them about the uselessness of the Law without Christ. He reminded the Gentiles that they were grafted on the parent stock of the Jews, who were still God's chosen people, the children of the promise. Reflection We would probably go to confession to Peter sooner than to any of the other apostles. He is perhaps a more striking example of the simple fact of holiness. Jesus says to us as he said, in effect, to Peter: “It is not you who have chosen me, but I who have chosen you. Peter, it is not human wisdom that makes it possible for you to believe, but my Father's revelation. I, not you, build my Church.” Paul's experience of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus was the driving force that made him one of the most zealous, dynamic, and courageous ambassadors of Christ the Church has ever had. But persecution, humiliation, and weakness became his day-by-day carrying of the cross, material for further transformation. The dying Christ was in him; the living Christ was his life. Saint Paul is the Patron Saint of: Greece Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

There is no doubt the world is a place of great need, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the extent and complexity of that need.  It's hard to know where to even begin.  Can do we end hunger?  Can we fix unjust systems?  Can we save the world?   Only God can heal us and make whole what we have broken. God demonstrated this on the cross. Instead of creation ending in death, a new path was opened. In him, our deep wrong is transformed so that we, too, can reflect and reveal the love of God.  We don't have to fix the world in our lifetime. We don't have to win the war against evil. This is God's world and God loves the world and Jesus is coming again. It's not all up to us. We are free to joyfully reflect God's love without feeling pressure to do more than we can do. 

This is part 4 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics. Only God has power over nature. Jesus walked on water. Therefore Jesus must be God. Right? Does that line of reasoning convince you? How about this one. Only God has power over nature. Elijah called down fire from heaven. Therefore Elijah must be God. Or how about this one? Only God has power over nature. Moses split the Red Sea. Therefore Moses must be God. Listen in to today’s episode to find out why this kind of argument doesn’t hold water as well as how the evangelists who wrote the Gospels intended Jesus’s miracles to be interpreted.   Listen on Spotify   Listen on Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price. Get the transcript of this episode Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

Psalm 119:117, "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" There is a glorious humility in this brief prayer. It is the cry of one who knows both his weakness, and his heavenly Father's ability. The psalmist does not say, "I will hold myself up!" or "I will stand in my own strength!" He knows better. He has learned the painful lesson of his own weakness and instability, and proneness to wander from God. Instead, he casts himself entirely upon the Lord: "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Only God can uphold His redeemed people, with corruption in their hearts, in a world full of spiritual dangers and deceits. This verse is a declaration of the utter necessity of God's sustaining grace. The redeemed are not kept by their own will-power, intelligence, or resolve--they are "kept by the power of God through faith" (1 Peter 1:5). It is sovereign grace that chose them, grace that effectually called them, grace that redeemed them, and grace that will preserve them to the end. Were it not for God's moment-by-moment upholding grace, no believer could endure to the end. The world entices, the flesh rebels, the devil accuses--and divine grace alone keeps the feet from slipping. The Lord's people shall not fall away finally or totally. They may fall foully, but they shall not fall finally. He who began the good work in them, will carry it on until He completes it. The same hand which gave us spiritual life, must preserve that life. Grace in the heart, is like a spark in the ocean; it would be utterly quenched, unless the Lord kept it alive. Yet God's sustaining grace is not merely a necessity--it is a comfort beyond all measure. What greater security could the believer have, than to be uph

How do we know when to step in and help, and when to refrain?  Only God's Spirit can help us discern between the two. 

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” These words of wisdom are from the Bible, ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬, verses 13‬-‭14‬. When we've done wrong, we have a choice to make, don't we? I just want to challenge you: Do not hide any longer. Only God can really deal with your past, and set you free, and help you to move forward. God is merciful. You expect a hammer, and He greets you with an embrace. His mercy is for you today. Leave your sin behind forever and walk in the light of a new day, with God as your Savior and your companion for life. Always remember, there is hope with God. I'm Andrew Palau. "People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble." Proverbs 28:13-14 radio.hopewithgod.com

In the hard times of life, we have to hold onto God. Only God can meet the need. When I am weak, I am strong. His grace is sufficient for me. Speaker: Richard Meservey Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Proverbs 15:11-20, 1 Kings 8:22-9:9, Acts 14:8-28. Your heart lies ‘open before the Lord' (Proverbs 15:11) Only God sees and knows the heart of every human being (1 Kings 8:39)

Proverbs 15:11-13, 1 Kings 8:23-61, Acts 14:8-27. Your heart lies ‘open before the Lord' (Proverbs 15:11) Only God sees and knows the heart of every human being (1 Kings 8:39)

Proverbs 15:11-13, 1 Kings 8:23-61, Acts 14:8-27. Your heart lies ‘open before the Lord' (Proverbs 15:11) Only God sees and knows the heart of every human being (1 Kings 8:39)

A new MP3 sermon from Reformation Church of Elizabeth is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Only God is Worthy of Our Worship Speaker: Kevin Swanson Broadcaster: Reformation Church of Elizabeth Event: Sunday Service Date: 6/15/2025 Bible: Psalm 96:7-8 Length: 17 min.

Read Online“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20 (Year B Gospel)Of all the great feasts we celebrate within the Church throughout the year, today's Solemnity presents us with a Mystery that is so deep and transcendent that our eternity will be spent in perpetual contemplation. The Trinity, the life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will never get old, never be fully understood, and will be the cause of our everlasting adoration and joy. Though the Church has used philosophical concepts to explain the Trinity, no human concept or description will ever fully explain Who God is. Though we can point to some general truths about God, we will never be able to fully depict the inner essence, depth, beauty and omnipotence of the Trinity.As we consider that fact, it's important to understand that the Trinity is not first a theological mystery we try to define. Rather, the Trinity is first a communion of Persons we are invited to know. We do not primarily come to know God through intellectual deduction. We come to know God through prayerful union with Him. Though theology is exceptionally useful and important, the essence of God is beyond any and every philosophical concept we can define.The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are Persons. And as Persons, they want to be known. And they want to be known primarily through a life of deep and intimate prayer. Praying to One Person, of course, is praying to all, since they are One God. But we are, nonetheless, called to a relationship of love with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And though our feeble minds may not be able to fully comprehend the essence of God, He will draw us deeper and deeper into a knowledge of Him if we let Him.Prayer often begins by saying prayers, by meditating upon Scripture, and by listening. But true prayer is something much deeper. True prayer is contemplative prayer that ultimately leads to divine union. Only God can initiate this form of prayer in our lives, and only God, through this deep form of prayer, can communicate Himself to us as He is. Some of the greatest mystics of our Church, such as Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Ávila, explain in their mystical theology that the deepest knowledge of God does not come through concepts or images. In fact, if we wish to obtain a knowledge of God in His essence, we must allow Him to purge every concept of Who He is so that the pure light of His essence can be poured forth upon our minds. This knowledge, they say, is beyond knowing “about” God. It's the beginning of a knowledge “of” God.Reflect, today, upon the Most Holy Trinity. As you do, say a prayer to God asking for a deeper and more intimate knowledge of Him. Ask Him to communicate to you His divine love and to open your mind and heart to a deeper understanding of Who He is. Try to humble yourself before the great Mystery of the inner life of God. Humility before the Mystery of God means that we know how little we know about Him and how little we know of Him. But that humble truth will help you move closer to the deeper relationship of love to which you are called.Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, please draw me into a relationship of love with You Who are one God and three divine Persons. May the mystery and beauty of Your life become more known and loved by me each day through the gift of transforming mystical prayer. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Holy Trinity via Web Gallery of ArtSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In a world that often feels unjust, how do we keep trusting a God who promises to be both just and loving? In today’s devotional, we turn to Psalm 17—David’s heartfelt prayer in the face of betrayal and injustice—and uncover a blueprint for trusting God even when life feels unfair. Whether you're facing false accusations, broken promises, or just the weight of injustice around you, this episode offers hope and healing in the hands of a just God.

How a Strong Identity Defeats Shame: Interview With Pastor Drew Hyun Maybe you're a leader in your church, a high achiever at work, or a dedicated family man—but deep inside, you feel the sting of shame. Maybe it's from mistakes in your past, struggles in your present, or simply the pressure of not living up to what you think you should be. Here's the good news: you don't have to carry it anymore. Pastor Drew Hyun—lead pastor of Hope Church NYC and executive director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship—shares how God's love offers a radical solution. Not just theologically, but practically. In this powerful teaching, originally given to our men's community, Drew walks us through how to eradicate shame through our identity in Christ. These truths brought tears to the eyes of many men in our program—and it's easy to see why. Because when you truly grasp how deeply you're loved by God, everything changes. The Root of Shame: Why Our Identity Feels So Fragile Pastor Drew's upbringing was marked by harsh parenting, deep wounds, and religious hypocrisy. His father—who eventually became a well-known pastor and author—was emotionally and physically abusive at home, even as he preached about how to raise a godly family. Drew grew up trying to reconcile this contradiction, and his early life was shaped by a relentless drive to succeed, perform, and hide his struggles. Whether you've experienced something similar or not, many of us understand that tension: performing on the outside while hiding pain on the inside. And when we can't live up to the image we've created—shame creeps in. But here's the turning point: our identity doesn't come from performance or other people's approval. It comes from Christ alone. Emotional Health Is Spiritual Maturity As Pastor Drew shared with us, "You cannot be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” It doesn't matter how impressive your resume is, how many sermons you've heard, or how many Bible verses you know—if your wife experiences you as unloving, cold, or critical, then something is broken. Spiritual growth isn't just what you do in public. It's who you are in private—especially with those closest to you. The call to emotional health is not just self-help. It's a discipleship issue—and a doorway to freedom. Public Life vs. Private Life Social media, church culture, and cultural expectations often tempt us to present a polished version of ourselves. But that disconnect between our public image and private reality breeds shame. Drew shares how discovering integrity—being whole and consistent, not perfect—transformed his life. He uses this beautiful definition of humility, rooted in the Latin word humus (meaning grounded): “Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less.” When you're grounded in God's love, you no longer need to perform. You can walk in truth, freedom, and consistency—the marks of a mature man of God. Overcoming Shame Through Christ-Centered Identity Shame loses its power when you know who you are in Jesus. Culture tells you to look inside yourself or to please your family and community. But both of those paths eventually fail. Only God's love is unchanging. Here's a mantra Pastor Drew repeats often: "In Jesus, I am fully loved, fully accepted. Nothing to hide. Nothing to prove. Nothing to fear." That's your anchor when insecurity hits. That's your firm footing when shame comes knocking. When you remember this truth, you can stop hiding and start living. What It Means to Be a Bold Yet Humble Christian Leader So what does healthy Christian leadership look like? It's not puffed-up pride. And it's not self-defeating shame. It's humble boldness—a leadership style rooted in identity, not insecurity. Drew points to Jesus as our ultimate model. He is both Lion and Lamb—powerful and gentle, bold and self-sacrificing. When your worth is secure in Christ: You don't feel inferior to anyone. You don't feel superior to anyone. You can love boldly and lead without fear. As Drew puts it, “I don't need to perform. I just need to show up as my honest self—and be a conduit of God's love.” Why Your Marriage Is a Miracle in the Making Your marriage isn't just for your happiness—it's a sign and wonder to the world. Ephesians 5 calls marriage a “mega mystery” that reflects the love between Christ and His Church. That means your pursuit of your wife—emotionally, physically, spiritually—is a living picture of Jesus' relentless, selfless love. Even if things feel strained right now, even if your wife is distant or hurting—your love still matters. Your kindness. Your self-control. Your forgiveness. Your joyful pursuit. They point to the God who never gives up on us. Final Thoughts: You Are Deeply Loved—Right Now You might feel like you've failed too much or that your shame disqualifies you from being a great husband. But that's not what Jesus says. As Drew puts it, “You are more sinful than you dare believe. And more loved than you dare hope.” That truth sets men free. So if you've stuck your foot in your mouth, if your wife seems distant, if your spiritual walk feels stale… Take a deep breath. You are fully loved. Fully accepted. Nothing to hide. Nothing to prove. Nothing to fear. With love, The Delight Your Marriage Team PS - If you're ready to be discipled and join a community of men or women that are passionately pursuing Christ and His purpose their marriage, we would love to talk to you! Check out delightyourmarriage.com/cc for more information. PPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate: "Years ago I prayed to God for a short life. I didn't want to break my marriage vow, but I didn't see how I could be happy with him and it was getting harder as the children became adults...Now I enjoy spending time with him...Physical intimacy is better than ever. He cares about me and I feel secure. When we come together physically, we feel closer and both of us look forward to it! I miss him when he gets busy with work and would be devastated if something happened to him."    

Only God sees the whole story, and the backstory from every angle, and only God is qualified to judge us. We may judge others and ourselves much too harshly, or we may not care enough to speak up when someone is in need of guidance. in Psalm 98 we see the whole earth become animated and rejoice because God is coming to judge, and He will get it right. The wonderful Colin Heinrich sings "Face to Face".     Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Chad Bird  

In a world obsessed with planning and productivity, it’s easy to assume we’ve got tomorrow under control. But what happens when life reminds us how fragile and uncertain the future really is? In this episode, Whitney Hopler shares a sobering yet hope-filled reflection on how surrendering our plans to God’s will can lead to deeper peace, trust, and joy—no matter what tomorrow brings. What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways): Why our lives are more fragile than we often admit—and how that reality invites us to trust God The difference between planning with pride and planning with purpose How to replace anxiety about the future with peace from God’s presence Practical mindset shifts to invite God into everyday decisions Why flexibility in faith is key to discovering God's greater plans for us

In a season of Stillness—but I'm still here. ❤️‍

You've invited God into your heart, prayed sincerely, and still feel silence. What does that mean? We explore how to respond when God seems distant—even when you're doing everything right. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Please help support our mission by donating! Catholicanswersradio.com Questions Covered: 01:01 – I kind of want to convert but Eucharistic ministers’ hands touching hands and tongues and sharing the chalice are so yucky!  What can I do about this hang-up?  12:49 – Do you have a response to Dr Mark Miravalle's response about Medjugorje?  18:22 – I heard you state on a recent podcast that you have a particular interest in linguistics, so I’m hoping you can comment on the following issue.  Why are some Old Testament names so familiar in modern English and others so foreign to us?  Is it a matter of translation, the importance of the person, or something else?  24:45 – What’s the best evidence that psi phenomenon exist?  39:50 – If Angels have been around since creation, but they don't reproduce, does that mean that it's the same number of angels since the beginning? No more and no less?   44:52 – How do those who desperately want a relationship with God, including prayers inviting all three persons of God to come into their heart, deal properly with an apparent lack of response from God.   48:21 – How can ‘days off purgatory’ be understood in the hereafter since we live in a different ‘time zone’ AND isn’t the timeframe of the purging a discretionary matter ONLY God can determine?   50:52 – The Copenhagen experiment where they shot photons through slits (I think I have that right?) and the particles behaved differently when they were observed vs unobserved – does this offer any proof for God? Also how does this work with Weeping Angels?