Pentecostal Christian adults and youth movement in Melbourne, Australia
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What’s keeping you in chains today—sin, fear, or something else? Vivian Bricker reminds us that Jesus has already won our freedom, but too often we live as if we’re still locked in a self-made prison. It’s time to step into the light, leave behind old patterns, and walk confidently in the freedom Christ provides.
God showed you His power personally when He saved you from sin. You are no longer in bondage to sin. You have been set free. Praise Him!
All saints, give honor to the Lord,For all He is and does.Praise Him in times of blessedness,And in your earthly woes.Your Father is too wise to err;He's too good to do wrong.His omnipotence is strong to save;So lift to Him your song.Are you downcast? Then lift your eyes,To God upon His throne.He will sufficient grace supply,To every needy one. If by His grace you have been raised,From death to life in Christ,Then set your love on things above,And find your joy in Christ.
TEXT: Psalm 18:16God drew you out of many waters because of Christ1. Call on Him when you are in the waters2. Praise Him for drawing you out of the waters
This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: I Just Don't Know! In today's episode, we're exploring a sermon titled “I Just Don't Know,” based on John 20:19–31. We'll unpack the story of Thomas, often called Doubting Thomas, and discover how his struggle with doubt led to a powerful confession of faith. This message reminds us that occasional doubts are a normal part of the Christian journey, but they don't have to shipwreck our faith. Instead, God meets us in our uncertainties with compassion, guiding us to trust Him more deeply. We'll discuss why believers experience doubt, how to address it practically, and why doubting doesn't make you a terrible Christian. * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. “Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "This Solid Rock" and "Praise Him, Praise Him" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.
Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North Sermons - Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North
Introduction: 1 Peter 1:18-19 - ...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of ua lamb vwithout blemish or spot. What is Redemption? Jesus Christ Paid the Ultimate price to Purchase my freedom and salvation. What Does Christ Redeem Me From? An Empty life of bondage to sin that leads to an Excruciating eternity in hell. What Does Christ Redeem Me With? His Own life which is worth more than anyone or anything that this world has to offer. Psalm 49:7-8 – Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice. What Does Christ's Redemption Require of Me? Acknowledging that I Cannot Work Off My Debt to God. Isaiah 64:6 – We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Trusting that Christ has Paid my Debt In Full . Colossians 2:13-14 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Living for the One who Gave Himself for me. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Audio Transcript If you have a Bible, please turn to 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 18 through 19.1 Peter chapter 1 verses 18 through 19.We live in a time when everything is expensive.Am I right?Every single time you go to the grocery store, every time you go to the gas station, you'rein a state of shock over how much money you had to spend.We all leave our house expecting to spend this amount of money and we always end up spendingeven more than we hoped.It can be difficult to keep track of ever-changing prices, but I want to help you have a heartbeaton how much things truly cost.In April 2025, I'm going to do a quick game with you to make that happen.Who's excited for a game?All right, way more excited than I expected.This is your first official harvest game show called Guess That Price.So imagine I'm Bob Barker and you're the excitable crowd.Everyone say guess that price.Yes, guess that price.Oh man, this is really exciting.So I'm going to ask four questions and you will win amazing and imaginary prizes if youguess the answers correctly.And most of the answers were found on Google, which we know is never wrong.So first question on the board.Is that a pretty good talk show voice?Game show voice?Okay, good.First question on the board, what is the median listing price for a house in Pittsburgh?What do we think?Janelle got it right, $250,000.Come see me afterwards for your imaginary prize.Next question, the best selling minivan in 2025 is the Honda Odyssey.What is the suggested retail price for a base model?$55,000?All right, I'm not hearing any right answers.$42,220.No one wins a prize for that one, I guess.Third question, what is the average price of a baseline Disney World vacation for afamily of four?My mom has an answer, $10,000.Janelle once again is very, very close, $7,093.I guess Janelle is the winner of this game for the most part.Well, it's time for the final and most important question of the game.And for this question, you don't have to shout out your answer, instead silently considerit in your heart and mind.What price did Jesus Christ have to pay to rescue lost and undeserving sinners like youand me?That's very true, Cody, his own life.Until the sermon, we're going to talk the rest of the time about that.So this is the third message in our latest series, What is Finished?And our goal is to unpack what Jesus truly accomplished on that cross 2,000 years agoand why he victoriously declared it is finished with his dying breath.Over the past two weeks, we've studied the doctrine of salvation like a diamond and examinedit from different angles and aspects.First we focused on justification.Our guilt before God is gone.And last week, we talked about the glorious truth of reconciliation.Our broken relationship with God has been restored.And tonight, we will examine another facet of the salvation diamond.Redemption, the price has been paid.You know, during the Easter season, you were bombarded with crosses on bumper stickers,road signs, even in chocolate form.Without even realizing it, you can become numb to the meaning and magnitude of the crossof Christ.So on this Good Friday, I want each and every one of you in this room and watching onlineto be overwhelmed with the weight of your sin and the depth of your debt before a holyGod.Some of you in this room need to come to the realization that you have an outstanding balanceon your spiritual account.That will not affect your credit score or your financial portfolio, but it will affect youreternal destiny unless it is dealt with before it is too late.And for the rest of you whose balance has been taken care of and wound down to zero,I want you to truly count the cost of your salvation and calculate the immensity of whatwas sacrificed for you.Because if you have a cheap view of grace, you will have a weak walk with Christ.But if you have a costly view of grace, you will have a rock-solid relationship with yourLord and Savior.So let's spend a moment in prayer.Please pray for me that will faithfully proclaim God's Word, and I will pray for you that youfaithfully receive it.Father, I am completely overwhelmed by my inability to properly communicate the pricethat has been paid and what your Son has sacrificed for me.What He has sacrificed for everyone in this room.Father, I pray that your Holy Spirit would preach a much better message in our heartsthat I ever could with my mouth.May you watch over your Word to perform it this evening.May you do a great and mighty work.We ask all this in Jesus' mighty name.Amen.So our textual this evening is 1 Peter 1, verses 18 through 19.But before we dive into these verses, we need to understand the purpose of this letter andwho Peter is writing to.Throughout chapter 1, Peter makes it crystal clear that he is writing to struggling andsuffering Christians who do not feel at home in this fallen and ungodly world.He describes these believers as refugees, exiles, aliens, and pilgrims who stick outlike sore thumbs in a culture that hates God.And Peter doesn't want his brothers and sisters in Christ to feel discouraged that they arebeing persecuted and are suffering.Instead he wants them to be encouraged that they are experiencing the results of standingapart from everyone else and acting different.In the verses leading up to our passage, Peter gives a list of important commands.He says, "Prepare your minds for action.Be sober-minded.Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.Be holy in all your conduct and conduct yourself with fear throughout the time of your exile."Simply put, imitate your perfect and holy God by being who he has called you to be anddoing what he has called you to do.Okay?But why?Why should these Christians choose to act differently from the world around them?What is the motivation?Well, Peter gives the motivation in verses 18 through 19 of chapter 1.He says, "Knowing that you were ransomed, redeemed from the futile ways inherited fromyour forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the preciousblood of Christ.Like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."So to fully unpack these verses and what redemption actually is, we need to ask and answer forwhat questions this evening.And the first what question on your outline is, what is redemption?What is redemption?When Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price to purchase my freedom and salvation.Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price to purchase my freedom and salvation.You know redemption was a common concept 2,000 years ago when it came to slavery and captivity.Prisoners of war were not released until their ransom was delivered.Prisoners were not set free until their debt was paid in full.And it's essential for you to understand that apart from Christ, you have a sin debt hangingover your head.You are a sinner by nature and by choice.And you have no one to blame for your spiritual bankruptcy besides yourself.And this debt will not magically go away.It must be paid by someone and there are only two options.Option one is a payment plan.You pay the penalty in hell forever.The second option is much better.And it's the one I hope you will choose.Jesus Christ settles your debt once and for all through His death on the cross that youcan be set free.You know as a pastor I'm asked a lot of theological questions on a weekly basis.And one of the questions I receive almost more than any other, almost even more than"Do my pets go to heaven?"Which will always be the uncontested champion of theological questions.I've lost count of how many people have asked me, "Why did Jesus have to die?"Why did Jesus have to pay a price?Why couldn't God just look past our sin, snap His divine fingers and say, "You know what?Just forget about it.Go on, go home.Don't worry, you're all forgiven."Have you ever wondered that?Have you ever asked that question?Well to answer that question let me walk you through a few scenarios.Imagine with me after service you punch me in the face.First of all, please don't do that.Please, please.Second of all, would there be consequences for your assault?There's a lot of police officers here so I guess they could arrest you.I could press charges.What if you punch your boss in the face on Monday?Would there be even worse consequences?Yeah, on top of going to jail you'd also be fired from your job.Imagine you were pulled over by a cop after service today and you punched that cop inthe face.Were there serious consequences for that?You would be in prison for a long time for assaulting an officer.What if you punched the President of the United States or another world leader in the face?Would there be even worse consequences for that?You can maybe be charged with an assassination attempt.Last question.What is the penalty for slapping the creator of the universe in the face?Sending against the eternal God demands eternal punishment.The punishment has to fit the crime.And infinite debt only makes sense for offending an infinite God.Once again, someone has to pay your debt.It cannot just be forgotten without someone covering the bill that you owe to the Lord.So we answer the first what question of what is redemption, which leads into our secondquestion which we touched on a bit.What does Christ redeem me from?What does Christ redeem me from?And Peter makes her crystal clear in verse 18.He says you were ransom from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers.So what does Christ redeem me from on your outline and empty life of bondage to sin thatleads to an excruciating eternity in hell?Peter says that we have all inherited futile ways from our forefathers.What does that even mean?Well, it's very simple.We all have been taught worthless ideas that lead to meaningless living.You have been served an endless amount of lies throughout your entire life that are niceand candy coated and look great on the outside, but on the inside are hollow.So many people have no idea who created them, why they exist, and what their purpose evenis.Instead of submitting to the perfect revelation of God, they make up their own pointless answersto the question.There is the you do you way of living.You are the bright and shining star of your own universe.Do whatever you want to do.There's the close your eyes mentality and don't think about God.Don't think about life and its meaning.Don't think about death.Don't think about what happens after death.Just enjoy your life as long as it lasts.There's the American dream.You work really hard to get into a good college, so you can get a good job, so you can marrythe right person.Have a bunch of kids who then repeat that same cycle.Impressive degrees, a high paying job, successful children of the measures of success.There's the empty religion school of thought.Just pick whatever religious path seems good to you.They all lead to the same destination.You know that sentiment is almost true.Every single spiritual path but one leads to the same destination, but that destinationis not a place you want to end up.Every path but one that is laid out in God's word leads to an excruciating eternity awayfrom the loving and caring presence of Almighty God.But whoever turns to Christ and walks by his way of salvation is redeemed and is rescuedfrom a life of dead end streets that go nowhere and a destiny of eternal suffering.So we know what redemption is.We also know what Christ redeems us from.Our third what question, what does Christ redeem me with?And Peter gives us the answer in verses 18 through 19.He says, "Not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious bloodof Christ like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."So what does Christ redeem me with?His own life which is worth more than anyone or anything that this world has to offer.You know according to the Old Testament law, the Israelites were commanded to only sacrificeanimals that were free of deformities, rashes, and other obvious issues.They were to only sacrifice animals that were clear of disease and imperfections.This trend first pops up in Exodus 12 as God tells the Israelites to spread the blood ofspotless lambs over their doorpost to be spared from death.And these spotless lambs in every single Old Testament sacrifice point forward to the perfectand spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who came into this world to lay down his own lifeand pour out his own blood so that anyone who trusts in him will be washed of all theirsinful stains.You know Psalm 49 verses 7 through 8 talks about the unimaginable cost of a human soul."Truly no man can ransom another or give to God the price of his life for the ransom oftheir life is costly and can never suffice.God cannot be bribed with gold, silver, a briefcase full of cash, or bitcoin, becausehere he owns it all.No mere human being can take the place of another or pay off the debt of someone else.Only Jesus Christ who is fully God and fully man can bridge that gap and pay that price.The blood of Christ is the only currency of redemption.It is the only thing of true value that God the Father can or will accept.Nothing more precious could ever be offered and nothing less will even be considered."So we've answered three what questions.What is redemption?What does Christ redeem me from?And what does Christ redeem me with?We've talked about the theology of redemption.Now let's close by talking about the application of redemption with our final question.What does Christ's redemption require of me?What does Christ's redemption require of me?Well, firstly, acknowledging that I cannot work off my debt to God.Acknowledging that I cannot work off my debt to God.And my five-year-old son Sam loves Legos.Now imagine with me that I take him to the Ross Park Mall to buy a very small and inexpensiveLego set.In the process, he knocks over and destroys five of their most expensive displays.All told, I'm on the hook for $3,000 in damage.And Sam hysterically says to me, "Dad, I promise I'll pay you back.I don't have any money in my piggy bank right now, but here's what I'll do.I'll go around the neighborhood and pull weeds for a penny of weed.I promise I'll pay you back soon."I'm not great at math, but $3,000, a penny of weed, how many weeds would he have topull to cover that debt?How much?300,000 weeds.Come on, let's be realistic.Is that ever going to happen?No way.That is way too high a sum for a five-year-old to handle on his own.And the same way, your sinful sum is way too high for you to handle on your own.Thinking that you can pay it off and work it back to God is as foolish as Sam thinkingthat he can pull hundreds of thousands of weeds to pay off his debt to me.You can never be good enough.You can never do enough to earn your way back into God's good graces.Isaiah 64-6 gives us an important insight about all the things that we think are righteousdeeds.He says, "All of us have become like Juan who was unclean, and all our righteous actsare like filthy rags.We all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweeps us away."The first step in receiving redemption is acknowledging your need for it and admittingthat you can never earn it or buy it for yourself.So what does Christ redemption require of me?Secondly, trusting that Christ has paid my debt in full.Trusting that Christ has paid my debt in full.While you are spiritually destitute and delinquent, Christ has an infinite amount of riches.That He will give to you if you come to Him in humility and faith.Your debt to God will now and forever be wiped away in an instant if you turn from yoursin and trust in Christ.You must believe that He is your Savior and that the incomparable gift of His blood ismore than enough to cover your bill to the Lord.I know what some of you are thinking, "Taylor, you have no idea how long and detailed mysinful bill really is.It's like a CVS receipt on steroids."There's no way that God could forgive that.I don't know the horrible things you've done.I don't know all the things that are written on your debt to the Lord.But do you know who does?Jesus Christ.He knows how broken you are.He knows not just every single sin that you've committed, but every sin that you have yetto commit.Yet He offers you redemption anyway.If you were to pull me aside for service to share your deepest, darkest secret with me,I would have the same exact response to every single one of you.There is no debt that the blood of Christ cannot pay, even yours.But please stop making excuses for why Jesus can't forgive you and just ask Him to forgiveyou.And He will, because the Bible says so.It's that simple.Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes those who were saved.In you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God madealive together with Christ, having forgiven us all our trespasses.Not just some, not just most.Oh, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.Those verses can be true of you right now.If you simply repent and turn to Christ.I beg you, please don't leave tonight without making the most important transaction of yourlife.Submit your sinful bill to Christ that He will pay every last penny and then rip it up,never to be seen again.Finally, what does Christ redemption require of me?Living for the one who gave himself for me.Living for the one who gave himself for me.You will not live for Christ until you are truly thankful for what He has done for you.And your level of thankfulness to Christ will only reach as high as your genuine grasp ofwhat He has sacrificed for you.Let me prove it to you with a few examples.Would you be thankful if I let you borrow my hoodie because you were chilly during service?Pastor Jeff, would you be thankful?But Pastor Jeff wouldn't break his hand patting me on the back for that, right?How thankful would you be if I let, if I lent you my car for a whole week while you'rejust getting worked on?You would repeatedly express your gratitude, maybe even send me a thank you note.What if I found out you were homeless and I let you move into my house rent free?How thankful would you be?You would go out of your way to express your gratitude by cleaning up around the house,doing all the chores outside that I don't like to do.How thankful would you be if I pushed you out of the way of a moving car and died inyour place?You wouldn't even know where to begin with expressing your gratitude and honoring mymemory and helping my family.Magnify that made up example times a billion and describing how grateful you should be asa redeemed sinner.The eternal Son of God died in your place so that you could have eternal life.We hear that so much, but do you really think about it?Do you think about how unbelievable that is?Praise Him for what He has done because He deserves it.Thank Him for all that He has given to you instead of complaining about all the thingsthat you don't have.Stop living for yourself and start living for Him.You need to be thankful to Christ, but you also need to recognize that you belong toChrist.Once your debt is scratched out of God's heavenly ledger, you can't just say, "Hey, God, thanks.I'll see you later when I get to heaven.I'm off to do whatever I want to do now."Paul tells us why that doesn't make sense in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 19 through20."You are not your own, for you were bought with a what?With a price.Your life is not your life.Since Jesus gave you His life, your life is now His life.Christ ransomed you from slavery to sin so that He could make you His own personal slave."That may sound bad, but it's actually the greatest news imaginable because everyone is enslavedto something and someone.Money, stuff, possessions, status.These are all harsh dictators that care nothing for you.And Satan has dibs on every single person who rejects Christ, and he hates everyone whois enslaved to him.But the Christian slave has the freest life of all because you belong to the only masterwho truly loves you, who calls you his friend.And once what is best for you?And what is best for you is giving everything you have for Jesus, his glory, and his kingdom.This means that you look and act different.How you spend your time should look different than everyone else.More than anything, you want to meet with God and His Word and in prayer every singleday.How you view your relationship should be different.You want to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ, worshiping, fellowshiping, andserving together.You want to reach out to unbelievers in your life so that they can experience the redemptionthat you've experienced.You view your resources differently.Your gifts, talents, and resources are not to be used to get ahead and advance your ownplans.And you may be thinking, "Wow, this sounds really inconvenient."You still don't get it.True Christians are those who happily rearrange their lives around Christ because they realizethey belong to Him and not themselves.Turning your life upside down is not an annoying inconvenience.It is an absolute pleasure because Jesus Christ is more than worthy and His redemptive rewardsare more than worthwhile.You know what, Harvest?Some choose to designate their financial giving towards certain ministries and missions.You can designate your giving to the building fund, the General Missions Fund, or to Thailandto go to Barnabas and his band of missionaries and evangelists.And I promise you, if you ever designate your giving, the finance team honors your wishes.If you designate your giving to the building fund, it goes to the building fund.If you designate your giving to go to Thailand, it goes directly to Thailand.Do you know that the Lord Jesus designates His giving?He paid an infinite price, but His giving is geared towards one specific purpose, redeemingand recruiting genuine worshipers.Jesus only purchases selfless givers, not selfish consumers.He only purchases loyal friends, not flaky acquaintances.He only purchases faithful servants, not lazy slackers.Do not belittle the price Jesus paid by choosing to be the exact opposite of what He paid for.Do not undermine His sacrifice by choosing to act like everyone else.Do not dishonor the Lord of your life by acting as if you are the Lord of your life.Our worship team and communion service can make their way forward.You know, we spent a lot of time tonight talking about redemption, but now we're actually goingto look at a physical picture of it as we turn to the Lord's Supper.Sin forces us to count the cost of salvation and focus our attention upon Jesus Christand Him crucified.When we eat the bread and drink of the cup, we are reminded that Jesus gave His own bodyand shed His own priceless blood to ransom us from captivity to sin and give us His eternalriches.And to be clear, you don't have to be a member of harvest to take part in communion, butyou do need to be a member of the family of God.So if you have not yet turned to Christ, I want to ask you to stay seated and contemplatethe meaning and message of the cross.Once again, I want to call you to not leave this room without making the most importantdecision of your life.Please stop Pastor Jeff, myself, from one of the other elders.We have Justin over here.We have Brian right here and Pastor Rich in the back.We would love nothing more than to talk to you about Jesus and what next steps with Himlooks like.And for those who are born again believers in this room, we're going to do somethinga bit different tonight for communion.In a few moments, you will leave your seats, come down the center aisles to receive theelements.You'll go back to your seat using the outer aisles and you'll be taking communion onyour own.I ask you to eat the bread and drink at the cup, not quickly or flippantly, but prayerfully.Take time to confess to the Lord.Take time to thank Him for all that He has done for you through the life and death ofHis Son.And after you're done, we ask that you please leave respectfully and quietly.We want you to feel the weight of the cross upon your shoulders so that you can come rightto celebrate the resurrection of the empty tomb on Sunday.So you can make your way forward as you are ready. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Peter 1:18-19What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Do you ever take your redemption for granted? How can you protect yourself from this indifference?Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - According to Paul, why can't you just live however you want to live? How is your Heavenly Master calling you to change and serve Him more faithfully right now? BreakoutPray for one another.
Good Friday was all your fault! Jesus died for you. And for me! Praise Him! Receive Him! Serve Him!
Mini: Let's review the story of Hannah's prayer and her son Samuel with: "The Sharing Song", "Praise Him, Praise, Praise Him", and "Teach us to Pray", with our memory verse 1 Sam.3:9 "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. Larson Don't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/ If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.com The Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317. If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=). Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little Lessons All Bible verses are from the NKJV. Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy Nelson Editing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh Larson Music Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy Hall Coloring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie Rodriguez Theme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com God: who gives talents for us to use for Him
This Holy week, starting from Palm Sunday, we remember what Christ has done and reflect on His wonderful love and grace. Praise Him: "Hosanna in the highest!". For He emptied Himself; He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
April 6, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 20:9-20Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-31. “When the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.'” (Luke 20:14) In the name of + Jesus. Amen.It makes no sense. This vineyard was perfect in every way. The ground was well cultivated and primed for production. It was planted with the choicest vines. When the fullness of time would arrive, it was going to produce the finest of wine. When everything was set, and the master saw that it was good, he went out to find tenants who would live in his beautiful creation, tend to its needs, harvest the fruit, and return it to the master. You would think that the master would have had a better vetting process and been more protective of his perfect garden. Although the master gave the tenants everything they needed to be successful, everything was laid out for them to a “t,” the agreement was broken. Greed overtook the tenants, and they decided to get what they thought they had coming to them. Now, the Master's response makes no sense. Having treated not just one or two but three servants terribly and sent them away empty-handed, the tenants thought they still had a chance at the ultimate prize, the son's inheritance. What kind of people are they that they would enact such evil and expect no repercussions? What kind of people? Truth be told, you are the wicked tenants. You are among those who have treated servants, prophets, and pastors shamefully and sent them away and set your sights upon the master's son. Yours are the actions which have caused the death of the Son of the Master, the very son of God. And although we have treated the Son so shamefully, though we have turned our back on the master, though we “daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment” (5th Petition of the Lord's Prayer), He has done something that makes no sense. He should bring to pass what He said in the parable. He should “come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others” (Luke 20:16). He should cast us away from His presence and take His Holy Spirit from us. Yet, He does what is unexpected. Because it was always the Father's desire to show mercy to His Creation, He sent His Son into a sin-filled world knowing “He would go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed” (Matthew 16:22). And by His death and resurrection, we poor miserable sinners, would be made saints by His blood. Connected to His death and resurrection, we would receive full pardon and forgiveness for our sins, the inheritance that belonged to the Son, and the crown of eternal life. It's not fair, but such is the will of God. Praise Him for His continued mercy shown to sinners such as you and me. In the name of + Jesus. Amen. Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect of the Day for the Fifth Sunday in Lent)-Rev. Timothy Chase, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Truman, MN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Harrison Goodman, Executive Director of Mission and TheologyVisit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!
Praise the Lord in His sanctuary and in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts and His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet, the psaltery, and the harp. Praise Him with the timbrel, dance, stringed instruments, and organs.
Psalm 33 praises God for his attributes, Word, and involvement in our lives. Join Brandon today as he helps us understand the truths of Psalm 33. Devotionables #762 - Praise Him! Psalm 33 The PsalmsDevotionables is a ministry of The Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. naobc.org
This has been a heavy week. I think of my good friend Colleen Howard and her recent passing, and I cannot help but be full of joy and conviction. Joy at the fact that we have a home prepared for us in Heaven by a Savior who was willing to stay committed, whatever the cost, to the mission He was on. Joy that Colleen knew Jesus well, walked with Him in life, and now knows Him in greater ways than I can understand. Conviction because of the example set by Colleen and many others who have lived lives committed to Christ and His Cause. I think of my own walk and desire a deeper commitment, connection, and purpose to drive me. The Apostle Paul was one of these people, and as we look at Acts 21 we can see his unwavering commitment to Christ, His Cause, His Church, and His Cross. The surpassing value of knowing Christ drove Paul to be willing to lose everything and take hold of the treasure of Jesus. This weekend, my prayer is that we as a church can take steps towards this same heart. Committing ourselves more fully to the One who has given all for our sake. Praise God for Jesus! Praise Him for His forgiveness and grace! Praise Him for His promises we can stand firmly on! Praise Him for the truth of the Gospel, and the hope we have! Let that be the cry of our hearts, echoing the “great cloud of witnesses” who have led by example with lives that truly proclaim “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Join us this weekend for one of our worship services at 8am or 11am. Cannot wait to connect with you MBC Family! -Pastor Ben Key Verse - Acts 21:13 - Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” For Scripture, notes, upcoming events, & more: http://bible.com/events/49387596
Let's review lessons from baby Moses as we learn the songs: "A boat Goes Sailing", "WhenIt's Time to Pray", and "Praise Him, Praise Him" and our memory verse Psa.107:13 "They criedout to the Lord and He saved them."Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. LarsonDon't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website:www.startingwithjesus.comThe Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used withpermission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-orcall 1-877-242-5317.If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita HillsStore (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=).Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, NewSabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs ForJesus, and Scripture Songs and Little LessonsAll Bible verses are from the NKJV.Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy NelsonEditing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh LarsonMusic Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy HallColoring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie RodriguezTheme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.comGod: who gives talents for us to use for Him
Psalm 135“Some Jewish authorities include Psalms 135 and 136 as part of the collection of Psalms 120-136, whereas others limit the Great Hallel psalms to 135-136, or even Psalm 136 alone” 135:1 Praise the LORD!- 113:1 The word praise is used as an imperative three times in the verse. “The phrase Praise the LORD (and variations of the phrase) occurs seventy-five times in the Psalter, with no less that fifty-four occurrences in Book Five” NICOT, 944. Praise Him, O servants of the LORD- The first two lines speak of the LORD as the object of praise and the last line mentioned the servants as the ones who give praise. 135:2 You who stand in the house of the LORDIn the courts of the house of our God!- Ps. 92:13; 116:19 “The priests and Levites were charged (v. 19-20) with the worship of the Lord ‘in the house of the LORD'” VanGemeren, 819.135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good- I Chron. 16:34; II Chron. 5:13; 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 23:6; 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 110:5; 118:1, 29; 119:68; 118:1, 29. “The Lord's name is good (52:9), that He Himself is good (135:3) and that praising Him is good (147:1)” Kidner, 455.Sing praises to His name- Ps. 68:4for it lovely- The word lovely is a rare word in the OT used only 13 times. In the Psalms it is used in Psalm 16:6, 11; 81:2; 133:1; 147:1 besides here. Good and pleasant (or lovely) appear together in 133:1 and 147:1.135:4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself- Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 7:6; 10:15; 14:2; Ps. 105:6. The goodness of God is manifested in the choice of Israel. “If the first ground of praise is the Lord's character (3), the next is His love for us. The word Jacob is emphatic: ‘For it was Jacob that the Lord chose…'” Kidner, 455.Israel for His own possession- His own possession or special treasure is one word used 8 times in the OT- Ex. 19:6; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 25:18; I Chron. 29:3; Eccl. 2:8; Malachi 3:16.135:5 For I know that the LORD is great-Ps. 48:1; 95:3; 145:3 I is emphatic. And that our Lord is above all gods- Ex. 18:11; Ps. 95:3; 96:4-5; 97:7-9.135:6 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does- 115:3. The Hebrew word translated does in vs. 6 is translated makes in vs. 7 and make in vs. 18. In vs. 15 the noun form is used and it is translated work. In heaven and in earth- Jer. 10:13in the seas and in all deeps- The LORD “is not limited to a particular sphere assigned to Him by His creatures, as is the case with pagan deities. The Lord is God over all realms by virtue of being the Creator. VanGemeren, 820.135:7 He causes the vapors to ascend for the ends of the earth- Jer. 10:13; 51:16 “The rainy season with its storms and wind is under His providential control-not, it is implied, that of Canaanite Baal, as his devotees claimed” Laymen's, 646. Since the weather is attributed to the LORD and not Baal, “it is another way of affirming that ‘our Lord is above all gods' (v. 5)” McCann, 1220.Who makes lightning for the rain- Job 38:22; Ps 77:17-18; 104:3-4 “His greatness even extends to the elements and powers of nature and wind (cf. Jer. 10:13; 51:16). The Canaanites believed that these powers belonged to Baal, but the psalmist confesses rightly that only Yahweh has power to ‘the ends of the earth'” VanGemeren, 820-821.Who brings forth wind from His treasuries135:8 He smote the firstborn of Egypt- 136:10; 78:51; 105:36; Ex. 12:29 Verses 5-7 stress the LORD's power in nature while vs. 8-14
Welcome to Day 2568 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2568 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 47:1-9 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2568 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2568 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In today's Wisdom Nugget, we'll explore Psalm 47, a psalm of celebration, praise, and the declaration of God's sovereignty. Psalm 47 is a triumphant call to worship, reminding us that God reigns over all the earth. It is a psalm of victory, written in a time when God's people saw His power and responded with shouts of joy and praise. While it was originally a song celebrating God's kingship over Israel, it ultimately points to His reign over all nations and peoples. Let's begin by reading the entire passage from the New Living Translation: Psalm 47:1-9 (NLT) 1 Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. 3 He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet. 4 He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance, the proud possession of Jacob's descendants, whom He loves. 5 God has ascended with a mighty shout. The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King over all the earth. Praise Him with a psalm. 8 God reigns above the nations, sitting on His holy throne. 9 The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere. The psalm opens with a universal invitation: “Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!” This is not a quiet, reserved call to worship. It's an enthusiastic, joyful declaration, inviting all people to express their gratitude through clapping and shouting. These are signs of victory and celebration—the kind of response you would expect after witnessing a great triumph. The reason for this excitement is given in verse 2: “For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.” This verse establishes why we should worship—because God is supreme. He is not just the King of Israel; He is the King of all the earth. The word awesome here conveys a sense of reverence, respect, and wonder at God's power and authority. Illustration: Think of a championship sports game. When a team wins, fans erupt in cheers, clapping and shouting in excitement. That kind of uncontained joy is the same response Psalm 47 calls for—but it is directed toward God, the ultimate King, who has already won the...
In this week's message, Pastor Loïs explores the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in Luke 4. These temptations question Jesus' identity as the devil uses the Word of God out of context to entice Jesus to fall for the lust of the eyes, flesh, and pride of life. Praise Him for succeeding where we fail! Now, like Jesus, let us fight every temptation and their false promises with the written promises of God's Scripture. -Featuring Loïs Renaud
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Ephesians 1:3-103 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption
Read OnlineJesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. Luke 4:14–15Jesus had just spent forty days in the desert, fasting and praying prior to beginning His public ministry. His first stop was Galilee, where He entered the Synagogue and read from the Prophet Isaiah. However, soon after His words were spoken in the Synagogue, Jesus was driven out of the town, and the people tried to throw Him over the hill to kill Him.What a shocking contrast. At first Jesus was “praised by all,” as we see in the passage above. Word of Him spread like wildfire throughout the towns. They had heard of His baptism and the Voice of the Father speaking from Heaven, and many were curious and excited about Him. But as soon as Jesus began to preach the pure Gospel message and when He began to address their hardness of heart, they turned on Him and sought His life.Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that the Gospel will always have the effect of drawing people together as one. Of course, this is one of the central goals of the Gospel: to unite us in the Truth as the one people of God. But the key to unity is that unity is only possible when we all accept the saving Truth of the Gospel. All of it. And that means we must change our hearts, turn from the stubbornness of our sins, and open our minds to Christ. Sadly, some do not want to change, and the result is division.If you find that there are aspects of Jesus' teaching that are hard to accept, reflect upon the passage above. Return to this initial reaction of the townspeople when they were all talking about Jesus and praised Him. That is the right response. Our difficulties with what Jesus says and what He calls us to repent of should never have the effect of leading us to disbelief rather than to praise Him in all things.Reflect, today, on the most difficult teaching of Jesus with which you have struggled. Everything He says and everything He has taught is for your good. Praise Him no matter what and allow your heart of praise to give you the wisdom you need to understand all that Jesus asks of you. Especially those teachings that are most difficult to accept.Lord, I accept all that You have taught, and I choose to change those parts of my life that do not conform to Your most holy will. Give me wisdom to see the thing from which I must repent and soften my heart so that I will always remain open to You. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured images above: Christ Reading Isaiah in Synagogue, via flickr
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
Our Savior, our Lord, our King has come and we should want to share this good news with the world. The Shepherds recognized that after worshipping their Messiah, they needed to move on from there and tell others about Him. As a result others heard the good news and marveled too! When we first meet Jesus, we are amazed, we bow down and worship Him and Praise Him. But then that experience should drive us to run out into the streets and tell whose we meet about our experiences with Him and about what He did for us and can do for us. #fsbcsermon #fsbccoalinga Contact us at TheWordInfusion@gmail.com with your comments, questions or praises. Let us know how our podcast has blessed, encouraged or helped you. Join us on our Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/fsbccoalinga & http://www.facebook.com/.. Help us to grow a community that infuses the Word of God into their lives each day. Follow us on Twitter @TheWordInfusion or @fsbccoalinga . To support this ministry click on: https://app.easytithe.com/app/giving/fsbccoalinga or copy and paste it into your web browser.
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
What began as a normal cable car ride across a Pakistani valley turned into a frightful ordeal. Shortly after the ride began, two supporting cables snapped, leaving eight passengers—including school children—suspended hundreds of feet in the air. The situation sparked an arduous twelve-hour rescue operation by the Pakistani military who used ziplines, helicopters, and more to rescue the passengers. Those well-trained rescuers are to be commended, but their work pales in comparison to the eternal work of Jesus, whose mission was to save and rescue us from sin and death. Prior to Christ’s birth, an angel instructed Joseph to take Mary home because her pregnancy was from “the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18, 20). Joseph was also told to name his son Jesus because “he would save his people from their sins” (v. 21). Yet, while this name was common in the first century, only this child was qualified to be the Savior (Luke 2:30-32). Christ came at the right time to seal and secure the eternal salvation of all who repent and believe in Him. We were all trapped in the cable car of sin and death, suspended over the valley of eternal separation from God. But in His love and grace, Jesus came to rescue us and bring us safely home to our heavenly Father. Praise Him!
In this devotional message titled "Praise Him in the Storm," we are encouraged to praise the Lord even when we don't feel like it.This was aired on Radio HCI Today via the WeLove Radio App.
Your Nightly Prayer
Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Deeper Dive Theme: Pastor Latoya reveals a critical lesson she learned when she nearly drowned in a pool. You must surrender in order to be saved. Episode Title: Give God Glory Hosts: Dawn Williams and JWald Guest: Pastor Kevin Acosta Date: November 27, 2024 Tags: #psdapodcast #podcast #DeeperDive #AdventistPodcast #ChristianPodcast #AdventistPodcasts #psdatv #lepers #leprosy #sin #power #cleanse #praise #gratitude #thankfulness #healing #deliverance #power #HolySpirt #glory #Jesus #Christ #PraiseHIm For more life lessons and inspirational content, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI): 1659090 CCLI Streaming Plus License: 21338439Support the show: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANTBMV/envelope/startSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Deeper Dive Theme: Pastor Latoya reveals a critical lesson she learned when she nearly drowned in a pool. You must surrender in order to be saved. Episode Title: Give God Glory Hosts: Dawn Williams and JWald Guest: Pastor Kevin Acosta Date: November 27, 2024 Tags: #psdapodcast #podcast #DeeperDive #AdventistPodcast #ChristianPodcast #AdventistPodcasts #psdatv #lepers #leprosy #sin #power #cleanse #praise #gratitude #thankfulness #healing #deliverance #power #HolySpirt #glory #Jesus #Christ #PraiseHIm For more life lessons and inspirational content, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI): 1659090 CCLI Streaming Plus License: 21338439Support the show: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANTBMV/envelope/startSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
"Praise Him, Praise Him"
"Praise Him, Praise Him"
Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Theme: We should be thankful for God's power to deliver us from sin. Speaker: Pastor Latoya Forbes Title: Give God Glory Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.17.11-19.esv Bulletin/Notes: http://bible.com/events/49351688 Date: November 22, 2024 Tags: #psdatv #lepers #leprosy #sin #power #cleanse #praise #gratitude #thankfulness #healing #deliverance #power #HolySpirt #glory #Jesus #Christ For more life lessons and inspirational content, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI): 1659090 CCLI Streaming Plus License: 21338439Support the show: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANTBMV/envelope/startSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your Nightly Prayer
Exploring Faith: 10 Truths, Experiencing The Creator #RTTBROS #Nightlight The Creator 1 In the Beginning - The Foundation of All Things Key Verses: Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17 Opening Meditation: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." These powerful words establish the foundation of our worldview. Before time, space, and matter existed, God was. He spoke, and everything came into being. Main Study: The biblical account teaches that God created everything in six literal days. This first day established fundamental elements of our universe: - Time ("In the beginning") - Space ("the heavens") - Matter ("the earth") - Energy/Light ("Let there be light") Personal Reflection: - How does knowing that God created everything from nothing impact your trust in Him? - What does it mean for your daily life that the same God who spoke the universe into existence cares about you personally? Today's Scientific Connection: The First Law of Thermodynamics states that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed in natural processes. This scientific law aligns perfectly with Genesis - there had to be a supernatural Creator to bring everything into existence from nothing. Prayer Focus: Thank God for being the ultimate source of everything. Praise Him for His power and wisdom displayed in creation. Daily Application: Write down three examples you observe today of design in creation that couldn't have happened by chance. #Creation #ChristianFaith #BiblicalTruth Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out. https://linktr.ee/rttbros
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
Your Nightly Prayer
What is the firmament? What does Scripture mean by “waters above the heavens”? St. Ambrose expounds upon the Scriptural testimony and raises our minds and hearts both to God's creation and God Himself. As he asks rhetorically, "When you hear this, why do you marvel if, by the operation of such majesty, water can be held suspended above the celestial firmament?"
My Testimony: How Jesus Saved My LifeIn this episode, the Holy Spirit led me to share my powerful testimony. I once opened demonic doors, left Jesus behind, and fell into New Age practices, thinking I was enlightened and powerful. I experienced a terrifying encounter with evil spirits and spiraled deeper into darkness, feeling lost and desperate. But then, Jesus revealed Himself to me. I knew He was the way, the truth, and the life.I surrendered everything to Him, and He radically delivered me from my past. Andrew, my fiancé, and I were baptized together, fully devoted to Christ. Now, we're preparing for marriage, united in our mission to destroy the works of hell and build His kingdom.I'm in awe of Jesus and how He can save anyone. Praise Him! Thank you for your love and support as I continue to share His truth!✝️
Your voice matters. No matter what you've experienced or been told, your ideas, creativity, and perspectives are important contributions to your work. Unfortunately, many women have been ignored, overlooked, and had their ideas stolen by others. Someone may have assumed you are more junior than you are. As difficult and discouraging as those experiences can be, other people don't get the final say about our value or our contribution. We are God's co-workers, called to partner with Him in our work. Bring those difficult situations before God in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants you to do and say. Pray for your co-workers and for your organization, then do the next right thing with boldness and courage. The tougher the situation, the more glory God gets. Praise Him and thank Him in advance, then watch God work on your behalf.
Greg gives advice to young people on how to live well on their own, then he talks to a caller about the point of glory and honor and why we need to give it to God. Topics: Commentary: Advice for young people leaving home (00:00) What's the point of glory and honor, and why do we need to give it to God? (39:00) Mentioned on the Show: When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA STR U Online Training Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis Related Links: Ten Tips to Help Your Prayer Life by Greg Koukl How I Pray...Even When It's Hard by Greg Koukl Tips for Developing a Habit of Bible Reading by Greg Koukl How (and Why) to Make Habits, Not Just Resolutions by Amy Hall (quoting Joe Carter) Why Would God Want Us to Praise Him? by Amy Hall (quoting C.S. Lewis) How to Think about God Promoting His Own Glory by Amy Hall
Podcast Episode 153 - Praise Him!
Send us a textIntro song: Praise Him by LL Cool J & Nas5. Falling So Hard by Atlas Genius4. Little Cup by Arrested Youth3. The Table by Rex Orange County2. Horse to Water by The Cold Stares1. Scattered by David GilmourOutro song: Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Simple Plan & Disney