Podcasts about put god

There is something underneath the anger you can't quite name. It sounds like disappointment. It feels like betrayal. And it has God's name on it. You prayed. You believed. You held on as long as you could. And then the thing you were afraid of happened anyway. So somewhere in the quiet, you decided — without maybe ever saying it out loud — that He let you down. That He was responsible. That if He were really good, really powerful, really in charge, this would have gone differently. Ryan Maher joins me for a conversation that goes straight to the root of that wound. Ryan is the founder of The Prayer Channel and Trust God Bro, the most-followed Christian channels on Instagram, and the author of The God Worth Trusting — a book born out of losing his mother to addiction, losing his friend Brett, and losing his faith in the version of God he'd been handed. What he discovered in that wreckage was not a tidy theology but something far more durable: a distinction between a God who controls and a God who is sovereign, and why confusing those two things has done more damage to the church's trust than almost anything else. We cover the difference between sovereignty and control, what it actually means that God is good at the level of nature and not just activity, and why the phrase "everything happens for a reason" is not only unhelpful; it's a theological lie. If you have walked through something that feels impossible to reconcile with a good God, this conversation will not give you easy answers. What it will give you is a more honest starting place — and the invitation to build a history with the Lord that holds when the circumstances don't. The question is not whether you can trust Him. The question is whether you are willing to let scripture define who He is rather than letting your worst moment do it. Guest Bio Ryan Maher is a pastor and evangelist who uses every digital tool available to share the Gospel, reaching hundreds of millions of people each month through the ministries he has founded and leads, including The Prayer Channel — the number one most popular broadcast channel on Instagram. He is the author of The God Worth Trusting: Restoring Faith in a Good God, a book he describes as the resource he wished someone had handed him in his own darkest seasons. Ryan and his wife, Brittany, are based in Michigan. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

If you want to give through Grace Church you can do so here: https://pushpay.com/g/grace-alone?src=hpp&r=monthlyConnected: Where Life and Relationships Begin is a 7-week journey designed to help you experience the life God created you for—rooted in Him and lived out in authentic relationships. This series will challenge and encourage you to stay connected daily and live with purposeTo Learn more about Grace Church go to https://gracechurchco.com/In this message, Pastor Rick Long discusses the biblical principles of healthy love and relationships, drawing from the Book of Ruth to illustrate how God orchestrates connections for those who put Him first (8:05, 15:55).Core Principles for Healthy Relationships:Put God at the Center (21:35): Rather than seeking a partner to complete you—a notion the pastor identifies as a cultural lie—individuals should first prioritize their relationship with God, as only He can fulfill that role (29:38, 30:01).Pursue Commitment Over Chemistry (31:28): While attraction is real, long-term healthy love is built on character, loyalty, and dedication to God's plan, not just physical chemistry (33:14, 35:13).Honor Boundaries (39:18): Boundaries are presented as tools to protect love and integrity rather than restrictions. The pastor encourages maintaining purity and avoiding sexual compromise before marriage (40:03, 44:41).Invite Wise Counsel (49:43): Relying on godly, experienced voices is essential for avoiding isolation and navigating life's challenges. The pastor emphasizes the value of community and resources like Celebrate Recovery (50:13, 51:28).Trust God Beyond Your Control (52:39): Regardless of circumstances, trusting in God's sovereignty allows for peace and eventual restoration, as seen in the lineage of Ruth and Boaz (53:19).The Ultimate Example:Pastor Long concludes that the story of Ruth and Boaz points to the greater love story of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, who died to buy humanity back from sin (56:00).Additional Notes:The message opens with a celebration of the Forge Christian High School girls' soccer team state championship win and highlights the church's ongoing community and educational initiatives (0:51, 1:01:17).0:00 Welcome to Grace Church0:41 Introduction to the Connect Series0:51 Celebrating Forge Christian High School Girls Soccer State Title8:05 Healthy Love Starts Here12:35 Worldly views vs. God's view of relationships15:55 The Book of Ruth: A model for love21:35 Principle 1: Put God at the center31:28 Principle 2: Pursue commitment over chemistry39:18 Principle 3: Honor boundaries49:43 Principle 4: Invite wise counsel52:39 Principle 5: Trust God beyond your control56:00 The ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer: Jesus57:30 Invitation to trust in Jesus1:01:17 Final announcements and closing worship

Verse by verse 

Put God first and invest in things that last. Speaker - Mark Pomery, Senior Leader, Elevate Church, Perth - Download our Elevate Church AU App (available for Apple or Android) - Visit us at http://www.elevatechurch.me - Instagram - @elevatechurchperth - Facebook - iamelevatechurch And be sure to Subscribe, Like, Comment, Review, & Share.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode we chat with Jay Nix, a former K9 Unit Commander with nearly 26 years of experience in law enforcement. Jay shares his journey of transitioning from a law enforcement career to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of faith, resilience, and support systems in navigating the challenges of the profession. He discusses the weight of trauma experienced by first responders and the need for awareness around burnout. Jay also highlights the significance of mentorship and the impact of personal experiences on professional life, encouraging current and future first responders to recognize their worth beyond their roles in law enforcement. In this conversation we discuss the challenges faced by law enforcement professionals, emphasizing the importance of faith, self-care, and community support. They explore the impact of traumatic experiences on officers, the need for humility and leadership, and provide valuable advice for new officers entering the field. The discussion highlights the significance of maintaining a balanced identity outside of law enforcement and the role of faith in navigating career transitions. Takeaways:Faith plays a crucial role in resilience for first responders.The weight of trauma is often normalized in law enforcement.Support systems are vital for mental health in high-stress jobs.Family support can strengthen personal and professional resilience. Faith can help navigate low moments in life.Don't let your profession define your identity.Be a selfless leader and support your colleagues.Put God first and trust in His plan for your life.Jay Nix-(352)497-1738 Support the showCritical Aspects Website IG: @critical_aspectsIG: @pastorvernin: @Dr. Vernon Phillips

Prayer is not about twisting God's arm until He gives you what you want; it is about releasing His will into your life. When we stop treating prayer like a vending machine and start approaching it as a loving surrender, we open ourselves to the beautiful surprises of a Father who knows our needs better than we do.  True faith means trusting His wisdom enough to stay open even when His answers look different than we expected. #FULLTANKwithBroBo​ #FULLTANKwithBroBo2026​ #BoSanchez​ #PowerOfPrayer​ #TrustGod​ #John14​ #FaithInAction​ #SpiritualMaturity​ #TrulyRichMindset​ #Surrender​ #Grace​ #RelationshipWithGod​--- PS. Do you want to help spread God's love too? You can support my mission through Fulltank, the Prayer Room, and other ministries here: BuyMeACoffee.com/BrotherBoSamchez Together, we can reach more hearts for God!To support my mission work, click this link now! http://BuyMeACoffee.com/brotherbosanchez

The ACLU just called a Texas law a 'Christian Nationalist School Mandate.' The law? Requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms. Now here's what they didn't mention: the Supreme Court of the United States has the Ten Commandments carved into its own building. Somebody explain to me how one is constitutional, and the other is theocracy, because I've read the First Amendment, and I don't see it.SPONSOR: Lear CapitalGold and silver have surged to all-time highs, driven by record money printing, overvalued markets, and global unrest. Lear Capital is helping investors protect and grow their wealth with precious metals — qualified buyers can receive up to $20,000 in bonus gold or silver.Call 800-707-4575 or visit https://www.Nick4Lear.com-----GET YOUR MERCH HERE: https://shop.nickjfreitas.com/BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IC: https://NickJFreitas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickjfreitas/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickFreitasVATwitter: https://twitter.com/NickJFreitasYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickjfreitasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nickjfreitas3.000:00:00 – Texas mandates Ten Commandments in every public classroom00:01:22 – Analyzing the ACLU's arguments against religious displays00:02:58 – Why the Lemon Test is no longer controlling00:03:58 – Understanding Scalia's originalism and the meaning of words00:05:44 – Federal versus state restrictions in the First Amendment00:07:37 – How legal activism led to the incorporation doctrine00:09:30 – Thomas Jefferson and the separation of church state00:14:01 – Debunking Christian nationalism and legislating objective morality00:16:46 – Study proving the Bible's influence on founding fathers00:22:20 – Why judicial activism threatens our legislative process00:25:43 – Defending the cultural values that built our nation00:30:18 – Celebrating The Man Book as a bestseller

Pastor David Phelps-4/26/26-P.M. Service

She was one of the most recognizable women on the planet—gracing magazine covers, starring in films, and rising to global fame almost overnight. But behind the spotlight… there was a deeper story. Kathy Ireland opens up about her unexpected rise to fame—and the moment everything changed when she encountered the truth of God's Word alone in a room in Paris. From reading a Bible left in her suitcase…To boldly following Jesus in industries hostile to faith…To building a billion-dollar business rooted in purpose and integrity.  This is a story about transformation. Kathy shares: Her radical salvation moment through Scripture Navigating faith in the modeling and entertainment world Her journey from supermodel to CEO and entrepreneur Standing boldly for life, Israel, and biblical truth How faith sustains her through trials—even now At a time when truth is under attack and culture is shifting fast… her message is clear: Put God first & Stand for truth—no matter the cost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just stop. Barry challenges you to stop limiting God to human thinking, expectations, logic, past experiences, and tradition rather than what Scripture says. Join the FatherSeekers community! https://www.skool.com/fatherseekersFS FacebookFS InstagramFS YouTubeAsk Barry a question: barry@fatherseekers.orgCHAPTERS00:00 Stop Boxing God01:43 What It Means05:54 Why We Do It07:39 Jesus the Box Breaker10:30 Peter's Messiah Box13:03 Common Boxes Today19:52 God Beyond Comprehension21:23 Join FatherSeekers!--FatherSeekers helps fatherless fathers become better fathers.Get discussion guides, devotionals, and more at FS Website

This week on P&L, I'm joined by Chad Huffhines, a prolific Jersey Mike's franchisee who has mastered the art of rapid scaling. This episode dives into Chad's transition from the corporate world at Chipotle to building a sandwich empire that grew from a single store in 2010 to 37 locations today. Chad shares his unique perspective on the "economy of scale," explaining why growth actually becomes easier once you move past the initial "wall" of six stores and how a deep pool of internal talent is a business's greatest asset. We also discuss the non-negotiable hierarchy that governs his life - God, family, and then work - and how he is currently navigating the transition of bringing his son into the business as a 50/50 partner. Tune in this week on P&L to learn how to scale a high-volume operation without losing sight of the values that started it all. Reach out to Chad at chadehuffhines@gmail.com "Put God first, put your family next, and then this job comes third... you have to have this job to take care of your family, but don't forget God's right there too." - Chad Huffhines This week on Priorities & Lifestyle: The Leap from Corporate to Entrepreneurship: Transitioning from the "honeymoon" phase of a growing brand to owning the risk yourself. Breaking Through the Scaling "Wall": Why the jump from six to nine stores is the hardest period and how to survive it. The Power of Internal Promotion: Building a leadership team from the ground up - from 16-year-old crew members to professional area managers. Structuring the Family Buyout: Navigating 50/50 partnerships with the next generation and securing financing for legacy stores. Our Favorite Quotes: "Growth creates opportunity... it allows the general manager to give an opportunity to the next person." - Chad Huffhines "If you're not growing, you're dying. There's none of this middle ground." - Rob Schulz "I take my weaknesses and find somebody who is good at them... you take your leg up and give it to somebody on your team." - Chad Huffhines   About Rob Schulz and P&L Priorities & LIfestyle Podcast   The P&L: Priorities & Lifestyle Podcast is a show for business owners. In each episode, host and financial planner Rob Schulz sits down with business owners and the professionals that serve them to talk about business building, life, money — and the all-important transition out of the business, which inevitably happens to everyone who has ever founded a company.    Email Rob at rob.schulz@schulzwealth.com with questions and comments, or to schedule a one-on-one conversation.    Follow Rob on LinkedIn Follow Schulz Wealth on LinkedIn Follow Schulz Wealth on Facebook   Order Rob's book, Thoughts on Things Financial, on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Kindle   Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast  Spotify Audible  And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast. *You're listening to P&L: Priorities & Lifestyle with your host Rob Schulz. Rob is the Founder and President of Schulz Wealth. All opinions expressed by Rob and his guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Schulz Wealth. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment decisions. Please refer to our website for more information: schulzwealth.com.

I just read a book of the Bible that involves a bet between God and Satan, a man who loses everything, and dinosaurs. Today, let's take a look at the incredible book of Job. In this short summary, we'll learn some of the overarching themes and insights this book has to offer. My hope is this will help you read job for yourself!

God has not run out of mercy — not for you, not today.Saturday, Feb 21 — Psalm 127 (five verses… and it swings a sledgehammer).This is the line that ends the illusion of control:“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Translation: Busy doesn't equal blessed. Sweat isn't the same as significance.Psalm 127 confronts three things we keep trying to carry alone:Building: If God isn't the Builder, your “success” is a sandcastle.Protecting: If God isn't the Watchman, your anxiety is wasted effort.Providing: Stop eating the bread of anxious toil — God gives His beloved sleep.And then it turns straight to the home: Children aren't a burden — they're a heritage. But an arrow isn't dangerous on a table. An arrow is dangerous in the hand of a warrior. Parents: don't just raise happy kids. Raise kids the enemy fears.Today's question is simple and piercing: Is the Lord building your life… or are you? Put God in it all — because if He's not in it, no amount of work can make it matter.

n this deeply moving episode of Prayer on the Air, we enter sacred territory: motherhood, mental health, shame, boundaries, and surrender.Two courageous mothers open their hearts and speak vulnerably about walking alongside sons who are struggling. They name what so many carry silently — the embarrassment, the fear, the self-blame, the exhaustion of codependency, and the crushing weight of “personal responsibility.”Together, we explore:The cultural burden placed on mothersThe difference between codependency and interdependenceWhy suffering is not failureWhat it means to trust that “the way knows the way”How letting go may actually be loveThe courage to follow your bliss, even in hard seasonsWe reflect on the Year of the Fire Horse — a symbol of momentum, courage, and new beginnings — and what it means to move forward not from fear, but from surrender.This episode is a gentle but powerful invitation to:Release the belief that you are your child's sourceLet yourself off the hookAllow sadness without resistanceTrust the deeper wisdom unfolding beneath what appears broken“Put God on the hook. Let yourself off the hook.”If you are a mother navigating boundaries, a parent walking through mental health challenges, or anyone carrying shame about something you cannot fix — this prayer circle is for you.You are not alone.There are no winners and losers in prayer.And what appears as a fall from grace may actually be a falling into grace.Amen.

02/08/2025 Generous: Redeeming the Days     Ephesians 5:15-17Big Idea: The way you spend your time determines the direction of your life.Sometimes we live as if we have an unlimited amount of time to live. We need to spend more time being with Jesus (think Mary), and less time doing for Him (think Martha).When it comes to time in our lives:1. Wisdom shows up in how you spend your time. (v 15) Does God actually care about out time the same way He cares about our money? Our lives need to reflect our relationship with Jesus. The life you live tomorrow is being shaped by the time you steward today.2. Time isn't owned, it's entrusted. (v 16) The time we are given to live is valuable, we need to be wise in how we choose to spend it. See Psalm 90:12.3. God's direction becomes clearer when your time is ordered. (v 17) Is your schedule crowding out God's voice?  See Mark 1:35. If God is first in your life, He'll be first on your calendar.Wisely stewarding the time entrusted to me means I:1. Put God first on your calendar. (Matthew 6:33) The Creator of the universe wants to be in a relationship with each one of us as individuals.2. Practice Sabbath and margin. Can you commit one day a week to connect with God, and let the world spin by? 3. Be fully present where you are. We don't need new priorities, we need new attention. Presence is one of the most generous gifts you can give.4. Learn to say “no”. What is your “yes” costing you in your relationship with God?Information -> Application -> Transformation

Given the evil still in this world, this emotionally charged episode is with one of the most powerful warriors in the fight for the soul of humanity—Fr. Seán ÓLaoire, who was kicked out of the Catholic Church, because the God he KNOWS is not the God of the scripture. In his book "Setting God Free," he put the God of the Bible on trial for crimes against humanity. The verdict? The wrathful, jealous deity worshipped by fundamentalists is merely a projection of the human shadow onto the divine. And when we set God free from our projections, God sets us free from our illusions.With 80 years of accumulated wisdom this Irish priest, psychologist, and mystic has spent decades exploring the boundaries between religion and direct spiritual experience. He's recorded his dreams since 1979, contracted malaria in Kenya which helped expand new para-psychological faculties of understanding. One of his core teachings is that evil is not just a violation of human law, but "a cosmic conspiracy using human intermediaries to separate souls from Source.” In this conversation, we explore the four expressions of compassion (including when confrontation becomes the most loving response), the cosmic significance of what's happening in Iran, and why mystics are the keepers of the flame while dogma tries to extinguish it. Sean shares his vision of 64,442 beings of light stationed around Earth at this critical moment in our evolution, and reads his breathtaking "Eucharistic Prayer of the Cosmos," a channeled piece that honors God as dancer, artist, sculptor, musician, mathematician, physicist, and awakener.If you've made it this far, just put on the show, you're in for a wild and beautiful ride. | Fr. Sean O'Laoire | Website: ⁠https://www.spiritsinspacesuits.com/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/spiritsinspacesuits/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/spiritsinspacesuitsThis episode is sponsored by►Metal Mark Golden Collectable Art |  ⁠https://mtlmrk.com/⁠►Korrect Energy | ⁠https://korrectlife.com/⁠| Aubrey Marcus |►Website |⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/2GesYqi ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►Instagram |⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/2BlfCEO ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►Facebook |⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/2F4nBZk ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►X |⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/2BlGBAdAd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠► Love To The Seventh Power: ⁠ https://chakaruna.com/collections/books⁠► Own The Day, Own Your Life: ⁠http://bit.ly/2vRz4so⁠► Aubrey Marcus Podcast:⁠ https://apple.co/2ns8zFP⁠► Ayahuasca Documentary: ⁠http://bit.ly/2OrNBTf⁠►Newsletter ⁠https://www.aubreymarcus.com/pages/email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►Partner with the Aubrey Marcus Podcast | https://modernstoa.co/aubrey-marcus-podcast-page/►Subscribe to the Aubrey Marcus podcast:►iTunes |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/2lMZRCn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►Spotify |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://spoti.fi/2EaELZO ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►Stitcher |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/2G8ccJt ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠►IHeartRadio |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ihr.fm/3CiV4x3 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Send us a textWhat happens when family life becomes a content strategy and children become the product?In this episode, we unpack the Myka Stauffer controversy, one of the most disturbing case studies in the rise (and reckoning) of family vlogging, parent influencer culture, and child monetization online. What started as wholesome adoption content turned into a public unraveling that forced the internet to confront an uncomfortable truth: when kids are the brand, there's no clean exit.We break down how adoption stories, pregnancy announcements, and “update videos” quietly drive engagement, sponsorships, and algorithmic growth and why audiences begin to feel owed access to children's lives. We talk money plainly: brand deals, sponsorship pressure, and why most family vlog income has nothing to do with YouTube ads and everything to do with image control.Then we slow the conversation down and ask the question that rarely trends: what does this do to a child?A special-needs child doesn't need a redemption arc or a thumbnail, he needs consistency, privacy, and secure attachment. When a polished “re-homing” video provides closure for viewers, the child experiences another rupture. That tension sits at the center of this episode.We also explore:The psychology of parasocial relationshipsWhy comment deletion and silence often signal deeper issuesHow creator “communities” disappear the moment accountability shows upThe misuse of faith language where “God told us” blurs into confirmation biasHow influence quietly becomes an idolWe close by connecting this story to what comes next: a deeper dive into Ruby Franke and Jody Hildebrandt, tracing the pattern from spiritual branding to control and from control to real-world harm.Our bottom line is simple but demanding:Keep sacred things sacred. Put God first. Your spouse second. Your kids third. And let the camera come after conscience.If this episode challenged you, share it with someone who follows family vloggers, subscribe for our upcoming breakdown of the Ruby Franke case, and leave a review with your take:Should children ever be monetized online?Your voice helps shift the conversation from clicks to conscience.

As Christ-followers, our witness can become compromised when we act or speak out of a place of anger and frustration that leads us to wrongfully blame, shame, or hurt someone else. Romans 12:2 says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you THINK. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." But how do we change the way we think when we are cut off in traffic, passed over for a promotion, or hurt by someone's words? Ford Taylor from Transformational Leadership suggests this practice: when you're angry, pause and write down your thoughts. Then, write next to them what kind of thoughts God wants you to have for the situation or person. This puts GOD back in control rather than your circumstances or the people around you. 

January 11, 2026Pastor Matt KendrickNo Other GospelGalatians 1:1-10All the promises being made to you by the world appear so attractive. But hope is only found in Jesus and He gave up so much to deliver you from the world's way. Step toward Him today!Put God first in:My day (Bible and prayer)My week (church)My money (tithe)Thank you for listening!For more info on Redemption City Church check out our website. If you'd like to connect with us further, please fill out a Connection Card and one of our staff will get in touch with you.Follow us on on social media: Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 20:18-21. The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first." Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. — Judges 20:18-21 Israel goes to Bethel. Finally—they pray! But look closely. They don't ask if they should go to war, only who should go first. Their minds are made up. They're not seeking God's direction; they only want God's endorsement. It's a subtle but dangerous difference. They don't want divine wisdom—they want divine approval. They're still fighting the wrong battle in the wrong way. And God allows them to go. He tells them, "Judah shall go up first." It sounds like victory—but it isn't. Israel loses 22,000 men that day. Their zeal was high, their numbers were strong, and their cause was just—but their hearts were wrong. They inquired of God, but they never repented to Him. Believers are guilty of doing this all the time. We ask God to bless our careers, our goals, our posts, our politics—without ever asking if they align with God's will. We quote Scripture but don't surrender to it. We wear God's name but pursue our own plans. Israel's defeat wasn't because God failed—it's because His people fought without surrender. And that's a battle you'll always lose. Maybe your defeats aren't setbacks; maybe they're invitations. God lets us lose when he wants to lead us back to him. He loves us way too much to let us keep winning our way. Before you go to battle, ask: Am I fighting God's enemy—or just my own? ASK THIS: Have I mistaken God's permission for His blessing? When was the last time I surrendered my agenda before seeking God's help? Where am I fighting a battle that God never called me to fight? What would it look like to let humility lead instead of pride? DO THIS: Before you act, pray: "Lord, am I fighting Your battle or mine?" Identify one area where you've asked for God's approval but not His direction. Surrender it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for fighting battles You never called me to fight. Teach me to seek Your direction before demanding Your blessing. Lead me to surrender so that every victory brings You glory—not me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lead Me to the Cross."

What if you succeeded at every goal this year—and still missed what mattered most? In Luke 18, Jesus shows us a better way forward. A way marked by dependence, persistence, and trust in a faithful Father. In this message, we talk about: • Why posture before God matters • How consistent practices shape real faith • Why God's faithfulness is the foundation for everything If you're stepping into a new year with hope, questions, or weariness—this message is for you.

My friend, Ed, thought he had the perfect hiding place, and he told me about it. Now, Ed's not really his name, but it is a true story. The incident happened this way. Some years ago when he was a teenager, and he came from a nice Christian family - nice Christian boy, except for some of his reading material. Now, it was before Internet days but there was a magazine called Playboy. He had a habit of going out and buying Playboy and some other magazines like it, and he hid them in an old, unused icebox where no one ever went. And he was sure no one knew the place. Well, when he went to get his dirty magazines one day, they were gone. But that's only part of it. In their place there was a Bible. He knew his dad had to leave it there. There was never any yelling, his dad never talked to him about it, but he bought no more magazines because of that little switch his dad had made. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Royal Switch." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 2 Corinthians 10, and I'm going to begin reading at verse 3. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Now, this talks about weapons that will tear down strongholds. And as you study this passage, it becomes obvious that spiritual strongholds are sinful ways of thinking that, well, maybe they've been part of our personality for a long time. Maybe they're wrong ways of thinking about the opposite sex, about depressing feelings in your life, or about a relationship with someone who's hurt you, maybe it's lust, or depression, or bitterness, or self-pity. But it's got a strong hold on us. And then it goes on to say, "We can take captive every one of those wrong thoughts to the obedience of Christ." Now, until you can master the source of sin, which is your wrong thoughts, that sin will master you. How do you do that? Well, Ephesians 6:17 talks about the spiritual weapon that will work. It says, "Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." learn a lesson from a friend's wise father. Where there had been dirt in the form of those magazines, he put God's Word. He didn't just remove the dirty; he replaced it with a Bible. Now, if you want to beat sin...if you want to beat those wrong thoughts, then you've got to have two strategies working for you. First, take out the garbage - the garbage thoughts - and don't collect any more. That means turning your eyes away from the magazine rack. It means flipping the channel when something comes on that has no business going into your mental computer. It means not ever clicking again to go to those places on the Internet. It may mean, as it did for some of my friends, of putting a picture of Jesus on their computer, or another man who said, "I can't even afford to have a computer at home. I've got to beat the monster inside." It may mean avoiding negative conversations that fuel the dark side of you; canceling a subscription to a magazine, or a streaming service, or monitoring the music you listen to - whatever it takes to be free of the bondage. Secondly, you have to put the Bible where the dirt has been. You take a Bible bath daily. You dwell on what you read. You write it down in a journal so you remember it. You use it that day so it becomes part of your personality. There's no substitute for memorizing the Word of God. D. L. Moody said it so well, "Think sin - think scripture." I like what someone wrote in my Bible one time, "Either sin will keep you from this book, or this book will keep you from sin." Now you have a weapon that can tear down a stronghold of sin and tame the most sinful of thoughts. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." Put God's Word in the same hiding place where you've been hiding that sinful stuff. That is the royal switch.

My friend, Ed, thought he had the perfect hiding place, and he told me about it. Now, Ed's not really his name, but it is a true story. The incident happened this way. Some years ago when he was a teenager, and he came from a nice Christian family - nice Christian boy, except for some of his reading material. Now, it was before Internet days but there was a magazine called Playboy. He had a habit of going out and buying Playboy and some other magazines like it, and he hid them in an old, unused icebox where no one ever went. And he was sure no one knew the place. Well, when he went to get his dirty magazines one day, they were gone. But that's only part of it. In their place there was a Bible. He knew his dad had to leave it there. There was never any yelling, his dad never talked to him about it, but he bought no more magazines because of that little switch his dad had made. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Royal Switch." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 2 Corinthians 10, and I'm going to begin reading at verse 3. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Now, this talks about weapons that will tear down strongholds. And as you study this passage, it becomes obvious that spiritual strongholds are sinful ways of thinking that, well, maybe they've been part of our personality for a long time. Maybe they're wrong ways of thinking about the opposite sex, about depressing feelings in your life, or about a relationship with someone who's hurt you, maybe it's lust, or depression, or bitterness, or self-pity. But it's got a strong hold on us. And then it goes on to say, "We can take captive every one of those wrong thoughts to the obedience of Christ." Now, until you can master the source of sin, which is your wrong thoughts, that sin will master you. How do you do that? Well, Ephesians 6:17 talks about the spiritual weapon that will work. It says, "Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." learn a lesson from a friend's wise father. Where there had been dirt in the form of those magazines, he put God's Word. He didn't just remove the dirty; he replaced it with a Bible. Now, if you want to beat sin...if you want to beat those wrong thoughts, then you've got to have two strategies working for you. First, take out the garbage - the garbage thoughts - and don't collect any more. That means turning your eyes away from the magazine rack. It means flipping the channel when something comes on that has no business going into your mental computer. It means not ever clicking again to go to those places on the Internet. It may mean, as it did for some of my friends, of putting a picture of Jesus on their computer, or another man who said, "I can't even afford to have a computer at home. I've got to beat the monster inside." It may mean avoiding negative conversations that fuel the dark side of you; canceling a subscription to a magazine, or a streaming service, or monitoring the music you listen to - whatever it takes to be free of the bondage. Secondly, you have to put the Bible where the dirt has been. You take a Bible bath daily. You dwell on what you read. You write it down in a journal so you remember it. You use it that day so it becomes part of your personality. There's no substitute for memorizing the Word of God. D. L. Moody said it so well, "Think sin - think scripture." I like what someone wrote in my Bible one time, "Either sin will keep you from this book, or this book will keep you from sin." Now you have a weapon that can tear down a stronghold of sin and tame the most sinful of thoughts. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." Put God's Word in the same hiding place where you've been hiding that sinful stuff. That is the royal switch.

What kind of year was last year spiritually for you? As we step into the first Sunday of 2026, this message challenges us to honestly evaluate our faith and reset our priorities. Were you spiritually apathetic, inconsistent, or fully consumed by God's presence? No judgment, just truth and an invitation to something deeper. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 6:33 that order matters. When God is first, life finds order. When He is not, disorder follows. This message unpacks what it truly means to seek God first, not out of legalism, but out of relationship. We explore practical ways to put God first in every area of life: • Your daily time with God • Your commitment to the local church • Your finances and trust through tithing • Your spiritual focus through fasting Drawing from Scripture, personal testimony, and biblical examples from Jesus, Daniel, Moses, and the early church, this message calls us to start the year with intention, clarity, and surrender. If you want a different year, a deeper faith, and a reordered life, this message is for you. First things first. Put God first and watch what He does. Scriptures referenced include Matthew 6:33, Psalm 63:1, Mark 1:35, Hebrews 10:25, Malachi 3, Galatians 5, and Matthew 6. If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is ready to start the year strong in their faith.

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It's not about simply having a place for God in our lives, it's about Him being first in our lives. Join us in part three of Because of You as Pastor Bryan shares with us the principle of firsts. Where have you placed God in your life?Support the show

God's heart is to make His home in us and to fill us with His joy and His peace and His grace and His power, and I believe that with every fibre of my being. In fact, I know it. And the other thing I know is that He wants to do that for you. Today. Right now.   We're All Different It is fantastic to be with you again this week on Christianityworks. You know the process of boy meets girl has always fascinated me. Before I met my wonderful wife Jacqui, somebody encouraged me to go out on a blind date with a woman and the moment I knocked on her door and she opened the door, I took one look at her and in the instant, I knew there would be no relationship there - I just knew! And yet the very first time I laid eyes on Jacqui, I just knew that she would be my wife. How does that work? What is that chemistry all about? How does chemistry and attraction turn into love and commitment and lifelong companionship? I don't know, I really don't know. I guess for one person there are many potential spouses and only a handful of real candidates, and sometimes one or sometimes none that people meet. It's really a mystery, isn't it? how a boy and a girl meet and become husband and wife and share a life together for the whole of their lives. The same is true with friends – you can pick your friends but you can't pick your relatives. And I guess that saying acknowledges this reality, that sometimes there are people with whom we have chemistry and we have relationship and yet other people – they may be similar to us, they may have the same interests – but there is just no potential there for relationship, because somehow you just don't click. You know what I'm talking about. Well it that's true of people – if there is kind of a custom fit between people for having relationships what about our relationship with God? There is one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God - an amazing mystery of God in three persons. But what about our compatibility with God? We are all different – some of us know things in our heads; some of us know things more in our hearts; some of us are right-brained people, some of us are left brained people; some people are loud and noisy, other people are quiet and deep. For some people experience is the most important way of knowing something but for others, they just know that they know that they know that they know that they know. Whatever it is – wherever each one of us is in terms of faith – let's just make a couple of assumptions: firstly, that God is God and secondly that it was His idea to make us all so incredibly different. So, if that's the case, how is it that God deals with that reality in establishing and developing a personal relationship with each one of us? That's what we are going to visit today on the programme. We are in the third programme of a four-week series called "The Holy Spirit and Me". The last few weeks we have been looking at the subject of walking in the Spirit. Two weeks ago we began looking at Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised – if you want to read it it's in John chapter 14 – He promised another Counsellor; another Advocate "just like Me". So Jesus did His public ministry for three and a half years and just before He went to the cross He promised His disciples: I won't leave you as orphans. I'll come again. I'll be with you through My Holy Spirit, My Father and I will come and make our homes with you. And then He died on the cross, He rose again, He ascended into Heaven and not long after…and that's what we are going to look at today, in the Book of Acts. If you have a Bible, grab it; open it at Acts because that's where we are going today. Not long after He poured His Holy Spirit out on His disciples – the Holy Spirit of grace; the Holy Spirit of power; the Holy Spirit of God in us with a relationship that we just can't put into words. And last week on the programme we looked at one of the significant implications of having the Holy Spirit present in us, in that the Spirit who is Holy deals with our sin and that means change; that means repenting; that means ditching that rubbish in our lives. It may not be popular but the Holy Spirit gives us the power to change. But how does the Holy Spirit deal with each one of us who are so different? And this week we are going to look at how God strikes up a relationship with us. We are all so different – God is God – God doesn't change, so how does He do it? How does He customise or tailor His approach or is it one size fits all? Is there some kind of standard approach that is the same for each one of us? How do I know I have the Holy Spirit? It's amazing in the church, that the Holy Spirit is a source of great division – people's understanding of the person of the Holy Spirit – one of the three persons in the Godhead, brings a whole bunch of misunderstanding. And we are just going to open the Bible today very simply and very plainly and just read what God says about God, the Holy Spirit. I was sitting having dinner the other night with a really good friend of mine and this man is very well-known in ministry in Australia and around the world – God has used him to do some amazing things. And you would have to say he is a high-profile sort of person – I won't use his name because we were having a private dinner together. But we were talking about how God deals with each one of us and I was saying. "Well, I love getting up in the morning early and spending forty-five minutes or an hour with God because God speaks to me." You know, I find out what God is doing. "God what are You up to today?" And God gives me guidance as I do that – as I read His Word, as I listen to Him, as I pray. God just impresses on me what He wants me to do. And this friend of mine – and people look at him from a distance; they see him on television, they hear him on radio, they read his biography and they look at this man and they say, "WOW, here's this super-spiritual man that God has used powerfully," and he said to me, "It doesn't work like that for me." He said, "You know, I go to God and ask Him, 'What do you want me to do, God?'" And God says to me, "I have already given you a job, go and do it." You think, "Well, it doesn't sound very spiritual", but on the other hand "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". I mean, look at the fruit in this man's life and God has clearly used him amazingly. God knows each one of us. He knows exactly what you are like. He knows exactly how to connect with you, just as He does to connect with me. So over the next twenty minutes or so we are going to spend some time looking at three different examples of how God connected with people, with the aim of getting the sense that God knows how different each one of us are. We will look at that when we come back.   A Personal Relationship What I said earlier, that the person of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest sources of division in the Christian church right now and it is true. On the one hand it's very clear from the Bible that everyone who believes in Jesus has the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans chapter 8, verse 9: Anyone one who does not have the Spirit of Christ doesn't belong to Him. And again in Ephesians chapter 1 and elsewhere, Paul writes along these lines – he says: In Him, in Jesus also, when you had heard the word of truth; the Good News; the Gospel of your salvation and you believed in Him, you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. This is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God's own people to the praise of His glory. So in other words, any person that has believed in their heart that Jesus is their personal Saviour has received the Holy Spirit; the promised Holy Spirit; the Spirit that Jesus promised in John chapter 14. Another comforter; another one just like Me, is what He said about the Holy Spirit. But, it's also true by observation that this Holy Spirit makes a difference in some people and not in others. Jesus said: You will know a tree by its fruit. Good trees have good fruit and bad trees have bad fruit. I don't know where you are on your journey – I have a bit of a sense where I am on my journey but we are all on a journey. If we are walking with Jesus, if we have accepted Him and said, "Lord, I want You to be my Saviour, I believe that You died for me on the cross" – if we are with Jesus then somewhere in our lives, Jesus is making changes – we are on a journey. And I know that today I make fewer mistakes that I did five years ago and my prayer is that as I grow in God's Word and in my relationship with Him and through the presence of the Spirit in me, I pray in another five years I will be able to look back and say exactly the same thing. But there are some people who say, "I believe in Jesus" and you look at their lives and you think 'I can't see any fruit.' There is that wonderful story in Luke's Gospel of Jesus going to His friend's grave – Lazarus. Lazarus had died; he had been dead for a few days and when Jesus got to his grave, He said" Roll the stone away. And they said: You don't understand he has been dead for a few days, he is going to smell And Jesus said: Roll the stone away. And when they did that He said: Lazarus, come out. And Lazarus got up from the dead and walked out but he was bound up in grave-clothes. Now under those grave-clothes there was red in his cheek – the Master had spoken life into Lazarus's dead body. But Lazarus was still bound up in the grave-clothes. You know, you can't do much for God; you can't serve other people when you are bound up in grave-clothes. And to tell you the truth, I know plenty of Christians that look just like Lazarus when he came out of the tomb. Yes, the Master has spoken life into them – yes, they have eternal life but they are still bound up in the grave-clothes of the past. Jesus said, "I came to set you free," and I believe that the Holy Spirit – in fact the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit has so much to do with setting us free. Some people believe that you become a Christian, you receive the Holy Spirit and that's it! That's one side of the argument. Other people believe, "Well, no, there is a second blessing. You know, sure you receive the seal of the Holy Spirit – you receive the Spirit when you become a Christian but you have got to be baptised in the Spirit." There is a significant experiential event of power, of gifts, of tongues and prophets and all those other things that happen after the event. And I know well-intentioned Christians of both sides of that argument – in both camps – who argue their cases strongly and passionately and believe that the other party is just plain wrong. Why is this important? Because it goes to the question 'How do I know if I'm filled with the Spirit? How do I know if I'm walking in the Spirit? Because I don't know about you, but I'm passionate – I want all that God has for me – all of Him, all of His presence, all of His blessing, all that I can do with God, I want everything that God has for me. How incredibly sad to believe in the cross; to believe in Jesus and then to walk the rest of our lives as though nothing happened? Come on, do you want everything that God has for you? Because I tell you, God has an abundant blessing and over flowing blessing of grace and mercy and joy and peace for each person who puts their faith in Jesus. And to understand how God approaches this, we are going to look at three very distinct; very different approaches in the Bible in the Book of Acts. The first one happens at Pentecost – let's read it very quickly. Acts chapter 1, verses 4 and 5. While staying with them, Jesus (this is after the resurrection and before He ascends), this is what it says: While staying with them Jesus ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. This, He said, is what you have heard from Me for John baptised with water but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. And then in Acts chapter 2, this is what happens: When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting and divided tongues as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability. One thing is clear – God poured His Spirit out on these men and women in the most amazing way. And you read on in Acts chapter 2, 3 and 4 – Peter gets up and addresses the crowd and gives the most powerful message – God filled them with His Spirit and His power. What does it show about God? He does special things - things that we don't always understand; things that don't always make sense to us. He did them then, He does them today – He does amazing things. And yet He does different things too. We are going to look at two different instances of how God poured His Spirit out on people next.   We Can't Put God in a Box We are looking on the programme today how God touches people differently with His Holy Spirit. We have just looked at the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on to the disciples with rushing wind and flames of fire – really unusual and amazing and maybe you and I wouldn't have done it that way, but God did. Have a look at this one though; this is another really interesting one. We are going to Acts chapter 19 – if you have a Bible, go there because God does things differently. Have a listen, this is in Ephesus: While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul the Apostle, passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" and they replied "No, we don't even know that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said "Into what were you baptised?" and they answered "Into John's baptism." And Paul said "John baptised with a baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in the One who was coming after him, that is in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of Jesus and then Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and they prophesied and all together there were about twelve of them. See, some people argue so strongly, "Well, you receive the Holy Spirit; it is a one-off thing when you become a believer", as we saw before in the Book of Romans chapter 8 – when you become a believer you receive the Holy Spirit and that's it! That may be how God works with some people but it's not how He worked in Ephesus. In Ephesus, I'm sure that when these people believed in Jesus, they put their hearts into Him, they received the Holy Spirit but they had to be taught about the Holy Spirit. They didn't know that the Holy Spirit existed and when Paul told them about it; when Paul laid his hands on them, they received the Spirit in power and they prophesied and they prayed in tongues. There was a second experience for them. Don't you love how God does things differently? And the third one that I would like to look at is Cornelius and his family. Let's go to Acts chapter 10 if you have a Bible because Cornelius received the Holy Spirit in a different way. In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household and he gave generously to the poor and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon about three o'clock, he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel coming and said to him "Cornelius!" He stared at the angel in terror "What is it Lord?" "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." And so the angel told Cornelius to send some men to Peter to get Peter the Apostle to come and tell them about Jesus, which happened. And while Peter was still talking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the Word. So the example we looked at before, in Ephesus, those people had believed – we don't know for how long – but they received the Holy Spirit after they believed. Here Cornelius and his family were still listening to the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit fell upon them there. See, how silly it is to have these arguments about "Well, you know, you only receive the Holy Spirit when you first believe," or "You have to receive the Holy Spirit as a second blessing." There are two examples where God did it differently and the one at Pentecost before, these people had walked with Jesus – they had spent three and a half years with Him, some of them, in the best Bible school you will ever come across – the Bible school of Jesus Christ. And God dealt with each of them differently. I remember, I received the Holy Spirit the way Cornelius did. I remember when I gave my life to Jesus Christ that day, I know that I know that I know that I know that I know that I was filled with the Holy Spirit and it's never changed for me. That joy and that peace has never left me; the courage to keep going has never left me, even through the dark times; even through the painful times; even when I felt like I was walking alone, I knew in my spirit and my heart that my God was carrying me. And that comes from the Holy Spirit. What about you? Have you been filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit - God's presence in you? You know that joy, that peace, that thing that happens when you all of a sudden get a revelation in your spirit and in your soul, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Do you walk around every day in that knowledge that you are filled with the Holy Spirit? That the Holy Spirit is just overflowing out of you? Someone is listening there going "I have never experienced that, I have never tasted that, I want that," well I am going to pray for you right now. Father, I pray for each person who is listening right now. We are together in Your Spirit in Your Kingdom. I pray for each soul who is hungering for Your presence. I pray each person who is aching to receive Your Holy Spirit and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that You would pour Your Spirit out on them, right here and right now. That You would fill them with the Holy Spirit, not just today but tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next, every day between now and when each one of us stands before You in glory. I pray that You would pour Your Spirit out on us in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Well, I know that if you prayed that prayer with me, I know that if your soul is dry and thirsty and hungry and poor and empty and just yearning to be filled with God, I know that God will honour that prayer and when we accept God for who He is, to let Him do just what He wants in our lives, just how He wants to do it in our lives, that is the most awesome and wonderful and amazing thing. Whether we are a Cornelius and we received the Spirit and were filled to overflowing when we first heard the message or whether we are someone who has been walking for twenty or thirty years and never been filled with the Holy Spirit – it doesn't matter – God shows up for each one of us because if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, His heart is to make His home in us and to fill us with His joy and His peace and His grace and His power and I believe that with every fibre of my being I have seen it in other people's lives – I have seen it in my life and I am believing for your life too. God is no man's debtor – God has no favourites – God wants to pour His glory out in your life, in my life, in everybody's life, who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. Let's come back to the question – does God have a standard way or does He customise His approach? Look at Pentecost – look at Ephesus – look at Cornelius, look at my life – look at your life. God will meet you in your place, in your life, in your need, just the way you are. I believe that and I am praying for that, for you, in Jesus Christ's name.

Your spirit life will grow if you will practice these 4 things:   1. Meditate in the Word of God 2. Practice the Word 3. Put God's Word 1st place in your Life 4. Instantly obey your conscience   Little by little, you will become intuitive and live from the inside out!   You will not be perfect at this until you get to heaven. But work on it every day! Resources: Stay connected with the new Victory Church app Discover more on our website: victorychurchraleigh.com Subscribe to our Weekly Podcast!

This is Dr. Pete Norris from The Beauty of Grace Podcast. We would love to hear from you. Support the show

A powerful message from Pastor Bill on aggressive faith—the posture of spiritual confidence that refuses passivity, protects families, and builds for the next generation. From the grand opening of our new kids building to a church-wide call to stand, this service is a rally to declare God's Word, act in obedience, and resist without retreat.You'll learn: • Why we're building “beginning-of-life care” for kids and families • What aggressive faith looks like (declare → act → resist) • How to guard your home, marriage, and mind with the shield of faith • Why thankfulness, confession, and obedience change the atmosphere • How to pray for healing and business breakthroughs with expectationChapters below. Share this with someone who needs courage today.Chapters / Timestamps • 00:00 Opening feature: Kids building grand opening (vision for families) • 00:26 “A generation at stake”—legacy beyond our lifetime • 00:57 Beginning-of-life care vs. end-of-life culture • 01:18 Make church irresistible for kids • 02:05 Building dedication prayer and blessing • 03:11 “I don't want just my generation—I want the next” • 03:44 Church-wide confession (identity declarations) • 05:04 “Don't eat your seed”—seed vs. bread teaching • 05:24 Message intro: Aggressive Faith • 06:10 Grit metaphor → why faith must be aggressive • 07:31 When the enemy targets your family—bring the force • 08:20 The war is won—now populate heaven • 09:12 “My heart is buried here”—being all-in • 10:38 Faith atmosphere: word, order, peace, acceptance • 12:01 Definition: Aggressive faith (posture against passivity) • 12:31 Put God in remembrance—pray the Word • 13:36 Facts change; God's truth doesn't • 16:01 Framework (1) Declare the Word • 17:52 Confession → obedience → atmosphere • 19:04 “My God is a God of more than enough” • 19:37 Framework (2) Follow up with action • 23:22 Peter walks on water—obey amid the storm • 25:01 Framework (3) Resist without retreat • 26:03 Stand up—call to lead and advance • 28:31 Corporate blessing and armor of God charge • 31:03 Prayer for healing & business deals (breakthrough) • 33:30 Personal altar moment—meet with God • 34:15 Declarations over marriages, kids, and church • 35:27 Fields are white—your next step is great news • 35:52 Outro / digital invitation (how to share & plug in)

This week we are continuing through "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" by Thomas Brooks, looking at Satan's 5th "Device" and its "Remedies" (pp. 36-43). This season is a sort of a sequel series, following up from our first season of "top ten sins men and women struggle with" with "fighting sin and temptation." Joining us for this season is our special guest Bruce Stallings, the executive director of First Presbyterian Church. For our First Pres followers, "Precious Remedies" is available in our Bridge Bookstore and other book-selling locations around campus, while supplies last. We will also be doing giveaways for the book and other merch as the weeks continue, so keep an eye out on our Instagram, @oneanotherpodcast. For those not local, look for "Precious Remedies" at your favorite online or physical bookstore, or find a free PDF online! Be sure to come back every Tuesday for new episodes and Thursday for bonus content, and find us on the following platforms as well: Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneanotherpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@oneanotherpodcast?si=7-JJ9raR9Fr0cQ9b Find us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RGIMhed26LZsl9TI56yPN?si=2924a1be839549b9 Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-another/id1797190030

What happens when humans try to control God? The Philistines learned the hard way when they captured the Ark of the Covenant and their idol Dagon ended up decapitated before it! This ancient story from 1 Samuel 5 reveals a timeless truth: God cannot be contained in our boxes or manipulated to fit our expectations. Are you trying to make God conform to your preferences instead of worshiping Him as He truly is? Discover the freedom that comes when we stop trying to control the uncontrollable.

Hello Friend! Here are a few of my thoughts about living boldly for Christ based on Charlie  Kirk's life.  We need to rise up and create a world movement as the time is getting closer to Jesus Christs return. See you next week! Monica

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Malachi 3:6–12. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Kristyn Getty. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

The house of God is designed to demonstrate His will, His day, His way and His work. The people of Nehemiah's day made a pledge of commitment to His House and yet even they fell away after time. This is a call to us today at Faith Center to renew and keep our commitments to the House of our God, putting Him first through our service and giving.  We are enabled by God to keep our commitments when we abide in His Word, and when we do, He will never forsake us. VF-2008 Nehemiah 10:39 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

You can't avoide trouble in life.  To face trouble you must also face and connect with God.  He is the wisdom for how to overcome any issue.   Your walk is a daily walk with God, plain and simple.

Put God's will first and choose the Lord's way whenever you're faced with a decision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put God's will first and choose the Lord's way whenever you're faced with a decision.

Put God's will first and choose the Lord's way whenever you're faced with a decision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put God's will first and choose the Lord's way whenever you're faced with a decision.

When trials, anxieties, and tough decisions loom large, sometimes it’s best to hear from a voice of experience. In this Sunday podcast, Pastor Greg Laurie directs a special word of encouragement to young people: God has a plan for your life. Notes Whatever you’re going through, it’s going to be OK. What you go through isn’t meant to destroy you but to develop you. “We comfort with the same comfort we are comforted with.” —2 Corinthians 1:4 You are loved and wanted by more people than you could ever imagine. God’s plan and purpose for you is good! Put God first in your life. Read the Bible every day. “Study to show yourself approved unto God.” —2 Timothy 2:15 Success or failure in the Christian life is determined by how much of the Bible you get into your life on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it. Stop worrying and start praying. Worry can ruin your day, your week, and even your life if you let it. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Give your worries to Jesus Christ. God is in control of your life. Have an attitude of gratitude. Job thanked God, despite his difficulties. Live with honesty and integrity. Character over charisma. “If I take care of my character, God will take care of my reputation.” —D. L. Moody Marry the right person. Find someone Godlier than you. Wedlock should be a padlock. Eight words you should say to your spouse every day: “I’m sorry,” “please forgive me,” and “I love you.” Tell those you love that you love them. Keep short accounts and forgive. Forgiveness is not about absolving the perpetrator; it’s about healing the victim. “Forgiveness isn’t giving in to another person; it’s getting free of that person.” —Frederic Luskin, Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project Be a nice person. Be an encourager, not a discourager; lift people up, don’t beat them down! Have fun. Be a generous person. Three things we can give to God: Time, talent, and treasure. Take care of your health. Make the right choices. You make your choices, and then your choices make you. Tell others about Jesus, and then disciple them. Spend time with older Godly people. Finish your race well. “Hold the course!” —Pastor Chuck Smith Come to or come back to Jesus right now. Scripture Referenced Jeremiah 29:11 Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:6–7 1 Peter 5:7 Psalm 101:2 Ephesians 4:32 Ephesians 4:31 1 Timothy 4:8 2 Timothy 2:2 --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When trials, anxieties, and tough decisions loom large, sometimes it’s best to hear from a voice of experience. In this Sunday podcast, Pastor Greg Laurie directs a special word of encouragement to young people: God has a plan for your life. Notes Whatever you’re going through, it’s going to be OK. What you go through isn’t meant to destroy you but to develop you. “We comfort with the same comfort we are comforted with.” —2 Corinthians 1:4 You are loved and wanted by more people than you could ever imagine. God’s plan and purpose for you is good! Put God first in your life. Read the Bible every day. “Study to show yourself approved unto God.” —2 Timothy 2:15 Success or failure in the Christian life is determined by how much of the Bible you get into your life on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it. Stop worrying and start praying. Worry can ruin your day, your week, and even your life if you let it. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Give your worries to Jesus Christ. God is in control of your life. Have an attitude of gratitude. Job thanked God, despite his difficulties. Live with honesty and integrity. Character over charisma. “If I take care of my character, God will take care of my reputation.” —D. L. Moody Marry the right person. Find someone Godlier than you. Wedlock should be a padlock. Eight words you should say to your spouse every day: “I’m sorry,” “please forgive me,” and “I love you.” Tell those you love that you love them. Keep short accounts and forgive. Forgiveness is not about absolving the perpetrator; it’s about healing the victim. “Forgiveness isn’t giving in to another person; it’s getting free of that person.” —Frederic Luskin, Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project Be a nice person. Be an encourager, not a discourager; lift people up, don’t beat them down! Have fun. Be a generous person. Three things we can give to God: Time, talent, and treasure. Take care of your health. Make the right choices. You make your choices, and then your choices make you. Tell others about Jesus, and then disciple them. Spend time with older Godly people. Finish your race well. “Hold the course!” —Pastor Chuck Smith Come to or come back to Jesus right now. Scripture Referenced Jeremiah 29:11 Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:6–7 1 Peter 5:7 Psalm 101:2 Ephesians 4:32 Ephesians 4:31 1 Timothy 4:8 2 Timothy 2:2 --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Message from Rev. Jason Palacio on July 20, 2025

Are you letting God take the wheel, or are you trying to navigate life's chaos on your own? In this powerful kickoff to our Family Mechanics series, we explore how prayer, God's Word, and active faith can keep your family on the right road—even when life throws you curves.

Money isn't just a financial issue it's a heart issue. In this message, we explore why many of us struggle to steward money biblically: because no one taught us, because it's how we cope with stress, and because money has become an idol. Scripture gives us a better way: Put God first, keep the Kingdom 2nd , prioritize your needs 3rd, meet the needs of others 4th , plan for the future 5th, and address your wants last. As Matthew 6:21 reminds us, where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This is a battle Satan loves but your heart is worth fighting for.

Does fear hold you back from the gifts of the Spirit? Do you care more about what people think of you or what God thinks? Rabbi Schneider shares that the same gifts that Jesus used are still ours today. The same annointing that was on Jesus is on us also. Believe God for more and break out of having a passive spirit that worries about what people think rather than what God thinks. God will open greater revelation, but we have to be bold in our faith. Speak faith to doubt. Ask God to help you to have more faith. Put God first. TITLE: What are the Gifts of the Spirit (Overcoming the Passive Spirit)   Visit our website at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com  

How to put God as a partner in distress

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