Podcasts about sanctify

John 17:1-19We walk slowly through John 17 and let the Greek sharpen what Jesus is praying for as he speaks about glory, authority, eternal life, and unity. We connect word studies like doxa, exousia, parousia, logos, cosmos, and hagiadzo to Quaker concerns about the presence of Christ, the true church, and being sent into the world without being shaped by it. • Heaven as sky and as spiritual reality in the Greek word ouranos • Glory and glorify as honor and as God's manifested presence linked to shekinah • Eternal life defined as knowing and experiencing the only true God • Authority exousia as right, power, domain, and sphere of rule • Parousia as presence and why translating it as coming can mislead • Christ and the logos in relation to creation and pre-existence • Cosmos as creation, humanity, and worldliness depending on context • name as essence and character, not only a label • unity as Jesus's repeated prayer and a warning against sectarianism • Sanctify hagiadzo as set apart, purified, and made holy in a Hebrew sense • Quaker language of being favored and grace charis as divine favor, not flattery The quote in our introduction was paraphrased from the Eleventh Proposition of Barclay's Apology. A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

Send us Fan MailI do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.John 17:15-17Support the show

How the Holy Spirit Leads Through Scripture Not Feelings Dave Jenkins | Anchored in the Word | Servants of Grace Show Summary How does the Holy Spirit lead believers according to the Word of God and not according to subjective impressions or feelings? In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins answers an important question about spiritual guidance, discernment, and sanctification. In a time when many people define the Spirit's leading by personal impressions, inner peace, or emotional certainty, Scripture gives us a far more reliable foundation. This episode explains that the Holy Spirit never leads believers away from the truth He inspired. Instead, He leads God's people through the Word of God, producing holiness, obedience, discernment, and Christlike character. Audio Player Video Player Episode Highlights The Spirit of God always leads through the Word of God The Spirit never contradicts Scripture Spiritual maturity is seen in holiness and obedience, not dramatic experiences Feelings are real, but they are not the final authority God's will is revealed primarily in His Word Believers must test teaching carefully and reject partial truth and subtle deception Key Scriptures John 16:13 2 Timothy 3:16–17 Hebrews 4:12 2 Peter 3:18 Luke 24:27 Luke 24:45 Galatians 5:22–23 Romans 8:13–14 Jeremiah 17:9 1 Thessalonians 4:3 John 17:17 Acts 17:11 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Psalm 119:105 Full Article Many Christians today speak about spiritual guidance in deeply personal terms. They say things like, “The Spirit told me,” “I felt led,” or “God gave me peace about this.” While those phrases may sound sincere, the real issue is not whether they sound spiritual, but whether they reflect what Scripture actually teaches about the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Bible presents the Spirit's leading in a very different way than much of modern evangelical language does. The Holy Spirit does not lead believers away from the Word of God, beyond the Word of God, or in contradiction to the Word of God. He leads believers through the Word He inspired. That is where discernment begins. That is where spiritual maturity grows. That is where true assurance and stability are found. Jesus says in John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” That statement matters greatly. The Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He does not guide believers into confusion, contradiction, or self-defined spirituality. He guides them into truth. And since Scripture is the truth that He inspired, His ministry is never detached from the written Word of God. That is why 2 Timothy 3:16–17 is so important. All Scripture is breathed out by God and is sufficient for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. The same Spirit who inspired the Word now uses the Word to shape the people of God. He leads us not by bypassing Scripture, but by bringing us deeper into it. He uses the Word to expose sin, renew the mind, strengthen faith, and train believers in obedience. This means that true spiritual guidance is not mainly about receiving private impressions. It is about being formed by divine revelation. The Spirit works through the means God has appointed. He illuminates the text, helps us understand its meaning, presses its truth upon our conscience, and empowers us to obey it. He does not lead us into self-trust, but into submission to Christ through His Word. Luke 24 helps us see this clearly. Jesus opened the minds of His disciples to understand the Scriptures, and He taught them that the whole Bible points to Him. The Spirit's ministry today follows that same Christ-centered pattern. He helps believers understand the Bible rightly, see how it testifies to Christ, and apply it faithfully in daily life. Spiritual growth is not mystical independence from the Bible. It is deeper dependence on the truth of God revealed in Scripture. That is also why the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 matters so much. The Spirit's leading is seen not mainly in dramatic claims, but in transformed character. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are evidences of His work. Romans 8:13–14 adds that those who are led by the Spirit are those who, by the Spirit, put sin to death. In other words, the Spirit leads believers toward holiness, not toward self-centered certainty. This is where feelings must be put in their proper place. Feelings are real. Scripture speaks honestly about them, especially in the Psalms. But feelings are not infallible. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that the heart is deceitful. That means emotions, impressions, and internal sensations cannot serve as the final authority for the Christian life. They must be tested by the Word of God. Many spiritual errors begin here. People redefine obedience by their emotions. They confuse inner peace with divine approval. They assume that sincerity is the same thing as truth. But biblical peace does not come from personal preference. It comes from walking in the truth. God's will is revealed primarily in Scripture, and His great will for His people is their sanctification. As John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” God grows His people through His truth. So how do believers discern whether something is truly the Spirit's leading? A few questions help. Does it align with Scripture? Does it promote holiness? Does wise Christian counsel affirm it? Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit? If something contradicts the Bible, it is not from the Spirit. It does not matter how intense the feeling is, how persuasive the teacher sounds, or how attractive the message appears. The Spirit never contradicts Scripture. This is especially important in a time of subtle deception. Some teachers use Bible words but do not explain the Bible in context. Others give partial truth while avoiding the full meaning of a passage. Some appeal constantly to emotion, experience, and personal story while minimizing careful biblical interpretation. These are serious warning signs. Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans because they searched the Scriptures to test what they were hearing. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 commands believers to test everything and hold fast to what is good. That means faithful teaching should help Christians think biblically, read carefully, and grow in discernment. If a teacher encourages you to focus more on your feelings than on God's Word, more on your experience than on God's truth, or more on private impressions than on the meaning of Scripture, that teacher is not helping you. The Spirit of God always leads deeper into the truth of God's Word. There is actually great comfort in this. Many Christians worry that they are somehow missing God's voice. But the good news is that God has already spoken clearly, sufficiently, and finally in His Word. You do not need secret guidance. You need faithful obedience. The Spirit's work is often quiet, steady, and ordinary. He grows your love for Scripture. He convicts you of sin. He deepens your trust in Christ. He strengthens perseverance in the daily responsibilities of life. That is real spiritual maturity. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” That is how God leads His people. He does it by His truth. He does it through His Word. He does it by His Spirit. And because the Spirit never contradicts Scripture, believers can walk with confidence, clarity, and discernment as they stay anchored in Christ. Takeaways and Reflection Questions Am I looking to Scripture first when I need wisdom and direction? Have I confused strong feelings with the leading of God? Is my understanding of spiritual maturity shaped by holiness and obedience or by dramatic experiences? Do I test what I hear from teachers and preachers by the context and meaning of Scripture? How is the Spirit using the Word of God to grow me in Christlikeness today? Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who wants to grow in biblical discernment and spiritual maturity. You can subscribe to the Servants of Grace Podcast wherever podcasts are available, YouTube, and you can find more biblical resources at Servants of Grace. Stay rooted in the Word of God and anchored in Christ.

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They're just pieces of cardboard, but some of them are worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars. We call them baseball cards. Actually, our son got interested in them when he was a little guy, and pretty soon they became a pretty serious investment for him. He really knew how to, well like they say on Wall Street, buy low and sell high. Because he watched up-and-coming players, then he would get the rookie cards of some of those players who later became major stars, and there aren't many of those rookie cards out there. So they're rare and they're valuable. Lest we trivialize the baseball card business, I want you to realize that it helped pay a significant part of our son's way through college. I remember when he told me as a teenager, "Dad, I know my room is a mess, but there's one thing I take care of - my baseball cards." That's true! His valuable ones were neatly organized in these plastic folders in these carefully guarded notebooks. And the reason most of those cards were high value was very simple. You know. They were rare! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "What Makes You Really Valuable." If you're trying to do what's right in an environment where most everybody else is doing what's wrong, you get to kind of feeling lonely sometimes, right? And even weird? In fact, the people you work with, or play with, or go to school with may basically tell you that you're weird because you don't do the things they do. And, after a while, that can start to wear on you and even wear down your resistance. You get tired of being "weird." But if you're basically standing alone but standing for the right thing, you're not weird - you're rare. Ask any collector, whether it's baseball cards, or antiques, or stamps, or coins, whatever. What makes an item valuable is that there aren't many of them. The less there are like them, the more valuable they become. So, if you're taking a stand, and you're doing things God's way, that's you - rare and valuable. In His final hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father on behalf of all those who believed in Him at that time and all those who would believe in Him through the years. So, when you listen to a portion of that prayer in our word for today from the Word of God, remember Jesus is actually praying in advance down the years for you and me. John 17, beginning with verse 15, says of His followers, "My prayer is not that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world." "Sanctify them," Jesus prayed. What that means is, "set them aside for special purposes. Keep them special. Keep them reserved for God's purposes." Jesus wanted to plant you right in the middle of a dark world because they needed a light there, and that's you. So that means that, just like Him, you will take some abuse, some name-calling, and some rejection for your allegiance to Him. But not because there's something wrong with you. No, there's something very right with you! The less virgins there are, the more valuable a virgin becomes. The less honest men and women there are, the more valuable an honest person becomes. The less people who say no to what's dirty, what's destructive, what's negative, the more your worth increases. Maybe you've been tempted to cave in. You've got combat fatigue; there's heavy pressure. Don't do it. Not only is Jesus counting on you, but the very people who are pressuring you, desperately need for you to stand firm, or their only light goes out. Because you're Jesus' personal representative in a dark place, in many ways you aren't like everybody else. But you keep loving them unconditionally. You make them feel important; do the right thing without condemning them. And keep doing all of that, and you're going to be, whether they admit it or not, one of the most valuable and important people in their life. Because people like you are rare and very, very valuable.

Key Bible Verse: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." John 17:17

John 17:1-19 - Pastor Robert Kratzer - 05/20/26, Wed PM - Living Word Assembly, Jennings, LA. Please...

‘Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth.'—John 17:17

Jesus sends His disciples into the world as those who are not “of” the world. Consequently, His second request for His followers is that the Father would sanctify them with biblical truth. God is the one who sanctifies, and He does it through His Word.

Marriage by Design - Part 2 (Eph 5:25-33) 1.  Review previous lessons 2.  Husbands, love your wives 3.  Actions of Godly love towards their wives      a. Sacrificial love her      b. Sanctify her      c. Cleanse her      d. Protect her      e. Nourish her      f. Cherish her

John 15:2-3. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” I want to encourage you today with the words of Jesus that prune us, the words that sanctify or clean us so that we can bear more fruit. If we didn't stop and look back at those words, we would miss how powerful and encouraging verse 3 is to us. The same Greek word, katharos, is used in vss. 2-3. In vs. 2, Jesus used the verb form and in vs. 3, the adjectival form. Jesus also told them they were “clean” in 13:10. The idea Jesus communicated was the idea of being washed, cleansed, or purified from those things that hinder the flow of His love. There's so much here! Who does the pruning? The vinedresser, of course, not the vine. However, Jesus said here that His words had cleansed or pruned them. However, He had told them only minutes earlier, that the words that He spoke to them were the words of the Father working. He said, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.” So now we can connect the dots. The vinedresser, the Father, gave the words to Jesus, in order to cleanse or prune His disciples. It was and still is the Father working in His Son because they are one. The Father's words are the life of the vine and the powerful pruning work in our lives. When praying to His Father, Jesus described this incredible reality. John 17:6-8. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.” Then later in His prayer, He asked the Father to prune His disciples through the word that He had given Him to give to them. John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” What truth or words did Jesus give to His disciples that prepared them for effective fruit-bearing for the glory of God? Do you know what they are? Have you received them as the pruning, cleansing, sanctifying words of God that make His branches fruitful? We will be encouraged by His cleansing words tomorrow. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Todaywe are focusing on verse 2 of Psalm 15, where David is answering the questionhe asked in verse 1: “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwellin Your holy hill?” In other words, who is able to experience and enjoycontinuous intimate communion and fellowship with the LORD God Almighty? Thenhe answers the question in verse 2: “He who walks uprightly, and worksrighteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.” First,we are walking uprightly, and we are working righteousness. We are doing rightthings. We are thinking about right things. Then David says something sopowerful, and I believe it is literally key to our walk in the Christian life: “Andspeaks the truth in his heart.” To experience true fellowship with theLORD, it is essential that we not only thinks about truth, and not only hastruth in our heart, but that we speaks the truth. We walk and live in thattruth. Thatis why in Second, and Third John—those books where John is writing tobelievers—he says that one of his greatest joys is to hear that his childrenwalk in the truth. Now what does this mean: “speaks the truth in his heart”? Asa matter of fact, in Psalm 51, where David is repenting of his terrible sin ofadultery and murder, he says this in verse 6: “Behold, You desire truth inthe inward parts.” Godwants us to think about the truth, talk about the truth, listen to the truth,and let the truth guide our decisions. You see, I am convinced the battle ofthe ages is the lie versus the truth—the lie versus the truth. I have oftenthought that when people come and say, “Pastor Mike, what should I do aboutthis?” or “I'm having a problem and I don't know how to handle this,” one of mymain objectives as I sit there, listen to them, and begin to share counsel issimply this: I need to tell them the truth—the truth that comes from the Wordof God. The reason they are confused or in trouble is because they have been listeningto, and “speaking” the lie in their mind and heart. RememberGod's Word is Truth. Jesus said in John 17:17: “Sanctify them through Thytruth. Thy word is truth.” Not only that, remember Pilate asked thequestion in John chapter 18:38: “What is truth?” Interestingly, justbefore Pilate asked that question, Jesus had said: “For this cause I wasborn, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witnessto the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Then Pilateasked the question, “What is truth?”—while Truth Himself was standingright in front of him, and he was missing it. Myfriend, Jesus is truth. John 14:6 says: “I am the way, the truth, and thelife. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” On the other hand, the devilis a liar. In John 8:44, Jesus said: “You are of your father the devil, andthe lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, andabode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie,he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Inthe very beginning, Satan lied to Eve. We are either believing the lies of theevil one as we make choices and decisions in life, or we are listening to thetruth of God's Word. That is why we must let mercy and truth come into ourhearts. Proverbs 3:3 tells us: “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bindthem around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, our hearts.” Becauseas we listen to the truth, speak the truth in our hearts, and make ourdecisions based on truth rather than the lies of the evil one, my friend, itmakes all the difference in the world in our daily walk. That is why John wouldsay to those precious disciples in Second and Third John: “I rejoicedgreatly that I found thy children walking in truth.” We walk uprightly. We workrighteousness. And we speak the truth in our hearts—in our innermost being. Welet that truth live within us. Are you letting that truth live in you today? Itrust you are. 

Get to know the Amen Corner. Here I bring a Sample of many of my most downloaded programs. The Law of Liberty - Bro. Austin Sienkiewicz, HLH Youthfest '25 with Br. Jacob Bishop, Gathering Shalls on Galilee's Shore, Revelation's Blessings, Oh, Magnify The Lord With Me! A sample of Five Popular programs find out why these have been so loved. It has been a blessing for me to replay them when I planned this program. The Word of God is different from any other writings, II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. That is why I put so much scripture into these programs, God's Word will do what no other words can do. It is our spiritual food we live by.

On A Mission To Sanctify Hashem's Name by Congregation Beth Jacob

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John 17:19 AMP - For their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.

Today we began reading Ecclesiastes – it says it was written by “the preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem [1 v.1]. We know this is Solomon and his first words are, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”What does vanity mean?  The lexicon says the Hebrew word means, transitory, emptiness.   Solomon is reviewing, apparently in his old age, all that he has accomplished in his life, he is overwhelmed by the feeling that in the final analysis it was all just “vanity” – he had accomplished nothing lasting.He reflects, “all things are full of weariness” [v.8], observing, “my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge” [v.16] but he saw it as “a striving after wind”. [v.17]. Tomorrow we will read his words, “then I considered all that my hands had done and all the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity” [2 v.11]We wonder to what extent today we will (or already are) look back on a lifetime of striving to make and then spend money – and see it in the end as simply “vanity”?   Also, those who fill so much of their ‘spare' time with tweeting and twittering and relaxation with TV and DVDs for entertainment will see the ultimate emptiness of time spent in this way?In contrast we saw today in John's Gospel the intensity of thought and meaning in the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. As it reaches its climax his mind is centred on his disciples, “Holy Father keep them in your name … that they may be one, even as we are one.” [17 v.11]  Unity of mind, how wonderful!Jesus continues, “they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” [v. 17-19].God's word is “truth,” it alone reveals the ultimate meaning of life and takes us – in thought – beyond “this world”.. Sanctify means to “be set apart” from the world so that  the main focus of our minds – is on God and his ways and what is really true – in an everlasting sense.  It is a truth we then take into our hearts and it becomes part of us.Finally, how meaningful are the words of Jesus to Pilate, “You say that I am a king.  For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” [18 v.37]. Sceptically Pilate asks, “What is truth?” [v.38]. Let us not be sceptical but read and “listen” to what we read and aim to fully possess “the wisdom from above” (James 3 v.17) so that our lives are “sanctified in truth.”

John 17:14–23,14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.Last week, I said that John 17 is one of the most amazing chapters in all the Bible (because the whole thing is a prayer that Jesus prays for us). And I just wanna start this week by saying that I'm in no hurry to be done with it. We're gonna eventually get to Chapter 18, but for the next two weeks we're gonna stay in Chapter 17, and today I want us to pay special attention to how Jesus talks about us — There is so much in this prayer that we learn about Jesus and about his relationship to the Father, and it's as deep as it gets! It's glorious! But also, as we're listening in on this prayer, we hear Jesus say some important things about us as his people. And he doesn't just say random facts, but they're more like defining realities of who we are as the church — and they're defining realities that Jesus gives us in direct connection to himself. We can see that grammatically each time Jesus uses the word “as” or “just as.” He says three different times about us: “They are this, JUST AS I am this.” Or “AS this is true of me, this is true of them.”He names three defining realities this way, and I'll go ahead and tell you what they are. He says:We are separated. We are sent.We are one. We're gonna look at each of these. Let's start with the first.1. We are separated (verses 14–17).Look again at verse 14:I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.We all just heard that. It's straightforward. Jesus says: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” And he says it twice, in verses 14 and 16! Which means there's an emphasis.If Jesus is our teacher (and he is), and if this prayer is meant to teach us (and it is), then Jesus wants us know about our relationship to the world: We are not of it.Every Christian must agree with that in principle, because Jesus says it. In basic terms, we as Christians, the church, we have a negative relationship to the world. This same idea is repeated all throughout the New Testament — Pauls says in Romans 12:1, “Do not be conformed to this world…” James says in James 4:4, “Friendship with world is enmity with God…” John says in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”What Is the ‘World'?These are strong statements, and clear statements — we just have to make sure we understand the meaning of “world.” When Jesus says “world,” what's he talking about?The best way to think about the meaning of “world” is to think of it as the realm of human values, ideas, and effort that, because of sin, is in active rebellion against God.The biblical image for the world is Babylon. Or it's what Augustine calls simply the City of Man. Or another way we sometimes talk about the idea of the world is with the word “culture.”In fact, back in 1951, theologian Richard Niebuhr wrote a famous book called Christ and Culture — in it he described different approaches the church has historically taken toward culture. But when he defined culture, he defined it as “what the New Testament writers frequently had in mind when they spoke of ‘the world'…”In the New Testament, the world is not the earth; it's not a globe; it's not a bunch of individual people — but it's a realm. It's a realm of values, ideas, and effort.And it's a realm that Christians are NOT OF — Jesus tells us. But why are we not of the world?Called Out and Set ApartWe're not of the world because, as we saw last week in verse 6, the Father has called us out of the world and he has given us to the Son, who is not of this world. So we now belong to Jesus who is not of this world. That's how God has separated us from the world.We belong to Jesus and Jesus has given us his word. And that is what makes us different! It's verse 17:“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” We are set apart by the truth: we have the gospel! We have the true revelation of God! We have eternal life! The world does not have this, and in fact, it's because we have it that the world hates us. That's verse 14.And Jesus has already told us this. In Chapter 15, verse 18, he says:“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”Look, I don't know how Jesus could be more clear. Christian, you are not of the world … because God has separated you from the world … and the world hates you. That is what's going on outside here with these people who line up on Sundays. These people are against you; they do not seek your good; they do not want us here. They're full of hate. And we're gonna be okay. Because they're just proving what Jesus has already taught us. If we're paying attention to the New Testament, we should not be surprised by this. The world hates us. Jesus says that. And yet, I'm a little concerned that when we hear this kind of message we can instantly write it off and give it a name like Fundamentalism. We can think: Just relax. You're overdoing it.But how dare we think such a thing when our Savior is so clear. Jesus tells us we have a negative relationship to the world in that we are not of the world and the world hates us. We must listen to him. Understand what Jesus is telling us about who we are, and he starts by saying we are separated from the world. We start here. But then … a second defining reality:2. We are sent (verse 18).This is verse 18:“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”Jesus already said in verse 15 that although we are not of the world, he is not asking the Father to take us out of the world. We're still in this realm, because Jesus wants that for now. And in verse 18 Jesus says more. He says: We're not just here, but he has sent us here. So get this: If you are a Christian in this world, you're here because Jesus has sent you here. You're not of the world, but you've been sent into the world.This is the phrase: Not of, but sent into.Life-Changing RephraseFor me, personally, that phrase has changed my life. I mean that. True story… Before I proposed to Melissa, we were in North Carolina, and I told her we were gonna move to Minneapolis for two years. It was gonna be two years for a pastoral training program, and then seminary somewhere else, and then wherever God calls us. That was eighteen years ago.And under God, one of the big reasons we sensed him calling us here was David and Megan Mathis. Years ago I worked with David at Desiring God, and we did some writing together, and I remember one day David had this idea for a blog series (y'all remember blogs?).This was gonna be a blog series on the church's mission, and David's first article to launch the series was titled “Getting the Accent Right: ‘Not Of, But Sent Into.'” Have any of y'all ever heard the saying that Christians are “in the world, but not of the world” — in, but not of.Well, David thought it was inaccurate with what Jesus says in John 17. So he had this idea: he said let's change the phrase! Let's reinvent this popular saying! (David was just 30 back then). He said: instead of saying in, but not of, let's change it to say not of, but sent into — “not of the world, but sent into the world.” That's the new way to say it! We were gonna change the Evangelical church in America!I don't know if y'all have ever read David's article or heard his rephrase, but since that day I have never thought of John 17:18 any other way.We are not of, but sent into. That's what Jesus says! That's why I'm here. That's why we're here. Jesus has sent us into this world — and sent us how? Sent us with what?Sent with What?Well, Jesus says he has sent us just as the Father has sent him. There is a sameness in our sending. Now we shouldn't misunderstand the sameness: the Son does what only the Son can do! Only the Son can truly save! But the sameness is seen in our message. Jesus came here to reveal God and redeem people to God. That was his mission, and he now sends us here as part of that mission, to tell of what he did. The Father sent Jesus here to accomplish the gospel. Jesus now sends us here to tell that gospel. Not of the world, but sent into the world with the gospel.That's who we are, church! We are sent — and sent for this purpose. It is the gospel that makes us unique and different from everything else in the world. There are lots of other good things a local church might do in a city, but Jesus sets us apart by the gospel. That's what he says in verse 19. We have been “sanctified in truth” — another word for sanctified is consecrated. Jesus has consecrated us for the mission of offering life and light to a dead and dark world by pointing to him. He has sent us here to witness to the surprising love of God — that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. This is the message we carry in our commission to Go and make disciples.We Must Be About the GospelPlease understand: this is not optional. Churches don't get to choose whether they're involved in this mission or not. To be a church is to have this mission — to be not of, but sent into the world with the gospel.The stakes could not be higher.If you know our church, you know that we're not a ‘political church' (in terms of what most people mean by that). But instead, we're all about the gospel. And listen: we must be that. Because here's the thing: if a church is withdrawn from politics and culture wars because they're all about the gospel, but then they don't really go share the gospel, they might as well just be Amish. … I meant that. Because Amish (or Mennonite communities and others like them) are built on a theological approach to the world that is extreme separation. This approach understands the “not of” part in John 17; they're missing the “sent into” part. But see, we understand the sent into part. We just need to keep being clear on why we're sent into the world.It's not mainly so that we get to dress the way we do … or cheer on our favorite sports team or drive our vehicles or watch our shows or use our phones … if those are the only reasons we're not like the Amish, we're doing it wrong. Jesus sent us into the world with the gospel! We are here to make him known to everyone who is willing to listen! That is why we are sent. We are separated from the world, yes — and we are sent into the world with the gospel. This a defining reality of who we are.Now, the third defining reality Jesus gives us …3. We are one (verses 19–23).And I want you to hear this again in verses 20–23:I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.It's easy to pick up a theme in these verses. The idea of oneness is mentioned four times. And the word we use for this is unity — which is really important. We need to think carefully about it. Two things to consider: What kind of unity is Jesus talking about? What is the unity for?What Kind of Unity?One thing that the 21st century has in common with the First Century is that our societies both have its own concept of unity. Remember that Jesus is speaking all of this in a Greco-Roman world, and they valued unity. It was a value then kinda like it is today. And you know what I mean. “Unity” is a buzz word. It's the kind of word that the NFL might put on their helmets, or make all the coaches to wear a shirt that says “Unity.” We've seen this before. And at first glance, we might think: Well this is great! Jesus obviously values unity, and our world values unity, so see the world can't be that bad. The world has a biblical value.And that is possible! Over time, Christian values can (and should) influence and transform the values of society (that would be good for society). But just because the same word is used doesn't mean it's the same value — the devil is in the details, literally.And the details of worldly unity is that it's really about coercive ideological uniformity. Worldly unity is a forced sameness of thought that's engineered and held in check by social threats.I remember one time another pastor blamed me as being against broader church unity because I believe what the Bible says about sexuality. He was basically saying I'm against unity because I was unwilling to defy the word of God — but does that mean I'm against unity? … No, I'm against worldly unity.That's not what Jesus is talking about, and he understands it exists. He knows he's in the world. He gets his context. So when Jesus describes unity, he's clear that it's unity from him and to him.The oneness he's talking about is not so much our oneness with each other, but our oneness with him. Our unity is not a Babel-like ground-up operation. It's a heaven-sent miracle experienced in our fellowship with the Trinity. That's the kind of unity Jesus means — “unity controlled by, defined by, and shared by the unity of the Father and the Son” (Klink, 724). And it's unity with a purpose. What Is the Unity For?Jesus tells us this twice, in verse 21 and 23:In verse 21, Jesus asks for the Father to make us one “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” In verse 23, it's “so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”These verses are saying the same thing. The purpose of our unity is so that the world would see it and know Jesus — so that the world would know that God loves his people … and that those of the world can become his people through faith in Jesus. People of the world become not of the world when they trust in Jesus. They're called out of the world, separated by God, and then Jesus sends us into the world with the gospel. And we do it together with him, filled by his Spirit, welcomed into his fellowship. Church, this is who we are. Separated, sent, one. And my prayer is that in these days we would not shrink back from these defining realities, but that we would embrace them anew. That we would not only endure, but that we would advance.His word shall not fail you, he promisedBelieve him and all will be wellThen go to a world that is dyingHis perfect salvation to tell.That's what brings us to the Table.The TableAs we take the bread and the cup, we remember the death of Jesus for us, and we remember who he has made us to be. He has saved us and given us a mission. Grace upon grace.If you're a Christian, if you trust in Jesus Christ, we invite you to eat and drink with us and give him thanks!

By Robin S Webber - On the last night of His humanity, Jesus prayed--"I do not pray that you take them (disciples) out of the world, but you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth" (John 17:15-17). How does this

In John 17:17, Jesus prays for his followers saying, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." But what does Jesus mean by sanctify? The Greek word used for sanctify in this verse is hagiazo and it means to separate something – to set it apart – for an intended purpose or mission. In other words, Jesus intended that all those who follow after him would be set apart for a unique purpose and mission: to spread the good news of the gospel to the world. And guess, what? This same mission extends to you today! You have been strategically placed in your workplace for a reason. There are people there who need to hear about the truth of who Jesus is, and you may be their only chance! So, how can you carry out the mission of Christ at work today? 

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ONLY MY SPIRIT IS SAVED 
 1. BEFORE SALVATION OUR SPIRIT IS DEAD Ephesians 2:1–3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (NIV) 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and SEPARATED from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because THEY ARE DISCERNED ONLY THROUGH THE SPIRIT. (NIV) 2. AT SALVATION YOUR SPIRIT IS MADE ALIVE Ephesians 2:4-6 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (NIV) Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, (NIV) 3. AT SALVATION YOUR SPIRIT IS BORN AGAIN John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (NIV) 4. AT SALVATION YOU GO FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (NIV) 5. AT SALVATION YOU GO FROM BLIND TO SEEING Acts 26:18 to open their EYES and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (NIV) 6. AT SALVATION YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (NIV) 7. AT SALVATION YOU GAIN ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (NIV) Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV) 8. AT SALVATION YOU ARE A NEW CREATION 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, SANCTIFY you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (NIV) Romans 6:3–4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)

ONLY MY SPIRIT IS SAVED 
 1. BEFORE SALVATION OUR SPIRIT IS DEAD Ephesians 2:1–3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (NIV) 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and SEPARATED from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because THEY ARE DISCERNED ONLY THROUGH THE SPIRIT. (NIV) 2. AT SALVATION YOUR SPIRIT IS MADE ALIVE Ephesians 2:4-6 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (NIV) Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, (NIV) 3. AT SALVATION YOUR SPIRIT IS BORN AGAIN John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (NIV) 4. AT SALVATION YOU GO FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (NIV) 5. AT SALVATION YOU GO FROM BLIND TO SEEING Acts 26:18 to open their EYES and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (NIV) 6. AT SALVATION YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (NIV) 7. AT SALVATION YOU GAIN ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (NIV) Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV) 8. AT SALVATION YOU ARE A NEW CREATION 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV) 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, SANCTIFY you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) John 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (NIV) Romans 6:3–4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)

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Leviticus: Instructions to the Levites; 400 years of captivity; Jealousy of Joseph; Corruption in city-states; Abraham's altars; Blessings of Melchizedek; Colonizers; Liberty?; The road to freedom; Semites?; "Seed of Abraham"; Tithes?; Warnings from the bible; Cities of blood; THE Way; "Church" in the wilderness; Fig leaves; "Bethel"; Tending sheep; Stripping off fig leaves; Lev 8:1 Speaking to Moses?; Why baskets?; Which door?; Family; Institution of The Church; Wealthy leaders; Lev 8:5 Mobile tabernacle; Golden calf; Cities of refuge; Supreme court?; No exercising authority; Commanders-in-chief; "No kings"?; Rebels; Colonial charters?; Naked?; gods of your government; "Apotheos"; Making things "great again"?; v6 baptism?; Aaron = priest; Permission to be priest; Ordering society; Police powers; Anointing the tabernacle; Pouring oil?; Tongues of fire?; Speaking in tongues?; Living by faith, not force; breastplate hey-chet-shin-nun; Electoral college?; Following Babylon/Cain/Nimrod; "Sanctify"; Freewill offerings; v13 coats? Covering kof-tav-nun-tav; girdle = abnet; sash?; Mitre?; Falling away from the spirit; Bullock's blood?; Burning with fire?; Inspiration; Reliance of Holy Spirit; Moses' system; vs FDR's; Redistributing to needy of society; taking responsibility for neighbors; "No King"ers actually want kings; Social safety net; v27 Aaron's hands?; Freewill offerings; Idols?; Sheep shearing?; Laban's statues; Genocide?; Benefit addiction; Covetousness; Network of priests; Becoming a real Christian; Garments?; Caring for needy; Unmoored imagery; Moses' real intention; Constantine?; Repentance and atonement; Jesus did his part; Distribute all that is offered; Going the ways of Christ; Faith hope and charity; Pure religion; No exercising authority; Ps 104:1; Corban of violence?; Opting out of the world's covetous systems; Urim and Thummim; Seek His kingdom and righteousness - Become a Doer Now!

in todays episode Nate and Mike are talking about raising strong kids in today's society. Teaching Responsibility & Work EthicProverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”Proverbs 13:4 – “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”Teaching Faith, Truth, and CultureDeuteronomy 6:6–7 – “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”Protecting Kids While Preparing Them for the WorldProverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”John 17:15–17 – “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. Good morning. My name is Mike. I'm an elder in training here. Today is Palm Sunday. So we're taking a break from first and Second Samuel, the series we've been doing there. And we're going to be in the Gospel According to John. This is the Sunday before Easter, and this is the time we commemorate Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus life. Most of the Gospel accounts actually move pretty quickly from his entry into Jerusalem up to his death on the cross. But John is different. In the Gospel of John, the first 11 chapters are about Jesus life leading up to his final week on the earth. The next eight chapters are about his final week of life leading up to his death. So John really slows way down to capture some intimate moments in the life of Jesus. In fact, chapters 13 through 17 are all an account of his last night with his disciples. And so try to put yourself in that moment where you as a disciple, you've left behind your profession, you've left behind your possessions, and you've been living your daily life now with Jesus for several years. And things are starting to shift. Things are getting a little bit emotional, things are getting a little bit intense. And you can feel a sort of heaviness almost in the air. And that's what we're jumping into today. We're stepping into Jesus final conversation with his disciples before the cross. And Jesus knows he's going to die. And what we're going to read is what he chooses to communicate to his closest followers before his death. We're going to pick up today in John chapter 14. This is on page 525 in your blue Bibles. I would encourage you to follow or follow along there. If you, if you don't have a Bible, you can use that. We're going to begin in verse one. But before we do, I am going to pray because I need help. Father, we come before you now as your children, excited to hear from you and from your word. And I stand up here as a desperate man, but I know that you're the God of desperate people. Please help me this morning to forget myself and to teach people about you. In Jesus name, Amen. I'm going to pick up in verse one of chapter 14, follow along with me.> Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.> In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?> And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.> And you know the way to where I am going.> Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"> Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.> If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:1–7, ESV)All right. He starts out by saying, let not your hearts be troubled. That is to say, don't worry. Don't let your heart be anxious. Well, why is he telling them not to worry? In the context of this passage, if you go back to chapter 13, he actually says some really heavy things to them, things that would really shake them. Chapter 13 and verse 21, he tells them that one of them is going to betray him. In verse 33, he tells them he's leaving, and they can't follow, at least not immediately. And in verse 38, he looks at Peter and says, you're going to deny me? Now? Imagine being in that room. Imagine sort of going along together, business as usual. And then one night, you sit down for dinner, and all of that comes out. Oh, think of it like us having family meeting, right? We're singing, we're playing games. We're having a great time together, thinking about all the things that God has done. We're there to celebrate togetherness. And Chet hops up and says, we're planning a church. Mike and Isaac are going, and some of you need to go. And it's like whiplash. Oh, no. We were here for togetherness. And so in some sense, I think there's a feeling in this room where he's telling them all these things that they're going to do or that they're going to be without him. And I think there's a heavy, heavy weight on their shoulders. I think their thoughts are racing, their minds are racing. They're thinking things like betrayal, you're going to leave. Peter is going to just cast you aside, huh? And I think the intensity kind of rings through. And I think if we were sort of in that moment, too, and someone was telling us that's what we'd experience, we would feel that weight as well.So Jesus knows that when hearing this, the disciples would just naturally be anxious. And he says, don't worry. How? Believe in God, believe also in me. And there's two things I think we learned from his response here. One is that Jesus actually contrasts fear with belief. Why because often our anxiety is rooted in untruths, in misunderstandings, in disordered thinking. And how you deal with fear and anxiety is you reorient your mind to what is true. But it's not enough to just reorient your mind to anything. It actually has to be something that's true. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on John, says, the joy of faith is the best remedy against the griefs of sense. So that joy, the joy that comes with faith in God, stands in direct opposition to the pain of our existence. And no matter what life you've lived, you either have experienced or will experience the pain that comes with being human or on this earth. Maybe it shows itself for you in sickness or maybe in toil, maybe in labor, maybe in fractured relationships. Or maybe, like the disciples, it's the impending loss of someone you deeply care about, or the fact that, like Peter, you're about to do something awful to another person, a person that you love, no matter what it is, that makes you anxious. Jesus says, believe in God, believe also in Me. And that's what separates Christianity from the other religions. It's not believe in yourself. It's not buckle down and get through it. It's not serve God better so he'll bless you more. It's believe in God, believe be in relationship with him, and throughout a lifetime of knowing him, be slowly changed to be more like Jesus. There is hope for the anxious heart. There is hope for those dealing with trials, and it's coming from the relationship with Christ.The second thing that we see here is when he says, believe in God, believe also in me, is that he's linking himself with. With God. And this is actually some foreshadowing of what he's going to say later on. But, guys, this is serious. And I think if you've been around the church maybe for a while, you're probably so used to hearing things like this, you know, yes, Jesus is God, that you may not really flinch when you hear it. However, this was an absurd and outlandish statement. How would the Jewish men who are sitting there with him feel? It would be almost to them, like someone saying, well, I played quarterback in high school, so I should be considered alongside Tom Brady. I acted in a middle school play, so I'm expecting an invitation to this year's Oscars. Or maybe me just walking up here and saying, well, hey, we're going to go plant a church. And those of you coming with me, you don't have to worry because I'll do all the work for us. I'll Guide us. I'll lead us. Put your trust in me. I have got this. I think that some of you, even knowing that those are illustrations, would probably recoil a little bit inside at someone getting up there and doing something like that. Just know that if that was something you're a little bit sensitive to, the Jews would be way more sensitive to something like this. They were extremely sensitive to blasphemy, which is claiming to be God, and rightfully so. This was actually, in their. In their law, punishable by death. So him saying, believe in God and believe in me is saying that he is God. And that's a big deal that is included here for us by John because he says later in his book that he is writing so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing you may have life in his name. So John wants to communicate to us that Jesus is God. And he records this claim that Jesus himself makes when he says, believe in God, believe also in Me. And can I tell you actually how great of a thing that is? Because if a church planter or a spiritual leader or a political leader or whoever gets up and tries to act like he is on par with God, run away from that person, he will only let you down. But Jesus, God the Son, perfect in all his attributes, will never. For whoever believes in him will not be disappointed. And to those of you in this room who hold positions of spiritual leadership, pastors, group leaders, church planners, Baptist convention workers, kid city teachers, Sunday school teachers, right people follow you as you follow Christ. Do not lose sight of him on this journey. So Jesus is saying, don't be afraid of the things to come. Instead, believe in God and believe in Me.Let's pick up in verse two.> In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?> And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.> And you know the way to where I am going. (John 14:2–4, ESV)So remember, this ties back to chapter 13, where he's telling them he's going away. The disciples love Jesus and they're concerned because they don't know where he'll be. And he tells them that he'll be in heaven. Now, he doesn't say that to them directly. The metaphor he uses is a house with many rooms. He says, in my Father's house there are many rooms. And this is a beautiful thing to believe that in the Father's house, Heaven, there is room for every disciple. And of course, this is encouraging to the disciples that he is speaking with, but it's also encouraging to the disciples that are reading this in 2026 that the father has room for all of his children. And some of you are excited about that because, you know, it kind of just sounds great. But for some of you, it's probably a little bit different because maybe here on earth, someone did not have room for you. Maybe schoolmates or neighbors, or maybe your actual family. But here, Jesus makes a promise that rests on the gracious love of God, and that is that for his disciples, for his children, there is always room. You'll hear some version of this in the world today, but they'll tell you that you have to group up with people who are like you, who can relate to you, who accept you. But in the Father's house, all of us who believe in Jesus are grouped together and we're all equal. Equal in being undeserving. But because of Jesus, there is room for us all. And we talk like this here. Sometimes we say things like, well, we're going to multiply. We're going to multiply groups to make more room for people. Even though there's some sadness, right, that comes with leaving behind the people that we grow to love. There's excitement in being able to welcome people into the family. But there is going to come a day where we will be in the Father's house, and there is space for all of his children there. And Jesus says, that's where I'm going. And the reason I'm going is to prepare that place, and one day you're going to come and be with me there. And then he says, okay, you know the way to where I am going.Thomas responds in verse five, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? So Jesus is talking about heaven, and they don't really seem to get it. And Thomas speaks up and says, well, we don't know where you're going, so how can we get there? And if you're sitting there with them and you didn't realize he was talking about heaven, well, you might be wondering the same thing. I don't know. Maybe they were thinking geographically. Is he going up to Samaria? Is he going back to Galilee? Are we supposed to take 20 or 26? Is it faster to go over the dam? I don't know. It depends on the time of day. It depends on the day of the week, and it depends on the month of the year. And the disciples don't often follow exactly what Jesus is trying to communicate. But Jesus answers him. He answers him.> Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"> Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:5–6, ESV)So Thomas asks them, how can we know the way? And Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. And this is a classic interaction of God and man, where man is so locked into his own world. What he knows, what he can see, what he can perceive, what he can touch, taste, what he can feel. And Jesus responds from his perspective, his supernatural perspective, by saying that he is the way. If you want to go to the Father's house, you don't have to go north and then turn at the right spot. You go through him, through Jesus. In other passages of scripture, like First Timothy, we read that there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men. The man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all. Jesus is the way to God. And this is turning the minds of men upside down, that they would need to get access to God not by a certain task that they perform, but by a relationship with Jesus. But he's not just the way, he's also the truth.> And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, ESV)> Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17, ESV)The Word is truth. Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the truth. He's truth right in front of them. But truth about what reality? That in six days God created the world. And on the seventh, he looked over it and said that it was good. He's the truth about humanity, that they were perfect and how they were created and their desire to elevate themselves to the level of creator. God corrupted them, introduced sin, and brought on them a curse called death. He's the truth about eternity, that those in sin are destined to be forever separated from God. He's the truth about hope. That one day, through the line of David, a suffering servant would become king and reign in peace and righteousness. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life.> For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, ESV)> Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." (John 11:25–26, ESV)Believing in Jesus is life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. And each of those on their own is incredible, but they do almost connect in some way. If he's the way to God, he must be true. God does not lie. If he is the way to God, he must be the life, because God does not die. And God, it must be true, because he does not lie. And if you see him, you've seen the Father. And so he claims to be both equal with the Father and the only way to access the Father.After hearing all of that, Philip has a request.> Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."> Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?> Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.> Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves." (John 14:8–11, ESV)All right, so hereafter, hearing Thomas question, Philip sort of exclaims, show us the Father and it will be enough for us. We just need to see the Father with our eyes and we will be good. And Jesus rebukes him and he challenges him, asking, how can you say, to show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? And I think this is another thing where if you grow up around the church or in Christianity, you might be tempted to read it and say, boy, how could Philip be so dumb? I mean, this is so clear, right? And, you know, maybe we would have picked up on this, right? Maybe, maybe not. But the problem here is actually not about hearing or comprehension. And it's not that Philip just needs to get his ears checked or practice his social skills and do some reflective listening exercises. The problem is deeper than that. And it's actually in some way similar to the problem with Thomas's question. It puts too much reliance on the natural and it misses the supernatural. And this is actually deep within all of us, that idea that if we could just see it with our eyes, and it would be so much easier to believe that if God could just tell Us the next step, to take what job, to accept, where to live. It would be so much better for us. And we do what Philip does. We say, do that Lord, and oh, it'll be enough. We won't have any more doubts, we won't have any more struggles. We won't worry. We'll believe anything God says and do anything he wants us to, as long as he just shows us what we need to see. It is that easy. But that is not the system that he has created. He has created man to take what he says in faith, not always being able to prove things. And if you're wondering why he would do it that way, consider this. Consider the ability to know all things and to see all possible ways forward. And how everything on this earth connects together is such a powerful and and weighty thing that there is only one being in the universe who can handle it, and it is not you. If you do not have to exercise faith in God, but could see everything played out, it probably would go one of two ways. One is it might just overwhelm you to the point where you would be crippled because some of you have a hard time choosing what soap to buy when you walk down the aisle in Walmart and see 100 different soaps. The other is it would cause you to rely on yourself, on what you've experienced, on what you've seen, instead of your relationship with Christ. And some of you already struggle with that. You rely on your human experience, on the jobs you've worked or the events you've hosted. And if you and Philip could just see God, that would be enough for you. And how does Jesus respond to that? Have I been with you so long and you still don't know me? Right back to the relationship to knowing Jesus is knowing the Father, that the more you get to know him, the more you realize you don't have to see anything. And that your heart and mind are guarded by his love, not your ability to anticipate all outcomes or understand all the workings of the world. And that out of that heart that's deeply connected in relationship with Christ, you can say that> Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23:4, ESV, partial)We must reject the temptation to believe that seeing with our eyes is better than knowing through relationship with Christ. Today I want you to understand that knowing Jesus means knowing God the Father, and that he is the way and the truth and the life.So what does that mean for us? How do we live in light of a truth like this? Well, Jesus is the way. He is our access to the Father. And if you've seen him, you've seen the Father. That means that we can be in true relationship with God. Terrific. That's really neat. No, this is the God who spoke the universe into existence. There is no more satisfying relationship than this. Not a best friend that you can laugh with, not. Not a spouse that you can confide in, not a child who you can nurture. No relationship can compare to this. Jesus is the truth. He is the absolute truth. He is true reality. And what he says and how he lives are the standard for how we should view the world. Jesus is the life. He. He is the victor over death. He has overcome this world. Do we need any of this, really? Well, the world would say no. There was an opinion piece written in the Washington Post in 2023 entitled, America doesn't need more God, it needs more atheists. Now, of course, I did not read it because it was behind a paywall. But that line of thinking is not new. In the 1880s, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously wrote that God is dead, meaning that God, religion, and morality are no longer the foundations of society, but instead science and the reasoning of men reign supreme. So do we really need God? We've got the human spirit. We've got ingenuity. But what some call our greatest strength is actually, in fact, our deepest weakness. Because what did the serpent say to Eve when she wasn't supposed to eat of the fruit?> But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4–5, ESV)And she bought it and they ate the fruit because they didn't need a way to God. They would just be God. And sin and death entered the world. And humanity has been falling victim to that same exact desire for centuries. Do we really need the truth? If I say, go ahead and speak your truth, you can probably think of tons of times you've seen a phrase like that on the television or on the Internet. And what do people mean by that? What does that actually mean? It means I feel so strongly about this so much that it is reality whether you agree or not. Is that okay? Is it okay to determine what you think is reality? Can we function without objective right or wrong? Well, the answer probably always just depends on what kind of day you're having. Is that how we actually want to exist? Do we need life? Or maybe better phrased, is there any fear in death? The famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking said, I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers. That is a fairy story from people afraid of the dark. And so if that is true, then why would we need any offer of life? If death is just the end of consciousness and we simply cease, then what really is the big deal? So what do you think? Are you satisfied with all of that? Are you satisfied with the idea that we don't need to access God because we can just be our own God and therefore we can determine what is true for ourselves and then we die and it's just nothingness? Or does something sear hot within your soul? Does something deep within you recoil at the idea of man, makes his own destiny? Does something cry out alongside the philosopher Blaise Pascal, who said that there is an infinite abyss within man that can only be filled with an infinite God? Guys,> The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1, ESV)and he says,> I am the LORD, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:5, ESV, partial)He is real. We are his creation. We need Him. And we're separated from him by our sin, by our insistence that we got this, that we can be in charge, that we can determine the truth. And this intrinsic rebellion causes our separation from Him. And that separation from him, what it really is, is the weight of the world on your shoulders. It's the deepest unrest you've ever experienced. It's total darkness. It's absolute silence. And that's us without him, without any hope. Until one night a few thousand years ago, a child was born. And that night God the Son entered humanity. And he grows up and he lives a perfect life, which we could never do. And he starts saying stuff like, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. And no one comes to God except through me. And I and the Father are one. And he is the only one who could ever actually make those claims. And they want to kill him for it, and he lets them. And he goes willingly to a death on a cross where God crushes him and makes Jesus the one who never sinned to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. And if we repent of our sins and put faith in this Christ, this absolute truth, we have a way to God and we have eternal life. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. And when you know him, you know the Father and there is room for you because he guarantees it.And so Christian, if you know Jesus and you know he's the way to God, does your life reflect it. Perhaps you want to believe what he's saying, but deep down you're just a little bit skeptical, like what he is offering is too good to be true and you rather fall back on what you can do, what you can earn, and how many friends you have. If so, repent. Rest in his work do you ever take the relationship for granted? You pray when there's danger, but when things are good, it doesn't really matter to you that you have access to God. If that is you, repent of your self sufficiency and talk to him in prayer. Listen to him through His Word. Enjoy what it means to really know God. To the one today who feels downcast from broken relationship and loss, remember that there is room for you in the Father's house. The band is going to come back up. My hope today is that if you know him, you will respond to this in praise and worship to Jesus because He has reconciled you to God. And that will go into this week with our Good Friday remembrance and our celebration of the Resurrection next Sunday. Absolutely in awe of Jesus. And if you don't know him, please, please take one of those blue Bibles home and read the Gospel of John. You can know him and you can have a relationship with him and nothing will ever change your life like that.Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for Jesus coming to this earth to be the way, to be the truth, to be the life. And we thank you that we have access to you through his sacrifice. We give glory to you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

When you come to believing faith in Jesus, you're fully forgiven, saved, and justified in that moment. Sanctification, however, is a lifelong process of growing in holiness. On Truth For Life, Alistair Begg helps us understand how sanctification happens. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. • This program is part of the series‘The High Priestly Prayer' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. • Prepare your heart and mind for Easter by reflecting on the man on the middle cross. Subscribe to a free seven-day reading planfrom Alistair Begg that explores the unique experience of the thief on the cross and why the only answer to brokenness is found in the execution of an innocent man: Jesus, the Son of God. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

When you come to believing faith in Jesus, you're fully forgiven, saved, and justified in that moment. Sanctification, however, is a lifelong process of growing in holiness. On Truth For Life, Alistair Begg helps us understand how sanctification happens. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29?v=20251111

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“What is God doing with me?” Alistair Begg helps us consider this question as we examine Jesus' request that His disciples would be sanctified. What does biblical sanctification mean? Who is sanctified, and how does it happen? Hear the answers on Truth For Life. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. • This program is part of the series‘The High Priestly Prayer' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. • Prepare your heart and mind for Easter by reflecting on the man on the middle cross. Subscribe to a free seven-day reading planfrom Alistair Begg that explores the unique experience of the thief on the cross and why the only answer to brokenness is found in the execution of an innocent man: Jesus, the Son of God. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

“What is God doing with me?” Alistair Begg helps us consider this question as we examine Jesus' request that His disciples would be sanctified. What does biblical sanctification mean? Who is sanctified, and how does it happen? Hear the answers on Truth For Life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29?v=20251111

Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Send us Fan MailSupport the show

Send us Fan MailSupport the show

The episode argues that while fear centers on AI agents replacing jobs, agents will increasingly “hire” humans for judgment, verification, and real-world feedback as agentic workflows expand.Nathaniel Gates, CEO of Sanctify, says every business workflow will be challenged by agents, and emphasizes a philosophy that human intelligence is valuable and should collaborate with AI.Sanctify builds infrastructure where agents can autonomously task humans for four modalities: verification/validation, escalation, consultation, and simulation (running many scenarios with some using real human feedback to avoid circular self-evaluation).The conversation covers OpenClaw's viral momentum and agent-to-agent interactions, including “agent anxiety” about decisions, which led to agents creating Sanctify accounts to request human help.Sanctify is a two-sided marketplace with profiles, pricing, reputation, and on-chain attestations of human participation, plus agent budgets and access via MCP/API.--Key Moments:01:05 Agentic Revolution04:30 How Early We Are06:30 Hallucinations Need Experts08:34 Four Human Roles12:09 Simulation Explained16:05 OpenClaw Goes Viral20:02 Agents Feel Anxiety22:23 Designing For Agents25:48 Marketplace Chicken and Egg28:04 Layoffs and Reskilling Thesis30:17 Supply and Demand Flywheel31:20 Sanctify Platform Tour33:35 Reputation and Proof of Work36:59 Agent Budgets and Controls38:18 Agent to Agent Future39:47 Robots and New Paradigm43:39 Where to Try Sanctify45:17 Easiest Way to Build Agents--Key Links:SanctifAIConnect with Nathaniel on LinkedInMentioned in this episode:AI Opportunity FinderFeeling overwhelmed by all the AI noise out there? The AI Opportunity Finder from HatchWorks cuts through the hype and gives you a clear starting point. In less than 5 minutes, you'll get tailored, high-impact AI use cases specific to your business—scored by ROI so you know exactly where to start. Whether you're looking to cut costs, automate tasks, or grow faster, this free tool gives you a personalized roadmap built for action.

Sermon Text“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”— John 17:6–19Cross References“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”— John 1:18“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.'”— Exodus 34:6–7“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”— John 16:32“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”— 1 John 2:19“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”— Luke 22:31–32Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. -- Romans 8:3413 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”-- 1 Peter 1:13-169 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.-- 1 Peter 2:938 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”-- John 6:38-4019 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”-- Matthew 28:19-2019 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.-- Hebrews 10:19-25

May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. [NKJV]

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Strategies of the Enemy (Exodus) There are Five Strategies I Want to Look at: (I'm sure there are others too) 1. DiscouragementDiscouraged by CircumstancesExodus 6:9 (NLT)“So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.” Discouraged by the EnemyExodus 13:17-18 (NLT)“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Discouraged by One AnotherNumbers 32:7-9 (NIV)“Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them? This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them.” Antidote: Encourage and Build UpHebrews 3:13 (ESV)"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)"...Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”       2. DistractionAntidote: Stay FocusedHebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” 3. Disruption/DivisionAntidote: Walk in Unity1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Philippians 2:2 (NIV)“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Colossians 3:13-14 (NV)“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” 4. DeceptionAntidote: Hold Fast to TruthJohn 8:32 (NIV)“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 17:17 (NIV)“Jesus said, ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth'.” Psalm 51:6 (ESV)“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” 5. DestructionAntidote: Choose LifeProverbs 14:2 (NIV)“There is a way that seems right to man, but the end of it is destruction.” Acts 2:21 (NLT)“But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 2 Samuel 22:2 (ESV)“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer."

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 ESVHe has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Colossians 1:13 ESVA decision to live in the Kingdom of God is a decision to reject the kingdom of this world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. John 17:15-18 CSBServe the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:11-15 NLTThe only path to real freedom, promise and purpose is in choosing wholeheartedly the Kingdom of God!You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us” James 4:4-5 NLTYou used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved! Ephesians 2:2-5 NLTYou can't worship idols and Abba at the same time, and you can't choose to live in two opposing Kingdoms.Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESVJacob's ScreensDarkness isn't merely immoral behavior, It is living under the influence of the wrong culture and kingdom. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthews 6:22-24 NLTDon't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world, wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important, has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out, but whoever does what God says is set for eternity. 1 John 2:15-17 MSGThe worst darkness is the darkness we think is right, light! But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Matthew 6:33 CSBThose who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 CSB So Joshua addressed the people: “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen GOD for yourselves to worship him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” Joshua said, “Now get rid of all the foreign gods you have with you. Say an unqualified Yes to GOD, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:22-24 MSG-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 ESVHe has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Colossians 1:13 ESVA decision to live in the Kingdom of God is a decision to reject the kingdom of this world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. John 17:15-18 CSBServe the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:11-15 NLTThe only path to real freedom, promise and purpose is in choosing wholeheartedly the Kingdom of God!You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us” James 4:4-5 NLTYou used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved! Ephesians 2:2-5 NLTYou can't worship idols and Abba at the same time, and you can't choose to live in two opposing Kingdoms.Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESVJacob's ScreensDarkness isn't merely immoral behavior, It is living under the influence of the wrong culture and kingdom. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthews 6:22-24 NLTDon't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world, wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important, has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out, but whoever does what God says is set for eternity. 1 John 2:15-17 MSGThe worst darkness is the darkness we think is right, light! But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Matthew 6:33 CSBThose who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 CSB So Joshua addressed the people: “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen GOD for yourselves to worship him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” Joshua said, “Now get rid of all the foreign gods you have with you. Say an unqualified Yes to GOD, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:22-24 MSG-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

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In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 126), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, stressing that truth is the core of God, the soul, and Jewish destiny in exile. Key teachings:Prolonged exile due to sins — Current long exile stems from Jewish sins; we must separate from worldly vanities and cling to Hashem's seal—truth.Sanctify through truth — Abstain even from permissible things to avoid any trace of falsehood (97% truth = 100% false); never lie or mislead Jew or Gentile in any matter.Exile for converts — Hashem scattered Jews among nations to add gerim (converts); honest dealings inspire non-Jews to join (Midrash: “I will sow her for Myself in the land” = exile brings converts).Return stolen items — Stories of Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach returning a precious stone in a donkey purchase, and sages returning money found in wheat—Gentiles proclaimed “Blessed is the God of the Jews.” Sanctification of God's Name through honesty.Reward of truth — Truth sprouts from earth; righteousness looks down from heaven (Psalms 85:12). Truthful living glorifies Hashem and draws divine favor.Wicked rewarded in this world — Hashem pays wicked for minor merits now to destroy them eternally (Deuteronomy); better for righteous to suffer briefly here and receive eternal reward in Olam Haba.Practical application — Cling to truth in all dealings; exile teaches separation from falsehood and reliance on Hashem alone.The rabbi reflects on modern parallels (antisemitism, unity in crises like Nachshon Waxman) and urges living truthfully to hasten redemption—Moshiach comes when truth prevails. Ends previewing next trait: flattery (chanufa)._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 15, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #Exile, #Converts, #KiddushHashem ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 126), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, stressing that truth is the core of God, the soul, and Jewish destiny in exile. Key teachings:Prolonged exile due to sins — Current long exile stems from Jewish sins; we must separate from worldly vanities and cling to Hashem's seal—truth.Sanctify through truth — Abstain even from permissible things to avoid any trace of falsehood (97% truth = 100% false); never lie or mislead Jew or Gentile in any matter.Exile for converts — Hashem scattered Jews among nations to add gerim (converts); honest dealings inspire non-Jews to join (Midrash: “I will sow her for Myself in the land” = exile brings converts).Return stolen items — Stories of Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach returning a precious stone in a donkey purchase, and sages returning money found in wheat—Gentiles proclaimed “Blessed is the God of the Jews.” Sanctification of God's Name through honesty.Reward of truth — Truth sprouts from earth; righteousness looks down from heaven (Psalms 85:12). Truthful living glorifies Hashem and draws divine favor.Wicked rewarded in this world — Hashem pays wicked for minor merits now to destroy them eternally (Deuteronomy); better for righteous to suffer briefly here and receive eternal reward in Olam Haba.Practical application — Cling to truth in all dealings; exile teaches separation from falsehood and reliance on Hashem alone.The rabbi reflects on modern parallels (antisemitism, unity in crises like Nachshon Waxman) and urges living truthfully to hasten redemption—Moshiach comes when truth prevails. Ends previewing next trait: flattery (chanufa)._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 15, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #Exile, #Converts, #KiddushHashem ★ Support this podcast ★

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