Podcasts about Savior

Have you ever pondered what it means to be ‘born again' as a Christian believer?When we give our hearts to the Lord, asking Him to forgive our sins and guide our lives, we are making God a promise: we no longer claim the right to follow our own paths or to focus on our own agendas.We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross on our behalf so that we can be forgiven and live with the Lord for all eternity, when our temporary earthly lives are over.In Romans 14:8, the Apostle Paul says, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”When we profess our faith as Christian believers, we are saying we will live for the Lord, and we will die for Him as well. Living or dead, our souls belong to the Savior. As believers living for the Lord, this means we will make choices that honor Him and ultimately serve His goals and plans. We will ever and always belong to the Lord. Understanding that should impact how we view every choice we make, and how we tackle every challenge.Let's pray.Dear Lord, we give you everything. Our choices, our actions, and our reactions. We ask for clarity in the decisions we make, and that you make us ever dependent on your wisdom and your perfect plan. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Has there ever been a time when you stopped, awestruck at the beauty and glory of our Savior? On this episode of The Verdict, Pastor John Munro discusses the Transfiguration, when three of the disciples saw the glory of Jesus unveiled, and their lives were forever changed. Today receive a fresh look at the majesty of Jesus!

Hearing the Christmas story outside of the holiday can bring a new context. Today, let's focus on Mary and Joseph as new parents in this story: (Luke 2:12-19 MSG) The angel said, “Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.Consider for a moment this strange truth: God entrusted His Son that He sent to redeem the world to a man and woman who were sinners. The same scenario that started the mess to begin with. At least, the first couple wasn't sinners in the beginning. But Mary and Joseph were. Why would He do something so illogical? Simple. To redeem everything that went wrong the first time through the same method: Obeying His direction through free will, free choice.Read the last verse one more time: Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.When life got hard, when being the Messiah's mom was difficult, when following God's plan looked crazy, when Jesus was on His way to the cross, Mary held on to the God of messes and miracles, of shepherds and angels, of death and new life.When life gets hard for you, maybe as a parent, when being your kid's parent is difficult, when following God's plan looks crazy, when fear, pain, and struggle are in your face, hold on to the God of messes and miracles, of shepherds and angels, of death and new life. Hold onto the things of God in your heart, deep within you.Let's pray: “Lord Jesus, what awesome parents You must have had. Help me to take as much care with my children as Mary and Joseph did with You. Hold me close while I keep You in my heart. As above, so below. Amen”

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260813dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:31-33 Without a Doubt! There are very few things you can say without a doubt. When making plans, you can’t say they will happen without a doubt. When someone asks you a difficult question, can you always answer confidently, without a doubt? Thankfully, we can answer life’s most crucial question without a doubt, and not because we’re so smart, but because God is so great! Life’s most crucial question is, “Am I right with God?” or “Will God let me into heaven?” Some people struggle to answer those questions without a doubt. Those doubts come from the reality of sin. God is holy and perfect; we are not. Just one sin is enough to bar us from heaven, and we've committed more than one. More than we can count. It would be presumptuous to believe we can simply walk through heaven’s gates, except that God assures us of this without doubt or hesitation. God is for us! He’s on our side. He says that our sins are forgiven. This removes any and every shred of doubt. Who can bring any charges against us that will stick? Our own doubts and guilty conscience might try to tell us we aren’t forgiven or worthy, but they don’t call the shots! God does. He has justified us. That means he declares, with absolute authority, that we are not guilty because he’s forgiven all our sins. And if any doubt should remain, here’s proof: God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. This is how the guilty are declared innocent and the accused become acquitted, without a doubt. God spared no expense to make things right between you and him. God left heaven and carried a cross to make heaven your home. It’s yours through Christ, without a doubt. Prayer: Lord, spare me from doubt and temptations to justify myself and let my confidence rest on Christ alone who has already justified me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Christians Answer Doubt with Faith(Reverend Ross Henzi)From the outside, Christians may look just like everyone else.  We cry.  We get sad.  We struggle.  We still ask questions.  But inside, something is different.  The Holy Spirit keeps pointing us back to Jesus.The world answers uncertainty with fear, suffering with despair, and doubt with hopelessness.  But Christians answer doubt with faith.  Not perfect faith.  Not doubt-free faith.  But faith anchored in a perfect Savior.There is nothing, absolutely nothing - not even your deepest doubts - can separate you from the love of God that is yours in Christ Jesus.  Therefore, when doubt comes knocking, answer it - not with your own strength - but with faith in a Savior who has already conquered every enemy and who has promised to never let you go.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Most Wednesdays, our Communications Director, Michelle Leichty, hosts a discussion with the preaching pastor from the previous Sunday. Visit our Facebook page to watch the discussion shortly after 1pm on Wednesdays: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/covenantepcBe sure to follow our Facebook page for notifications of when the discussion is posted!

Romans 1:3: Concerning His Son What is the gospel ultimately about? Romans 1:3 gives us Paul's answer with remarkable clarity: the gospel is “concerning his Son.” The gospel is not first about us. It is not centered on our experiences, our improvement, our religious performance, or our felt needs. The gospel is the good news of what God has done through His Son, Jesus Christ. “Concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh.” Romans 1:3 The Gospel Concerns God's Son Paul has already told us that he was set apart for the gospel of God and that this gospel was promised beforehand through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. Now he tells us who this gospel concerns: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The gospel is not advice about how to improve ourselves. Advice tells us what we should do. The gospel announces what God has already done in and through Jesus Christ. We do not need another self-help plan, moral improvement program, or religious system. We need a Savior. The gospel points us away from ourselves and directs us to Christ. Jesus Is the Eternal Son of God Jesus is not merely a prophet, moral teacher, religious example, or spiritual guide. He is the eternal Son of God. The Son did not begin to exist in Bethlehem. He did not become divine at His baptism or after His resurrection. Jesus Christ is eternally the Son of God, sharing the same divine nature as the Father. This matters because only God can save. A created Savior cannot bear the full weight of divine judgment or provide the salvation sinners desperately need. Our confidence rests in the eternal Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. Jesus Is the Promised Son of David Paul also tells us that Jesus was descended from David according to the flesh. This connects the gospel directly to the promises God made throughout the Old Testament. God promised that a descendant of David would reign forever. Jesus is that promised King. He is the Messiah, the Son of David, and the rightful ruler whose kingdom will never end. The gospel therefore announces not only that a Savior has come, but that the King has come. Jesus is not merely useful or comforting. He is Lord. The Savior who gives mercy is also the King who reigns. Jesus Truly Became Man The eternal Son of God truly took on human flesh. He did not merely appear to be human or wear humanity like a costume. He took on a true human nature without ceasing to be truly God. Jesus experienced hunger, weakness, sorrow, rejection, temptation, suffering, and death, yet He remained completely without sin. This truth has been carefully defended throughout church history because it stands at the heart of the gospel. Jesus Christ is one person with two natures, truly God and truly man. If Jesus is not truly God, He cannot save. If Jesus is not truly man, He cannot stand in our place. As man, He obeyed where we have disobeyed and suffered in the place of sinners. As God, His saving work is fully sufficient and eternally powerful. The Gospel Is Centered on Jesus Christ Romans will teach us about sin, wrath, righteousness, justification, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, election, Israel, Christian living, church unity, and mission. But every one of these truths ultimately finds its center in Jesus Christ. Christ is not one doctrine among many. He is the center and substance of the gospel. Without Christ there is no justification, no peace with God, no adoption, no hope in suffering, no mercy, and no eternal life. Christianity cannot be reduced to a worldview, moral system, ministry platform, theological identity, or religious tradition. Christianity is centered on Christ because the gospel itself is concerning His Son. Look to Christ Romans 1:3 calls us to look again at the glory of Jesus Christ. Look to Christ. Trust Christ. Treasure Christ. Follow Christ. Obey Christ. Proclaim Christ. Rest in Christ. Do not move beyond Christ. Do not minimize Christ. Do not replace Christ with self-help, moralism, religious performance, or vague spirituality. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the promised Son of David, the incarnate Savior, the crucified and risen Lord, and the reigning King who saves all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. The world offers many messages. Religion offers many systems. Sin offers many promises. But God has given sinners one Savior. The gospel is concerning His Son. Continue Through Romans Continue studying Paul's letter verse by verse in our series, Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything. Explore the Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything Series You can also subscribe to the Servants of Grace YouTube channel for biblical teaching, sermons, podcasts, theology, and resources designed to help Christians grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Subscribe to Servants of Grace on YouTube

IntroductionThere can be a disconnect in the Christian life. We can become so focused on doctrine that we forget that we are called to live out the gospel. Or we can become so focused on living the Christian life that we lose sight of the doctrine that gives us the strength and assurance to live it.The Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 23 understands this tension. As we come to justification by faith, it essentially asks us, Is this doctrine really helpful? Is this something that actually benefits us? Does knowing that we are justified by faith make any difference in the Christian life?I think those are important questions. So, let's begin. Is This Helpful?The first thing we have to understand is the seriousness of our problem.Our problem is that we minimize sin. We sometimes like to think that if we can just clean up enough of the outward problems, we will be okay. Maybe we haven't done everything right, but we have done better than the person next to us. Maybe we have kept 99.99% of the commandments.But the problem is that sin is not merely a collection of bad behaviors. Sin is at the core of who we are. Our behavior or actions are merely the fruit of the deeper root problem. In the fall, humanity essentially told God, We don't want your order. We don't want your holiness. We don't want you ruling over us. We were exiled from Eden, and God gave us what we wanted. And that leaves us in a desperate position.We see this even in some of the great saints of Scripture. Jacob spent much of his life trying to accomplish the promises of God in his own strength. He wrestled with God and came away limping, learning that the promises of God come through weakness and submission to the Lord.Job wanted his day in court with God. He wanted to present his case and demonstrate that God had gotten things wrong. But when Job finally comes face-to-face with the living God, he puts his hand over his mouth. He learns that God's wisdom is far greater than his own. Paul was a man who considered himself blameless according to the law, yet Christ had to stop him on the road to Damascus. Even Paul had to learn that God's strength is manifested in weakness.And then there is Isaiah. Isaiah appears to be one of those Old Testament saints who was pretty dialed in. Yet when he comes into the presence of God, he doesn't say, "I dwell in the midst of unclean people who make me unclean." No, he says, “Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips” That is the point. Apart from Christ, we have nothing.Paul makes this very clear in Romans 3. He gives a staccato of Old Testament references and demonstrates that there is a universal problem that impacts Jew and Gentile. It doesn't matter how religious you are or how well you have cleaned up your life.All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.That is why justification by faith is so helpful. It tells us the truth about our condition. We cannot save ourselves. We need a rematch and not a participation trophy.The championship game has already been played. Adam failed, and in Adam we have all failed. The verdict has been issued. We need someone to reengage the competition and overturn the previous verdict. And that is exactly what Christ does in his work. However, this can still be all doctrine. Is there a place where this really impacts our Christian life? Is This Assuring? This is where the beauty of justification really comes into view. The Heidelberg Catechism says that I share in all of Christ's benefits. He has made perfect satisfaction for my sin. He has given me his perfect holiness. And I am regarded before God as if I had never sinned and as if I had perfectly obeyed all that God commanded. Think about the beauty of that.It is not my righteousness. It is Christ's righteousness.It is not my perfect obedience. It is Christ's perfect obedience. It is not something I have earned. It is a gift. God has freely given it to his unworthy children.Paul says in Romans 3 that we are justified by God's grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Justification is a legal declaration. Before the heavenly court, we deserve condemnation in Adam. But in Christ, we are declared righteous.And this is what makes grace so amazing.Sometimes we define grace as “unmerited favor.” But I think Scripture gives us an even deeper picture. Unmerited favor could mean that God just gave us something. We did not earn it. However, we could be neutral. For instance, you love your kid, so you just buy your kid ice cream. The kid did not specifically deserve it, but you want to spend some quality time together.We actively rebelled against him. We told God that we didn't want his holiness, his rule, or his order. If we continue with the illustration of buying a child ice cream, we can ask: Would you buy your child ice cream after your child washed your car with a Brillo pad? I am guessing that the child is not getting ice cream. However, we did far worse to God in the fall. He also gives us more than a participation trophy or ice cream. God gives us heaven through the work of his son. Christ doesn't simply overlook our sin. This is why Paul uses the language of redemption. Redemption is buying someone out of slavery. That is what Christ did. He purchased us out of our bondage of sin to set us free to live in him.Christ had to lay down his life in our place. He has to die because sin is that heinous. It is not that God is so villainous, but sin is that heinous. We cannot find a simple solution to this complex problem. So if someone wants to mock justification by faith as a “participation trophy,” I say, "I'll gladly take it." I'll put it on the shelf and proudly say, I am in Christ Jesus, and apart from Christ I have no hope. However, we need to remember that Christ reengaged the championship game. He won the game and gives us the credit.Conclusion So is justification by faith helpful?Absolutely.Because we have a 100% problem, and we need a 100% Savior.Is justification assuring?Absolutely.Because Christ has done what we could never do. He has satisfied God's justice, paid our debt, redeemed us from slavery, and given us his righteousness.And is my faith good enough?No, but Christ is.That is the good news. The gospel isn't that God looked at us and decided that we were basically good enough to receive a participation trophy. The gospel is that we were condemned in Adam, and Christ came into the heavenly courtroom and stood in our place. He took the judgment we deserved and gave us the righteousness we could never earn. He overturned the previous loss and won us our victory. And so we don't use grace as an excuse to push the boundaries of sin. If we really understand what sin is, why would we want to return to it? Sin is destructive. It tears us away from the true peace and shalom that God created us to enjoy.So let us continue to take hold of Christ by faith. Let us forget what lies behind and press forward toward what lies ahead. Christ Jesus has made us his own. And as the Holy Spirit continues to conform us to Christ, let us walk in him, trusting not in the strength of our faith, but in the strength of our Savior.

August 13 2026 Thursday Who Jesus Made You To Be / Week 39 Victory Through Faith #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word.  That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. My Prayers For The World Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT  'Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT 'When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Youar roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.' Matthew 11:28  Find Rest In Jesus Christ Your Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return…  Psalm 37:4  God will give you the desires of your heart… The Galations, having launched their Christian experience by faith, seem content to leave their voyage of faith and chart a new course based on works—a course Paul finds disturbing.  His letter to the Galations is a vigorous attack against the gospel of works and a defense of the gospel of faith.   Paul begins by setting forth his credentials as an apostle with a message from God:  blessing comes from God on the basis of faith, not law.  The law declares men guilty and imprisons them; faith sets men free to enjoy liberty in Christ.  But liberty is not license.  Freedom in Christ means freedom to produce the fruits of righteousness through a Spirit-led lifesty 1 John 5:4-5 Romans 10:9-10  Salvation… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You… Romans 13:8  Live in God's Love… Romans 8:16-17  Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Revelation 1:6  We are kings and priest in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Romans 10:13  Call On The Name Of Jesus And Make Him Lord today… The Biblical Definition Of Grace Is God's Unmerited Favor… Matthew 18:19-20  I will agree with you about your prayer request… Acts 10:34  God is not a respecter of persons. He loves and cares for us all the same… Romans 12:3  God has given us His Faith… Biblical Hope Is A Confident Expectation… Romans 5:5  God has given us His Love… 2 Corinthians 5:17  We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21  We are the Righteousness of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… God's Word Is True Above All Opinions…  Romans 12:2  Renew your mind to what God's Word says… Believe God's Word Above All Opinion… Philippians 4:13  We can do all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Philippians 4:19  God will provide all your needs… Romans 10:17  Faith In God comes from hearing God's Word… Isaiah 54:17 No weapon will prosper against me… 1 John 4:4  Greater is He In All Of Us… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You…  John 3:3  You Must Be Born Again… Luke 15:10  Heaven Rejoices Over One Person That Repents And Is Born Again… John 3:16  Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ Your Lord And Savior… 1 Peter 2:24  Healing… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Luke 6:38  Give and it will be given unto you… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media Website https://the-prodigalson.com What God's Word Can Do In Your Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJWTZG_x2vE&t=3s Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com YouVersion Bible App  https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 …  Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical  Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured

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After making an embarrassing scene in front of friends and family, Rebecca Carrell knew something had to change. Behind her success as a well-known radio host, alcoholism, anxiety, and bulimia were destroying her life. Today, she's a Bible study teacher who openly shares her struggles and how they pointed to her need for a Savior.On this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories., Rebecca explains her fear of losing everything that mattered to her, but God stepped in to deliver her. Connect with us through email at gps@billygraham.org or on Facebook at Billy Graham Radio. If you'd like to know more about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or deepening the faith you already have, visit FindPeacewithGod.net. If you'd like to pray with someone, call our Billy Graham 24/7 Prayer Line at 855-255-7729. 

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” (Titus 3:4) Six times in the pastoral epistles Paul refers to God (evidently meaning the Father) as our Savior (

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT) It’s not unusual for sincere believers to have days of doubt, discouragement, and despair. Even the heroes of the faith struggled in these areas. Moses was handpicked by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery and to deliver the Ten Commandments. Yet, on at least one occasion, he was so overwhelmed by the consistent complaining of the Israelites that he said to the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:14–15 NLT). Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Queen Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, “I have had enough, Lord. . . . Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT). The prophet Jeremiah struggled as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for communicating the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop communicating God’s Word altogether. He said, “When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke” (Jeremiah 20:8 NLT). Even the apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). So, if we ever feel overwhelmed, the first thing we need to understand is that we’re in good company. Wrestling with doubt or uncertainty or being perplexed as to why God didn’t work in a certain way doesn’t set us apart from other believers. The second thing we need to understand is that fear and faith are separated by a very thin line, one that often gets blurred during our walk with Christ. One moment we say, “Everything will be fine—no problem.” Then the next moment we can look at the same circumstances and find ourselves in absolute despair. So, what’s the answer? We must recognize that we’re human, just like the great people of Scripture. We must cast our burdens on God and pray for the strength to place our problems in their proper perspective. The psalmist had that perspective when he wrote, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT). We can’t see the big picture of God’s work in this world. And our limited perspective is bound to cause some heightened emotions. That’s why we must place our trust in the One who can see everything and is working it all for good. Reflection question: How can you keep a proper perspective when you struggle with doubt, discouragement, or despair? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260812dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 It’s All Good! “It’s all good!” someone might say. We might tell ourselves, “It’s all good,” even when it’s not. Even when it doesn’t seem good, we try to remain optimistic, look at the brighter side, and have faith that it will all work out. The Christian faith is not merely faith that all things will work out. It’s faith in the God and Savior who works out all things for eternal good. This Bible verse is not a promise that only good and pleasant things will happen to you if you just love God enough. It’s a reminder that those who love God and are loved by God will experience all sorts of things that don’t seem good and pleasant. When something challenging or tragic comes into your life, you might be tempted to wonder, “Does God have something against me? Is that why bad things are happening?” You may doubt that God is really on your side. But here is his assurance: He's not working against you; he’s working for you and for your good! Jesus shows us how true this promise is. No one in the world would naturally see someone nailed to a cross and think, “That’s good.” Yet, in that way, God was at work to accomplish the greatest good—the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with him. That’s good! When things happen in life that the world does not see as good, we have God’s promise that even this he will work out for good. It could be good personally for you because the thing that initially causes pain or sorrow could be God’s way of shaping you, strengthening you, or sparing you from greater physical or spiritual danger. It could bring good into the lives of others around you. If you’ve been through something, you are better equipped to encourage someone else who’s going through it too. It really is all good when we find ourselves in the loving arms of the God who works in all things for our eternal good! Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me faith that knows that in all things you are at work for your good and eternal purposes. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Delight in God who abundantly provides for His people in the midst of affliction

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260812dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 It’s All Good! “It’s all good!” someone might say. We might tell ourselves, “It’s all good,” even when it’s not. Even when it doesn’t seem good, we try to remain optimistic, look at the brighter side, and have faith that it will all work out. The Christian faith is not merely faith that all things will work out. It’s faith in the God and Savior who works out all things for eternal good. This Bible verse is not a promise that only good and pleasant things will happen to you if you just love God enough. It’s a reminder that those who love God and are loved by God will experience all sorts of things that don’t seem good and pleasant. When something challenging or tragic comes into your life, you might be tempted to wonder, “Does God have something against me? Is that why bad things are happening?” You may doubt that God is really on your side. But here is his assurance: He's not working against you; he’s working for you and for your good! Jesus shows us how true this promise is. No one in the world would naturally see someone nailed to a cross and think, “That’s good.” Yet, in that way, God was at work to accomplish the greatest good—the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with him. That’s good! When things happen in life that the world does not see as good, we have God’s promise that even this he will work out for good. It could be good personally for you because the thing that initially causes pain or sorrow could be God’s way of shaping you, strengthening you, or sparing you from greater physical or spiritual danger. It could bring good into the lives of others around you. If you’ve been through something, you are better equipped to encourage someone else who’s going through it too. It really is all good when we find ourselves in the loving arms of the God who works in all things for our eternal good! Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me faith that knows that in all things you are at work for your good and eternal purposes. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Title: Have Courage and Obey Text: Joshua 1:1-9 Three Reasons We Need Courage Fear of past failures. Fear of future challenges. Fear of leadership losses. How Courage Supports our FaithCourage inspires our faith in God's promises.Courage strengthens our obedience to God's commands.Courage stills our hearts in God's presence. Means to Build CourageMeditate on and obey God's Word.Rely on the Lord's presence.Trust in the Savior's deliverance.  Please reach out to us via email at info@wilkesborobaptist.org 

Growing In God Podcast Program Number: GIG #314 Title: He Has Committed to Us Reconciliation   Web Description: When we are reconciled to God through Christ, we are brought into God's plan for the earth. And God's plan is that all the people of the earth will be reconciled to Him. That is why He gives us the ministry of reconciliation. Our personal salvation makes us part of God's holy Kingdom of priests who minister to others the reconciliation that He provided for all by the sacrifice of His Son.   Show Notes: We can see God's heart for the world in His relationship with Israel. When God brought them forth as a nation, He told them to be a kingdom of priests. And what is the purpose of being a kingdom of priests? It is to minister to all the nations of the earth. As Christians who have been grafted into the covenant and promises of Israel, we share in this same purpose to be a kingdom of priests. As our High Priest, Christ reconciled us to God by His blood. This ministry of reconciliation is how a priest functions. And when we receive Christ, we also receive the ministry of reconciliation.   We miss this aspect when we focus only on our personal salvation. God commanded Israel to be a kingdom of priests, but He also told them to be a holy nation. You cannot have one without the other. God wanted Israel to be holy so that they could serve as His priesthood that would minister to the nations. The same is true of our salvation. When God saves us, He forgives our sins. But that does not mean we are supposed to do nothing except sit around and be forgiven. We are forgiven and cleansed of our sins so that we can be the priests who serve Him in His presence.   If we truly are concerned about what is going on in the world today, then it must be real to us that God wants salvation for all mankind. We are not here to be caught up in the hostility of this age that pits one nation or people or individual against another. We must be those who stand in the presence of the Father and contend with Him, by the sacrifice of His Son for all the world, that everyone in this age will be reconciled to Him. If we are Christians, then we have become His royal priesthood. We have become His priests with the ministry of reconciliation for the nations.   Key Verses:   •       Exodus 19:5–6. "You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." •       Revelation 1:4–6. "He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father." •       Revelation 5:9–10. "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God." •       Romans 11:17. "You … were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree." •       Genesis 12:3. "In you all the families of the earth will be blessed." •       2 Corinthians 5:18–20. "God … reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." •       1 Timothy 2:1–6. "God our Savior … desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." •       2 Peter 3:9. "The Lord is … patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." •       Isaiah 60:10–12. "Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you." •       John 3:15–17. "God did not send the Son … to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."   Quotes:   •       "There's a fulfillment of the promise to Abraham in that all the nations now are being included. And you know what? God has made you also, like Israel, to be a kingdom and priests unto God." •       "The purpose of the Church is that it become the priesthood of God ministering in the earth." •       "For people to die in judgment means that they became part of satan's kingdom. I don't like that. I don't want him to have anybody in his kingdom. I want all to come to the understanding and the knowledge of the salvation that the Father has given us through His Son."   Takeaways:   1.    Our personal salvation is not an end in itself. It is what enables us to stand in His presence so that we can function as His priests. 2.    We have been reconciled to God in order to enter His Kingdom as the priests who will minister His reconciliation to all the nations. 3.    Let us contend with God that He exercise His true heart for the world that all people come to Him, be saved, and be part of His Kingdom.

Holiness Is Essential for Christian Living By Dave Jenkins Holiness is not a way for Christians to earn God's acceptance. It is the fruit of belonging to Christ and being transformed by His grace. In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins explains why holiness is essential for Christian living, what it means to be set apart for God, and why the pursuit of holiness flows from salvation rather than leading to salvation. Many Christians hear the word holiness and immediately think about rules, restrictions, or a list of things they should avoid. Scripture presents holiness much differently. God calls His people to reflect His character, grow in Christlikeness, and pursue faithful obedience through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Listen or Watch   Holiness Flows From Salvation First Peter 1:15–16 says: “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” Peter does not tell Christians to pursue holiness so that God will accept them. Instead, believers pursue holiness because God has already called and saved them. Christians are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, but the same grace that saves also transforms. Holiness is therefore not the basis of salvation. It is the fruit of genuine conversion and part of God's work of conforming His people to the image of His Son. What Biblical Holiness Means At its heart, holiness means being set apart for God. God Himself is perfectly holy, completely separate from sin, and morally perfect in every way. Because Christians belong to Him, they are called to live lives that increasingly reflect His character. This does not mean Christians attain sinless perfection in this life. Rather, holiness describes the direction of the Christian life as believers grow in obedience, repentance, and likeness to Christ. Holiness Is Not Legalism Biblical holiness and legalism are not the same thing. Legalism attempts to earn God's favor through human effort. Biblical holiness flows from God's favor already given through Jesus Christ. Grace does not remove the need for holiness. Grace produces holiness. The gospel not only forgives sinners but also transforms them. Hebrews 12:14 calls Christians to “strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Romans 12:1–2 calls believers to present themselves as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Second Corinthians 7:1 likewise urges Christians to pursue holiness in the fear of God. How Christians Pursue Holiness Christians pursue holiness by remaining rooted in the gospel and dependent upon the grace of God. Begin with the gospel. No one can grow in true holiness apart from Jesus Christ. Spend consistent time in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to shape, renew, and transform believers. Practice daily repentance. Growth in holiness does not mean never sinning. It means continually turning away from sin and toward Christ. Pursue faithful obedience. God uses ordinary, ongoing obedience as an important means of sanctification. Holiness Is Rooted in Union With Christ Ultimately, holiness is rooted in the believer's union with Jesus Christ. Jesus lived the perfectly holy life sinners could never live, died for their sins, and rose again to secure their salvation. Those who are united to Christ by faith are not only forgiven. They are also being transformed. The same Savior who justifies His people is also sanctifying them. Holiness is not the way Christians earn God's acceptance. It is evidence that they belong to Him. Listen to More Anchored in the Word Anchored in the Word is a weekly segment of the Servants of Grace podcast devoted to helping Christians stay rooted in Scripture, grow in sound doctrine, and live faithfully before Christ. Explore Anchored in the Word Listen to More Episodes

Join us for a continued discussion on the hope and freedom we have in Jesus.We will also have a roundtable discussion on the Bible, world events that may pertain to bible prophecy and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.-1 Thessalonians 1:10UpTime Community is a webcast that covers teachings and unique perspectives on end time events.Sign-up for updates and extra content that won't be posted on this channel: https://forms.gle/vQTPMs3kCt5X5Za88As a thank you for listening to this episode, if you register for The Gathering conference and use the promo code UPTIME26, you'll receive 20% off your registration for a limited time. The Gathering conference is this September 21st thru the 23rd in North East, Maryland. https://feedmysheeptodayarmy.org/gatheringUnsure about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Go HERE: https://www.gotquestions.org/eternal-life.html

August 12 2026 Wednesday  Who Jesus Made You To Be / Week 39 Believe #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word.  That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. My Prayers For The World Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT  'Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT 'When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Youar roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.' Matthew 11:28  Find Rest In Jesus Christ Your Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return…  Psalm 37:4  God will give you the desires of your heart… The Galations, having launched their Christian experience by faith, seem content to leave their voyage of faith and chart a new course based on works—a course Paul finds disturbing.  His letter to the Galations is a vigorous attack against the gospel of works and a defense of the gospel of faith.   Paul begins by setting forth his credentials as an apostle with a message from God:  blessing comes from God on the basis of faith, not law.  The law declares men guilty and imprisons them; faith sets men free to enjoy liberty in Christ.  But liberty is not license.  Freedom in Christ means freedom to produce the fruits of righteousness through a Spirit-led lifesty 1 John 5:1 Romans 10:9-10  Salvation… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You… Romans 13:8  Live in God's Love… Romans 8:16-17  Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Revelation 1:6  We are kings and priest in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Romans 10:13  Call On The Name Of Jesus And Make Him Lord today… The Biblical Definition Of Grace Is God's Unmerited Favor… Matthew 18:19-20  I will agree with you about your prayer request… Acts 10:34  God is not a respecter of persons. He loves and cares for us all the same… Romans 12:3  God has given us His Faith… Biblical Hope Is A Confident Expectation… Romans 5:5  God has given us His Love… 2 Corinthians 5:17  We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21  We are the Righteousness of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… God's Word Is True Above All Opinions…  Romans 12:2  Renew your mind to what God's Word says… Believe God's Word Above All Opinion… Philippians 4:13  We can do all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Philippians 4:19  God will provide all your needs… Romans 10:17  Faith In God comes from hearing God's Word… Isaiah 54:17 No weapon will prosper against me… 1 John 4:4  Greater is He In All Of Us… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You…  John 3:3  You Must Be Born Again… Luke 15:10  Heaven Rejoices Over One Person That Repents And Is Born Again… John 3:16  Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ Your Lord And Savior… 1 Peter 2:24  Healing… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Luke 6:38  Give and it will be given unto you… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media Website https://the-prodigalson.com What God's Word Can Do In Your Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJWTZG_x2vE&t=3s Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com YouVersion Bible App  https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 …  Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical  Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured

When God's People Hurt YouPsalm 55:12-14 "Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, or else I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man like me, my close friend, in whom I confided. 14. We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God's temple we would walk together among the crowd."Some of the deepest wounds people carry were not caused by strangers—they were caused by people they trusted.Join Life's Word Academy: https://tinyurl.com/lifeswordacademyAccept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Eric Metaxas talks to John Zmirak. White Guilt, Mass Immigration, Crisis in Europe, Zero Immigration for 40 Years, Oxford Union Debate on Islam, Iran, Midterms.   The Eric Metaxas Show For this interview visit-    https://podcastaddict.com/the-eric-metaxas-show/episode/229957210   For the entire Eric Metaxas podcast visit-    https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/the-eric-metaxas-show/6590964  Aug 07 2026   Today On The Eric Metaxas Show, John Zmirak joins Eric to discuss mass immigration, Islam, Western self-rejection, the viral Oxford Union debate, the coming midterm elections, and why he believes America should consider a decades-long pause on immigration.   ORDER NOW:Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World

Yesterday we studied the Parable of the Treasure. Now, Jesus continues his teaching with another similar story tied to it. They go together, so let’s read them together. Matthew 13: 44-45, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it.” Remember yesterday was all about a man who discovered hidden treasure in a field. He just found it there – stumbled upon it. But now in this story of the pearl, we have a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. A merchant is on a mission to find something specific. He is trained, he is experienced, and he knows exactly what he is looking for. One wasn’t looking and found hidden treasure. One was searching intentionally and discovered a pearl of great value. And isn’t it the same with finding Jesus. Some of us just stumbled right into Jesus when we weren’t even looking for him – while others of us found him after searching through every other religion, every other way of life and then we finally found Jesus. Which one is right? BOTH because they both result in the same life changing encounter. I didn’t go searching for Jesus. I had a beautiful childhood and lived in a sweet little bubble. At 15 my family started going to church and I was happy to go because in my tiny country town there wasn’t much else to do. I wasn’t expecting to meet a Savior, I didn’t even know I needed one – but there he was, so sweetly awaiting our encounter. It wasn’t dramatic. I didn’t have a bunch of bad decisions and regrets to lay on the altar. I just knew there was a prompting from within calling my surrender to his divine guidance. I was the one who stumbled on hidden treasure in a field when I wasn’t even looking for it. That’s the kingdom of heaven. Then there’s my friend Cat. In her 30’s she had walked down a path of addiction that had led her to a crashing end. While in rehab trying to get sober and regain her life, she was introduced to a variety of “higher powers” for the choosing. She began studying and trying them. Buddhism was surely it, so she tried it – but felt nothing. So on to the next one. How about Hinduism. No, that wasn’t it. She left rehab now sober, but still searching. On the way out, her counselor handed her her own personal copy of ‘Jesus Calling’ and said, “At some point you’re going to need this.” Cat tucked that little devotional book away in a closet and returned to life. It was a better life sober, but not a whole life. When the next big family catastrophe hit, she knew she needed something to carry her through and not return to the familiarity of her addiction, and she remembered the words of the counselor at rehab who had said, “At some point, you’re going to need this.” And Cat knew – if there was ever a time I need something, it’s now. So, she found that book, ‘Jesus Calling’ in the closet, she opened the page to that day’s date, and there she found every single word she most needed. But more than words, she found the loving, forgiving, life-changing Savior she had been searching for all along. AND SHE KNEW IT. She knew this was THE ONE. Jesus was the pearl of greatest value and nothing would ever be the same for her. Cat was the one who had been searching for years and finally found her pearl. That’s the kingdom of heaven. Isn’t it amazing that we have BOTH? Both a Savior who will pursue us when we aren’t even pursuing him – AND a Savior who will patiently wait as we pursue everything that isn’t him and perfectly align an encounter with him when everything else has failed? Jesus doesn’t fit in our little box. It doesn’t have to be one way. He is THE WAY, and he will make the way to you in whatever way that needs to be. He’s the hidden treasure you stumble upon without even looking – and he’s the pearl of great value you’ve studied and searched for your entire life. But remember this – either way, he’s worth giving up EVERYTHING for. In both parables, when found, everything else was sold. Remember that. Jesus requires everything. He’s worth everything. He’s greater than everything. For my sisters who are more like me without the dramatic story of searching for Jesus, and more just stumbling upon him when you weren’t even looking, remember you’ve found the greatest treasure of all! And for my sisters who have searched their entire lives, here’s Jesus and he’s everything you’ve been looking for! He is your pearl! And really think about Jesus being our pearl. How wild that he would use that as the example in his teaching. Do you know how a pearl is formed? A pearl begins with an irritation. If an oyster never has an irritation, they simply never have a pearl. But if their little world inside their shell is penetrated by the irritation of a grain of sand, then that irritation creates something that becomes valuable. The irritation of sand inside the shell causes the oyster to respond. Their response covers the sand with layers of naturally produced protection from within. Layer after layer, something beautiful is formed around something that originally caused great pain. Think about that – the very thing that irritated the oyster becomes part of what makes the pearl so valuable. Of course that’s why Jesus uses the pearl as an example – he knows this is how God works sometimes! Something you never asked for gets into your life. A disappointment, a betrayal, a loss, a failure, a terrible season, an series of bad decisions that turned into an addiction. Irritation grows. It gets worse. You’re so uncomfortable. But God is growing something within you. Something of great value. This is where Jesus shows up!!!!!!! Don’t you see how God can use what was so painful to produce something so beautiful in your life? He wastes nothing. The oyster doesn’t wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll make a pearl today.” It simply responds to what has entered its life. And slowly, layer by layer, something extraordinary develops. Maybe that’s what God has been doing in you. You thought you were just surviving. God was forming you. You thought you were just getting through another hard season. God was adding another layer. You thought you were being delayed. God was developing depth. You thought the pain was ruining your story. God was making something beautiful from it. And then you find your pearl. You find your Jesus, that is what you’ve been searching for all along. And what do you do when you find that pearl – You don’t just keep looking for something else. You don’t keep trying other things. NO. You know this is what you’ve been looking for all your life. This is your answer. Here he is. And you give up everything else because you know there’s absolutely NOTHING better! What if some of the things you’ve spent your life chasing were never the pearl? But Jesus says, “You found it.” The Kingdom is the pearl. Jesus is the pearl. And when you finally understand His worth, you realize, I don’t have to spend the rest of my life searching. I’ve found what my heart was looking for. Jesus is worth everything. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Visit www.joniradio.org for more inspiration and encouragement! --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

There are moments when delight in God arrives quietly. No plan. No formula. No spiritual checklist. Just a family gathered in a living room, singing old hymns and remembering the faithfulness of God across generations.In this conversation, Ros Evans and Stephanie Rousselle explore the surprising ways delight awakens in everyday life. Beginning with a spontaneous evening of singing hymns with her parents, Ros reflects on how delight often emerges when truth has taken root deep within us. The conversation moves from cherished memories to a rich discussion about theology, worship, and why knowing God matters so profoundly.Drawing from John 15, they unpack Jesus' invitation to abide. Delight is not something we manufacture through effort. It grows naturally from relationship. As we spend time with Christ, we discover that abiding is both a gift and an invitation.Along the way, Roz shares a vivid story about an unforgettable fragrance—a scent so beautiful it inspired an intentional search. The image becomes a powerful picture of the gospel: once you have truly encountered its beauty, everything else is measured against it.The conversation also explores the painful reality of pruning. A loving Gardener removes dead branches, but he also trims living ones so that greater fruit can come. Seasons of loss, confusion, and change may feel painful, yet they often reveal the attentive care of God shaping us for eternity.Through stories of hymns, gardens, horses, friendship, and faith, one message rises above all the others: delight in God is not another burden to carry. It is an invitation to receive. As our eyes remain fixed on Jesus, delight becomes less of a destination and more of a natural response to the goodness of the One who loves us.MORE ABOUT "AWAKEN DELIGHT" BY STEPHANIE ROUSSELLE"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This is God's promise to you in Psalm 37:4. But many believers quietly assume it's just a poetic suggestion, or it doesn't really work here on earth.In Awaken Delight, Stephanie Rousselle invites you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God. It's not emotional hype or religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is.Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you'll learn how delighting in Godreshapes sufferingquiets restless strivinganchors your identity in God's unshakable delight of youLearning to delight in God is the quiet revolution that reshapes how we endure pain, love others, and understand our own hearts.Awaken Delight is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued and are ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.More at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelightDISCOVER THE BOOK BEHIND THE PODCAST | "Awaken Delight" by Stephanie Rousselle"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 isn't a poetic suggestion — it's a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn't really work, or it's not really possible here on earth.In Awaken Delight, Stephanie Rousselle invites you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight — not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is.Delight in God isn't a mood to manufacture; it's a relationship to receive.Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you'll learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable.Delighting in God isn't sentimental optimism. It's deeply rooted in Christ, Jesus.It's the quiet revolution that reshapes how we endure pain, love others, and understand our own heart.Awaken Delight is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued and are ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.More at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Purchase the book, "Awaken Delight" by Stephanie Rousselle: https://a.co/d/0bqhUb5JKind words from Jennifer Rothschild, Bible teacher, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, Founder, Fresh Grounded Faith: “Stephanie helps us awaken to and experience true delight. It is a rich mix of God's delight in you and your delight in him. This is the life you were made for, the life your soul deeply longs for. So, the table is set. Pull up a chair and let your heart sit alongside Stephanie. As your delight in God wakes up and becomes fully realized, you'll find a satisfaction in Christ that makes you want more and more.”Kind words from Amanda Jenkins, Lead creator of THE CHOSEN's literary content: "I have yet to meet another person quite as eager to intimately know Jesus as Stephanie is. Her enthusiasm for the beauty found inside a thriving relationship with her Savior is downright contagious. Indeed, Stephanie's joy and faith and commitment to growth—along with her love for really good food!—will implant themselves in the hearts of readers. Lucky readers."Kind words from Os Guinness, Theologian, Social critic, Author, The Call:  "Stephanie addresses one of the greatest needs of Christians today. Knowing God is not knowing about God, but knowing Him genuinely and with desire and delight. She does so practically and helpfully, and in a style that sparkles with a verve and joy that is distinctively French."Kind words from Pippa Gumbel, Pioneer, The Alpha Course; Author, The Bible in one year with husband Nicky: "Stephanie's love of God is inspiring and infectious. Her book is an invitation to share in that delight and to come to know God in new and wonderful ways."More at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Purchase the book, "Awaken Delight" by Stephanie Rousselle: https://a.co/d/0bqhUb5JSupport us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

There are some things in our lives we simply cannot fix. But that doesn't stop us from trying. We grip tighter. We work harder. We run every scenario through our heads. We tell ourselves, “If I can just figure this out, I can make it okay.” But eventually, we have to face the truth: we were never in control to begin with. This week, Victor and I continue our Power Made Perfect series with the next step in the process of restoration: surrender. Vulnerability required the mask to die. Humility required our pride and self-sufficiency to die. Now surrender requires something else to die: Control. Last week, humility brought us to the place where we could finally admit, “I can't save myself.” But admitting we need a Savior and actually letting Him save us are two very different things. In this episode, we talk about:

Romans 10 makes the invitation of the gospel unmistakably clear: whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Salvation is not limited by race, background, culture, or status, but is offered freely to everyone who believes. This episode celebrates the unlimited reach of God's grace and reminds us that Jesus is both Savior and Lord.

Send Us Your Questions/CommentsIf you've ever thought, “I don't even know what to do next,” you're closer to wisdom than you think. We take Proverbs 4 seriously as a blueprint for Christian living, starting with Solomon's backstory: a young, inexperienced leader who asked God for wisdom instead of pretending he already had it. That single decision ripples through the whole book of Proverbs and it can reshape how we make decisions today. We also push back on a loud message in our culture: “Look inside yourself and you'll find the path.” Proverbs tells a different story. Wisdom is something we receive from the Lord, and James 1:5 makes it plain that God gives wisdom generously when we ask in faith. We talk about why Jesus is not only our Savior for the past and our hope for the future, but the wisdom we need for everyday pressure right now, through the help of the Holy Spirit. From there, Proverbs 4 breaks into three big movements that we apply to real life: do whatever it takes to acquire wisdom, do whatever it takes to avoid wickedness, and do whatever it takes to attend your way by guarding your heart with vigilance. We get practical about discipleship and parenting, the tone of a loving father's instruction, and why dabbling with sin never stays small. If you want to walk with clarity, protect your heart, and stay focused on the narrow path that leads to life, this conversation will meet you where you are. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs direction, and leave a review so more people can find these Proverbs conversations. What decision are you asking God for wisdom about this week?New episodes every Mondaywww.lifehousemot.cominfo@lifehousede.comJoin us Sundays at 9 & 11 AMIntro music by Joey Blair

When we come to know Jesus as Savior, the Holy Spirit begins a transforming work in us. The change is complete, but learning to believe and live in the truth of who we are in Christ can take time. My guest, Jason Castleberry, experienced this transformation firsthand. After military service left him carrying deep shame, PTSD, depression, and regret, Jason could have remained trapped in isolation and despair. Instead, God pursued him, rescued him, and began bringing him back to life. In this second episode, Jason shares the dramatic difference Jesus has made in his life. The heaviness and despair that once defined his days gave way to hope, joy, purpose, and freedom. His own healing awakened a desire to tell others what Jesus can do when life feels impossibly dark, eventually leading him into pastoral ministry. Jason's story is a powerful picture of Colossians 1:13 and a reminder that God can rescue us from darkness and bring us into the freedom and hope found in Christ. Connect with Jason:  https://www.facebook.com/jason.castleberry.2025/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-castleberry-96b80394/ https://x.com/Pbcpastor24 To connect with Jason through his church: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567179489505 https://www.instagram.com/fbcplevna/ https://www.tiktok.com/@fbc.plevna   To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

Is it wrong to judge others? Jesus said, “Judge not that you be not judged” (Mt. 7:1). Did the Savior mean we should never offer an opinion challenging the doctrine or lifestyle choices of someone else? Or is the correct interpretation much different? You may be surprised at the answers.Comparative religion website: www.thetruelight.netMinistry website: www.shreveministries.orgThe Catholic Project: www.toCatholicswithlove.orgPurchase Mike Shreve's popular book comparing over 20 religions:In Search of the True Light Mike Shreve's other podcast:Discover Your Spiritual Identity—a study on the biblical names given to God's people https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/discoveryourspiritualidentityAll video podcasts are posted on YouTube.Publishing House: Deeper Revelation Books, www.deeperrevelationbooks.orgMail: P.O. Box 4260, Cleveland, TN 37320 / Phone: 423-478-2843

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260811dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:29-33 Why Do You Doubt? Have you ever been worried about something and doubted that it would be ok? But then you get through it, and you wonder “why did I doubt?” The answer is simple: because you didn’t know the outcome. You didn’t have hindsight to know it would all work out. Jesus asked Peter that simple question after he rescued him from the stormy waters. Why do you doubt? The answer was simple: because Peter took his eyes off Jesus. When you take your eyes of faith off Jesus and you look to your own abilities or only see the storms of life instead of the power and promise of Jesus, doubts surge. It can seem like we can’t keep our heads above water. It can seem like we are drowning. If we stop looking to Jesus as the answer to life’s biggest problem, which is sin, we truly are in over our heads with no way to bail out. But Jesus came to the rescue. He saved us from drowning in our sins and doubts, and he preserves our lives so that neither doubt nor death overtakes us. After Jesus rescued Peter, he got in the boat with Peter. Jesus doesn’t leave us alone to be tossed around by chance. He remains with us to bring a steady calm to a turbulent life. He keeps us afloat with his love and promise. There’s no need to doubt. Even when you can’t see him physically, Jesus strolls across the storms of life. Jesus gives us the foresight to know that in all things, he is with us, keeping us afloat by his grace. He gives us the faith that triumphs over doubt and the foresight to know that one day we will be with him in heaven. Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive my doubts, calm my fears, and uplift me by your grace. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. "Disciple" is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word "Christian" is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but "disciples" is Jesus' favorite word to describe His followers.   Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."   The other 2 uses of Christian: Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.   The New Testament word appears to be invented by the opposition, a derisive term patterned after the names of Roman political parties; Example those following Herod = Herodians, or followers of Pompe = Pompeians.   Christian = Christ followers. Or "Christ-ers."   Followers of Jesus accepted and reveled in the name.  In the writings of non-Christian people we see them embracing that term. "And the tribe of the Christians so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared." - Josephus, Antiquities, Book 18 (ca. 93A.D.)    Another example from an adamant unbeliever: "Consequently, to get rid of the reports, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilat…" Tacitus, The Annals, Book 15 (ca.118 A.D.)   Christian is all about the Messiah, the Christ of God, the Lord Jesus our Savior and the world's Savior.  It's also about our mission to bring others to Christ where there is healing, forgiveness, and hope of eternal life.     We are called to bear His Name with joy, confidence and power!!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos     Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Often Sunday nights are my least favorite time of the week. Though I enjoy my work, Monday morning means rising early to face a demanding new workweek. At times, however, those feelings of reluctance about the coming week remind me of the promise of the eternal Sabbath.In the context of our Bible reading for today, Jesus rebukes the Jewish religious leaders for taking a legalistic approach to daily living. They were critical of the way Jesus and his followers observed the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14), and those leaders thought they had all the answers about following the law and getting right with God.But it's impossible for any of us to get right with God by trying to follow the law perfectly, and Jesus knew that. So he invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him, because he alone will give us true rest.Couched in Jesus' invitation is his declaration that he is the only Savior. Only he has the power to give his followers rest from sin and from fruitless striving to please God. In short, Jesus himself is our true Sabbath. He promises us peace with God—true, lasting peace —and this is available for us now, wherever we are.Though it may seem as if we are forever facing challenges, we can count on Jesus to be our forever Sabbath. We can look forward to resting in God's presence with all of his children eternally. Freed from pain, sorrow, and fear of death, we can worship God and enjoy him forever in Christ.  Lord Jesus, Savior of all who come to you, help us to find our rest in you, now and always. Amen.

What does Christian unity actually look like? In John 17, Jesus doesn't simply pray that his followers will agree or get along. He prays that they will become one in a way that allows the world to see God through them. In this sermon, Justin explores the difference between a community built around people who already think, vote, live, and believe alike, and the much more interesting community Jesus imagines: people with different stories, backgrounds, convictions, and experiences who choose to share a table, serve one another, forgive each other, and refuse to walk away. In a world that is remarkably good at uniting people around common enemies, Jesus invites us to become a people united around a common Savior. Through ordinary acts of hospitality, reconciliation, generosity, and love, the church can become the answer to Jesus' prayer: a community where people encounter us and catch a glimpse of God.

Date: August 9, 2026Scripture: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18Preaching: Tom JamesonSeries: From Genesis to JesusFind notes or a transcript of this sermon on our blog: https://www.covenantepc.org/blog/from-genesis-to-jesus-unveiling-the-heart-of-god/

Send us Fan MailAn earthquake-prone city. A small, pressured church. A Savior who introduces himself with absolute clarity: holy, true, and holding the key that decides access. We spend our time in Revelation 3:7–13, looking at the Church of Philadelphia and why Jesus has nothing negative to say about them, even while calling them a people of “little strength.” That detail changes everything, because it reframes faithfulness as endurance, not visibility.We also dig into the “key of David” by tracing it back to Isaiah 22 and the royal authority to open and shut. That thread pulls the whole passage together: Christ governs entry into the kingdom of God, the progress of the gospel, and the finality of judgment. No empire, synagogue, persecution, or human will gets the last word over a door Christ opens, and no amount of human effort can pry open a door he has shut. If you've ever needed steadiness when the world feels loud, this is that kind of text.Then we land on one of the most comforting lines for discouraged believers: “I know your works.” We talk honestly about how easy it is to measure ministry by results or recognition, and why Jesus redirects our hearts back to serving him, not people. If you want a Bible study that blends historical context, Christ-centered interpretation, and practical encouragement, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find it.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

IntroductionStephen's trial draws to a conclusion. We are confronted with the hardship of living in a sin-cursed world. Stephen is doing everything right. He is faithful to the Lord. He speaks the truth. He boldly proclaims Christ. The apostles' faithfulness has been rewarded with thousands of converts. One would think that this is going to be the trend. Stephen tells us otherwise. Stephen is faithful, and his reward is rejection, being dragged outside the city, and killed.We are moved to a question: What do we do with a gospel like this? We might second-guess and ask, should Stephen have backed off? Should he have softened his message? Should he have simply swept Christ under the carpet so that he could preserve his life?This narrative forces us to question: Is Jesus really essential to the Christian life, or is he something we can make optional when following him becomes difficult? We see in Acts 7 that Christ is not optional. We need Christ because our own righteousness will never be enough. And what we discover in Stephen's death is that earthly suffering does not mean Christ has abandoned his people. In fact, Christ is standing in heaven. He is not taking a passive stance, but an active stance in advancing his gospel despite this setback.The Contrasted Perspectives: Stephen and the MobThe first thing we see is the contrast between Stephen and the crowd. Stephen has just laid out the history of God's covenant interaction with Israel. His summary is that God is faithful and his people have been unfaithful. The crowd is furious. They are shouting, grinding their teeth, covering their ears, and eventually rushing him as a group. Stephen has called them "uncircumcised in heart and ears." The crowd only confirms his indictment. They cover their ears, they refuse to listen, and they refuse to evaluate their own history. They are physically demonstrating fruits that prove Stephen's accusation. They have decided that they know the truth, they know their theology, they know their system, and they are not going to listen to anything that challenges it. We are reminded to be careful when we are so certain.How do we know when to be certain and when to repent? The real issue is Christ. Stephen is not saying that Moses was unimportant or that God's covenant dealings with Israel were meaningless. He is showing that all of these things were pointing beyond themselves to Christ. The law reveals the holiness of God, and it exposes our inability to meet that holiness by our own efforts. The administration given through Moses points us toward the greater reality that comes in Jesus Christ. If we think we can stand before God on the basis of our own accomplishments, we will end up aligned with the crowd. We need Christ. Christ is not optional. We need to take his yoke upon us because there is no other way to life. He is the proper successor to Moses.The ultimate contrast is that as the crowd accuses Stephen, he receives vindication. Luke tells us, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looks up and sees heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. The very Christ whom they rejected, the Christ whom they killed, is standing in glory. Stephen sees the risen and vindicated messiah advocating on his behalf.A Contradictory Profession of FaithThis leads us to the second thing we see: Stephen's profession of faith stands in direct contradiction to the profession of the mob. Political wisdom might have told Stephen to keep his mouth shut. Sometimes silence is golden. They are already angry, and Stephen has every reason to know that saying more is not going to make things better. But Stephen is overwhelmed by the Spirit, and he says, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."Stephen's testimony is very important. Stephen is identifying Jesus as the Son of Man, the Messiah, the one Daniel 7 points us toward. The very man whom they had rejected and killed is now standing in the glory of heaven. And notice that Christ is standing. Normally we think of Christ seated at the right hand of God (Psalm 110), enthroned in glory. But here he stands. The picture is not of a passive Savior who has gone to heaven and simply watches what happens to his people. Christ is active. He is ruling. He sees Stephen. He knows what is happening. Stephen may look abandoned from an earthly perspective, but heaven tells us that Christ is active in his rule.The crowd thinks they are judging Stephen, but Stephen has already been vindicated by Christ. They want to put down a dangerous heretic, but Stephen bears witness to the reality that they did kill the messiah. This communicates the complexity of a fallen world. We might think that our current circumstances mean we are bearing the weight of our sin. However, we might be part of the bigger picture. We need to see that our hope is not found in our circumstances, our reputation, or our earthly success. Our hope is found in the risen Christ who stands at the right hand of God. We might not always understand why history unravels the way it does, but we know that Christ is standing as our shepherd-king.The Contrasted VictoriesThe world will view Stephen's death as an absolute failure. Stephen is dragged outside the city and executed. The crowd gets what it wants. The Sanhedrin does not stop them. A man who faithfully preached Christ is dead. If we were simply looking at the circumstances, we might ask, "Where is the victory?"But Luke is showing us something much bigger. Stephen's death identifies him with Christ. Stephen is now experiencing exactly what Christ said would happen. He is cast outside the city, just as Christ was rejected and cast out (Luke 4:29). And even in his death, Stephen echoes the posture of his Savior. He asks the Lord not to hold this sin against them, and he entrusts his spirit to Christ (Acts 7:59-60; cf. Luke 23:34, 46). There is no bitterness here. There is confidence. Stephen knows that death does not have the final word. He is passing from this life into the presence of the Lord who is standing at the right hand of God.And then Luke gives us another remarkable detail: Saul is there. Stephen's outer garment is laid at Saul's feet. This tells us that Saul has authority and could stop it. He might not give the order, but he approves of this execution. This is the man who goes to ravage the church.The Lord's victory still shines through. The persecution drives the gospel to Samaria. Saul will become one of the most aggressive missionaries in the early church. Ironically, this man will have a passion to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. We see that Christ is still ruling in the midst of what appears to be a setback.That is the irony of the Christian life. The Lord does not promise that faithfulness will always produce earthly comfort. Sometimes obedience hurts. Sometimes faithfulness costs us something. Sometimes the church appears to be losing. But Christ is not passive. He is standing and ruling over history. The gospel advances despite what appears to be a huge setback.ConclusionShould Stephen have watered down Christ's significance? Should he have made Christ less central? Should he have treated Jesus as something optional?No. Because Christ is Lord. Stephen sees him standing in heaven. And that is what gives Stephen confidence in the middle of suffering. The world may say that Stephen is the loser, that he was a fool for being so committed to Christ, that he should have kept his mouth shut. But Stephen knows something the mob does not know. His life is not ultimately defined by what happens to him in this age. His life is defined by Jesus Christ, and his certainty is guaranteed in Christ.And that is our hope as well. We live in a sinful world, and God's redemptive purposes often work themselves out in ways that are not pretty or comfortable. But Christ is not passive. He is standing in the glory of heaven. He is ruling, defending, protecting, and advancing his church. And even when we cannot see how he is doing it, Christ is still at work.Stephen's confidence was not in Stephen. It was in Christ. His hope was not that this life would turn out in victory. His hope was that Christ would shepherd him through this life and into the life to come. And so when we find ourselves facing suffering, opposition, disappointment, or things that simply do not make sense, we remember where our hope is. It is not in ourselves. It is in Jesus Christ. We are assured that taking the yoke of Christ is not tyranny. It is life. And because Christ has made us his own, we can press forward with confidence in his power.Our life is found in Christ. Therefore, let us press forward, trusting him, even when faithfulness is costly, because Christ Jesus has made us his own.

August 11 2026 Tuesday Who Jesus Made You To Be / Week 39 Jesus Is The Son Of God #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word.  That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. My Prayers For The World Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT  'Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT 'When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Youar roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.' Matthew 11:28  Find Rest In Jesus Christ Your Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return…  Psalm 37:4  God will give you the desires of your heart… The Galations, having launched their Christian experience by faith, seem content to leave their voyage of faith and chart a new course based on works—a course Paul finds disturbing.  His letter to the Galations is a vigorous attack against the gospel of works and a defense of the gospel of faith.   Paul begins by setting forth his credentials as an apostle with a message from God:  blessing comes from God on the basis of faith, not law.  The law declares men guilty and imprisons them; faith sets men free to enjoy liberty in Christ.  But liberty is not license.  Freedom in Christ means freedom to produce the fruits of righteousness through a Spirit-led lifesty 1 John 4:15 Romans 10:9-10  Salvation… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You… Romans 13:8  Live in God's Love… Romans 8:16-17  Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Revelation 1:6  We are kings and priest in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Romans 10:13  Call On The Name Of Jesus And Make Him Lord today… The Biblical Definition Of Grace Is God's Unmerited Favor… Matthew 18:19-20  I will agree with you about your prayer request… Acts 10:34  God is not a respecter of persons. He loves and cares for us all the same… Romans 12:3  God has given us His Faith… Biblical Hope Is A Confident Expectation… Romans 5:5  God has given us His Love… 2 Corinthians 5:17  We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21  We are the Righteousness of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… God's Word Is True Above All Opinions…  Romans 12:2  Renew your mind to what God's Word says… Believe God's Word Above All Opinion… Philippians 4:13  We can do all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Philippians 4:19  God will provide all your needs… Romans 10:17  Faith In God comes from hearing God's Word… Isaiah 54:17 No weapon will prosper against me… 1 John 4:4  Greater is He In All Of Us… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You…  John 3:3  You Must Be Born Again… Luke 15:10  Heaven Rejoices Over One Person That Repents And Is Born Again… John 3:16  Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ Your Lord And Savior… 1 Peter 2:24  Healing… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Luke 6:38  Give and it will be given unto you… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media Website https://the-prodigalson.com What God's Word Can Do In Your Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJWTZG_x2vE&t=3s Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com YouVersion Bible App  https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 …  Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical  Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured

Satan is real. Spiritual warfare is real. But Christians are not fighting a battle whose outcome is uncertain. Christ has already won.In this episode of Take Heart, Cory Wing examines what Scripture actually teaches about spiritual warfare, angels, demons, Satan, and the armor of God. Looking at Job, Elisha, Ephesians 6, prayer, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Cory explains why Christians fight from victory—not for victory.The enemy is real, but he is not God's equal. Christ has conquered, the Spirit dwells within His people, and Christians can stand firm, resist the devil, and persevere with confidence in their victorious Savior.

Check out Joni and her planters here! --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

EPISODE DETAILS:When we accept Jesus as Savior, we suddenly think that everything will just come together. Jesus has overcome the world, and He gives us Peace. As we learn, life still gives us struggles and hardships. How do we handle this? What are we to expect in this world with Jesus?Bible Verse(s): John 16:25-33; John 14:25-27; 28-31; 1 John 2:15-17-------------------------------Top 100 list at Feedspot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/christian_men_podcasts/E: warriorwithin.christianmanhood@gmail.comDiscord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/4xsBcaJFFv⁠⁠⁠⁠Store: https://wwcm-podcast.printify.me/productsPayPal DONATIONS: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=KC3DTP8HM7DAEYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WarriorWithinMinistriesStudios-----------------------------------------------------Affiliated with Talitha Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://talitha.com/pastordido⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----------------------------------------------------Track: Jim Yosef - Samurai [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.Watch:Free Download / Stream:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://NCS.io/Samurai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you want to have a philosophical discussion about the subject of grandchildren, sorry - I'm busy. But if you want to talk about my grandson or my granddaughter, well I've got all the time in the world. I hope you do. See, if you want to discuss the institution of marriage, say goodnight. If you listen to this broadcast very much, you've heard a lot about the woman that I loved over the years very much. You know my Karen. You want to talk about that relationship, that would be my wife, be glad to talk to you for a long time about that. No-brainer! It's the difference between the institution and the person! I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Missing Person." You can know all about children and not have a son or daughter. You can know all about marriage and not have a husband or wife. You can know all about children, you can know all about marriage, and you can know all about church, all about Christianity and not have Christ. It's that great danger that's behind our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 13:5. These words are actually written to church people. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" God says it's important to not assume that you have Jesus just because you're in His "club," because you could even be a charter member of His "club," or maybe you're an officer or a leader in His "club." The question isn't, "Am I in Christ's group?" It's "Is Christ Jesus in me?" 1 John 5:11-12 couldn't make it more clear-cut: "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." That's eternal life; whether or not you're going to heaven. And it comes down to one thing and one thing alone - do you "have the Son of God"? The answer depends on whether or not there has ever been a time when you, in essence, stood at Jesus' cross and said two words, "for me," whether or not there has been a time when you made a conscious commitment of you to Jesus; putting all your trust in Him to forgive your sin and to take you to heaven when you die. If you did that, you know you did. If you don't know you did, you probably didn't. Some of the most surprised people in hell are going to be people who believed all the Jesus-beliefs, went to all the Jesus-meetings, impressed all the Jesus-people, and tried to do a lot of Jesus-things. But somehow, they missed Jesus in all of it. Like a person who knows about marriage, who's been to many weddings, who thinks marriage is a great idea, but isn't married. There are a lot of church folks who have the system but they don't have the Savior. Maybe you. The reason all you've learned and done about Jesus leaves you feeling so hollow and incomplete may be because your heart is still missing Jesus. But it doesn't have to be that way for one more day. No, He's come knocking at the door of your heart one more time. The hardest part for you could be just finally admitting that after all this, Jesus is still not in your heart. But that one step will finally free you to finally know Christ for real. So if you're ready to move from the religion to the relationship, will you tell Jesus that right now? "Jesus, I don't want to just have beliefs about You. I want to belong to You. I turn from the sin You died for. And I believe You walked out of Your grave by Your own power. Beginning this day, Jesus, You've got me. I'm Yours." Today, if that's where your heart is, you're ready for this. Go to our website, it's for you. We made it for someone like you at this point. Make sure you've got this done. That website is ANewStory.com. Check it out today, please. You're so close, but you're not in. But you're about to be. And it will feel so good to finally belong to Jesus.

On this episode of the One Broken Life Podcast, John Stroup sits down with Matt Price for an honest and encouraging conversation about how God rescues broken people. Matt's story includes what many would consider a successful life. He played baseball for the Atlanta Braves, went on to become a police officer in Atlanta, is the father of a daughter from his first marriage, and later adopted a son after marrying his wife, Missy. From the outside, it may have looked like everything was falling into place. But the truth is, sin reaches every one of us. No amount of success, accomplishment, or good reputation can satisfy the deepest need of the human heart. Like all of us, Matt found himself caught in a downward spiral of struggles that revealed his desperate need for a Savior. Join us as Matt shares how God pursued him in the middle of his brokenness, brought him to genuine salvation, and began transforming his life through the power of the Gospel. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvb-NnMTgcAITfNM20pF2KQ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F3b9TcG5BDSkfTK0UwCap Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/35e83628-c4da-4309-bd0d-2e03cd2a391d/one-broken-life Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-broken-life-real-people-real-discussion/id1569230320 Podbean: https://media3r.podbean.com Soundstripe License Code: ZSJCFVTHJUP4QQNC For more information: www.freeway-ministries.com Follow One Broken Life on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OneBrokenLifePodcast Follow Freeway Ministries on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/freewayministries ONE BROKEN LIFE is a production of Freeway Ministries in Springfield Missouri. It is a series of unique conversations exploring what God can do through ONE BROKEN LIFE. Throughout this podcast, you will hear the stories of real life transformations from those who have been restored from the pit of life. Throughout the discussion, John Stroup will dig deeper into the lives of people who have been broken and radically redeemed by God's grace.     

What does the Gospel of Mark teach us about following Jesus? In this message from our series The Gospels, we journey through the Book of Mark and discover Jesus as the One who moves with compassion, authority, and purpose. Mark shows us a Savior who calms storms, heals the broken, reaches the overlooked, and calls ordinary people to follow Him. The story of Mark reminds us that Jesus is not distant or uninvolved. He meets us in the middle of our storms, responds to our needs, and invites us to trust Him as we follow where He leads. As we begin a new school year, this message is also a reminder that the same Jesus who walked with His disciples walks with us today. Whatever season we are entering, we don't enter it alone. The Gospels See Jesus. Know Jesus. Follow Jesus.

We want to hear from you! Send us some Fan mail! When life gets hard, what keeps you believing? And when you have questions about faith, why do you stay? This week on Go & Do, Candis Shupe dives into the story of Job, a man who seemingly had everything, lost nearly everything, and still declared, “Yet will I trust Him.”In this episode, you'll learn: 

Austin Sparks helps us look at the biblical account of Joseph with a fresh perspective, understanding all that happened to him and his family and ultimately pointing to the true Savior. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ccc-online.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, including upcoming music and previous series on many topics and passages.

Satan is real. Spiritual warfare is real. But Christians are not fighting a battle whose outcome is uncertain. Christ has already won.In this episode of Take Heart, Cory Wing examines what Scripture actually teaches about spiritual warfare, angels, demons, Satan, and the armor of God. Looking at Job, Elisha, Ephesians 6, prayer, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Cory explains why Christians fight from victory—not for victory.The enemy is real, but he is not God's equal. Christ has conquered, the Spirit dwells within His people, and Christians can stand firm, resist the devil, and persevere with confidence in their victorious Savior.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

Send us Fan MailWow!!  Powerful episode with Deborah Burroughs as she lets her light shine across the airwaves.  This selfless woman gives herself to others in many ways, but more importantly she gives herself to God.  Listen to her uplifting stories of mission work, messages for youth, and undeniable love of our one and only Savior.  This episode is full of heart.  A servant's heart.

11am Series: Everyday Worship John 4:1–42