Podcasts about see galatians

Read Online“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5The first amazing thing to recognize in this passage is the simple fact that God wants to produce good fruit in your life. He also wants to bring His grace and mercy into the world through you. The vine does not produce the fruit alone but does so through the instrumentality of the branches. So if we take this teaching at face value, God is saying that He has chosen to bring His grace and mercy into your life and into the world through you. To add greater clarity to this holy mission that we have all been given, Jesus makes a very profound statement. He says “without me you can do nothing.” When considering this line spoken by our Lord, it may be useful to reflect upon what the word “nothing” means. Saint Augustine points out that Jesus added “you can do nothing” to emphasize the fact that, by ourselves, by our own effort, we cannot even produce a “little” good fruit. For example, it would be like cutting off a twig from an apple tree and hoping that the twig will produce an apple.The fruit that God wants to produce also takes place within your soul, in the form of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits consist of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (See Galatians 5:22–23). Each one of these gifts from God will have the effect of transforming you more fully into an image of God Himself in our world. Try to take a moment to consider each one of those Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Each one is very desirable. Growing in a desire for them will help you grow in a desire for the Holy Spirit in your life.When the Gospel passage quoted above is considered in its two parts, it is also clear that if we separate ourselves from God, then it is impossible to experience any one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Without a firm connection to our God, we will have no love, no joy, no patience, kindness, etc. None of that is possible unless our lives are firmly connected to the Vine, Who is Christ Himself. So fostering a positive desire for these good fruits, as well as a holy fear of losing them, is useful.Reflect, today, upon the beautiful and meaningful image given to us by Jesus of the vine and the branches. Think of a vine and then think of yourself firmly attached to that vine. Sit with that image prayerfully and let God speak to you. He wants to do great things in you and through you. If you will only cling to Him with all your heart, an abundance of good fruit will be produced.Jesus the Vine, You are the source of all goodness, and, without You, I can do nothing. Help me to always remember how deeply I need You in my life and help me to cling to You always. Please bring forth an abundance of good fruit in my life and, through me, into the world. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Pixabay.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Brother Singh's belief that 95% of Christianity today is deceived is shocking. This alarming statistic should stir every child of God to action, as it suggests that many well-intentioned believers are placing their faith in a counterfeit gospel. (See Galatians 1:6-8).Some readers will ask, 'How can a man of God make such a statement?' The answer lies in the Bible's warning, "In the last days, perilous times shall come."

CD 1668 Law or Love: It's Your ChoiceLet me ask you a question this morning. How do you want a relationship with God, by His “Law” or by His “Love”. How do you want God to judge you, by His “Law” or by His Love? And when I say by His “Love” I mean the grace He revealed through His Son dying on the cross in our place.I believe each and every one of us would say Lord I can't live Your “Law” but I accept Your “Love” that You demonstrated (Romans 5:8) through Your son Jesus. I don't want “Law”, I want “Love” meaning Your grace! Now hold that thought and let's read our text: *Text Galatians 3:1-14 (KJV) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the “Law” , or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the “Law” , or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the “Law”  are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the “Law”  to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the “Law”  in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the “Law”  is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the “Law” , being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.Note “Law” is mentioned 7 times in those 14 verses!Note verse 10 teached us if we don't live “by the hearing of faith” then we must live by all the “Law”! See James 2:10, which says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."This verse emphasizes the all-or-nothing nature of the “Law”. It's not enough to simply follow some of the commandments or do our best; if we break even one commandment, we are guilty of breaking the entire “Law”.This can seem like a daunting standard to live up to, but it's important to remember that Christ has already fulfilled the “Law” on our behalf, and we are no longer under its condemnation. Instead, we are called to live according to the Spirit “by the hearing of faith”, seeking to honor God in all that we do! *SEE Galatians 5:13-15 (KJV) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by “Love”  serve one another. 14 For all the “Law” is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt “Love”  thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us about Him sitting on His throne with His sheep on His right hand and He makes this statement:*Matthew 25:37-40 (KJV) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsSupport the show

A dispute arose in the early church over whether Gentile believers were required to follow certain Jewish customs, particularly circumcision, to be saved. Christ's death on the cross not only secured salvation for all but broke down the barriers that separated Jews and Gentiles, making them one in Christ. Join us for session four as we discuss the futility of adding works to salvation and the unity we are called to maintain in Christ.Verses Used:Acts 15:1-2Genesis 17:7-14Galatians 2:16Romans 4:1-3, 11 & 13Colossians 2:11-13Romans 2:28-29Ephesians 2:11-19Acts 15:28-29Discussion Questions:What conflict arises between Jewish and Gentile believers, and what was the original purpose of this custom? What did it foreshadow?How does the requirement of circumcision invalidate Ephesians 2:8-9, and what can works not do? (See Galatians 2:16)The Jews were trying to add requirements to salvation. In modern days, what things do we tack on to salvation?Instead of physical circumcision, what does the Lord actually want? (See Deuteronomy 30:6, Philippians 3:2-3, 1 Corinthians 7:19, and Galatians 5:5-6 & 6:15)The Jews were hesitant to accept the Gentiles as saved. Are there people we believe are not saved just because they do not act or look exactly like us? Why is unity in Christ so important to strive for? (See Acts 1034, Ephesians 2:11-19 & 4:4)

Can I be a Christian and be or do ...? To all of these questions I would say, you are asking the wrong question. The question is entirely about self, and when we come to Christ, self-dies. We took off self and put on Christ. It is not even we who live anymore, but Christ who lives in us. See Galatians 2:20. Our desire now is Christ, and all things submitted to Him. We are going to read a passage that speaks so clearly to this question, to the Church today, the believer today, because nothing happening today is new, and God has answered. Look with me at 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

Act 12:25–13:3Have you ever had a moment when you needed God to speak to you? We all have, and often we are in a moment of crisis and are so desperate we can't hear because of the circumstantial noise. We are often reacting in hurt or confusion instead of acting with intentionality as we hear from God. Slow down, breathe, trust, and pray.But have you ever had one of those moments where you knew God was speaking to you? What were you doing at the time? How did you know it was the Lord? I suppose at that moment you were in some way sacrificially serving the Lord of glory and others.We all want to hear from God, yet often we are seeking some earth-shaking, sky-splitting moments of revelation. However, He often speaks in quiet moments of selfless service when we have surrendered ourselves to His kingdom. (See Galatians 2:20; 1 Kings 19:11-13)Paul said something remarkable regarding our discovery of the will of God. Remember also, that sin will never be God's will for your life. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1–2)God's will is often clarified in moments of worship. Not the songs we sing, but a life being lived for His kingdom.References:Hebrews 10:24–25Prov. 19:17Matthew 25:37–46James 1:26-2:11 John 3:17–18Proverbs 3:27–301 Timothy 5:22Numbers 27:15–20Deuteronomy 34:9

The world tells us about freedom from many different angles. It's a desire that we as human beings have. While physical freedom is often obtainable, there is still one that is hardest to recognize and accept and that is internal bondage. This brings us to the question: what is true freedom? Paul reminds us in Galatians that as believers, our freedom in Christ has set us free; therefore, we are free to live for the things of God. Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Our independence as people is based upon our dependence on Jesus Christ. For those who have experienced this freedom, are we truly living it out? See Galatians 1:1-5, 6-7, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 Join Pastor Nick Tallo as we embark on a journey into Galatians to explore where redefining freedom in Jesus fulfills our true spiritual longing and learn that if we take Jesus at His word, how we are free indeed! THE GOSPEL IS THE GOOD NEWS CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST AND THE WAY OF SALVATION THROUGH HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION. Jesus plus nothing. There is nothing to add to this equation and cause Gospel confusion. COUNTERFEIT = MADE IN EXACT IMITATION OF SOMETHING VALUABLE OR IMPORTANT WITH THE INTENTION TO DECEIVE OR DEFRAUD. We preach and must preach to ourselves the gospel over and over again, so when we go out into the real world, we can pick up and out a counterfeit. There are three Gospels rooted in American principles that are not wrong until they are added to the simple gospel equation:   1.        The Performance Gospel Believing you have to do something to earn or maintain              God's favor.            Ephesians 2:8-9  2.        The Prosperity Gospel Believing that because God is good, his children will prosper in health, wealth andhappiness.      2 Corinthians 5:15  3.        The Political Gospel Believing that politics are more important or have replaced Jesus as Savior and Messiah.            Philippians 3:18-20  OUR INDEPENDENCE IS BASED UPON OUR DEPENDENCE ON JESUS Are we living free? Freedom is knowing, loving, and believing the gospel and living it out! Galatians 1:13-14, 21-24 2Rivers Church in O'Fallon, MO, exists to help people become passionate followers of Jesus.LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE for more content that will help you live equipped and become a passionate follower of Jesus!Get our app andsermon notes, resources, and more! https://onelink.to/2rivers     Are you struggling and need prayer? We'd love to pray for you. Submit a prayer request here:  https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/people/forms/29709 Want to find your people? Join a 2Rivers group! Learn more and see what's available here: https://2rivers.churchcenter.com/groups Include social media handles, website, and other ways to connect: 

Discussion Questions:-What stood out to you from the message today?-How do you view participation with God? How do you feel like your participation with him could grow?-Do you find yourself to be loving like the church at Philippi was? How can you grow in love this week?-What are the fruits that Paul mentioned should overflow from our lives (See Galatians 5:22). What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives produce the fruit that Paul talks about here?

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5The first amazing thing to recognize in this passage is the simple fact that God wants to produce good fruit in your life. He also wants to bring His grace and mercy into the world through you. The vine does not produce the fruit alone but does so through the instrumentality of the branches. So if we take this teaching at face value, God is saying that He has chosen to bring His grace and mercy into your life and into the world through you.To add greater clarity to this holy mission that we have all been given, Jesus makes a very profound statement. He says “without me you can do nothing.” When considering this line spoken by our Lord, it may be useful to reflect upon what the word “nothing” means. Saint Augustine points out that Jesus added “you can do nothing” to emphasize the fact that, by ourselves, by our own effort, we cannot even produce a “little” good fruit. For example, it would be like cutting off a twig from an apple tree and hoping that the twig will produce an apple.The fruit that God wants to produce also takes place within your soul, in the form of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits consist of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (See Galatians 5:22–23). Each one of these gifts from God will have the effect of transforming you more fully into an image of God Himself in our world. Try to take a moment to consider each one of those Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Each one is very desirable. Growing in a desire for them will help you grow in a desire for the Holy Spirit in your life.When the Gospel passage quoted above is considered in its two parts, it is also clear that if we separate ourselves from God, then it is impossible to experience any one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Without a firm connection to our God, we will have no love, no joy, no patience, kindness, etc. None of that is possible unless our lives are firmly connected to the Vine, Who is Christ Himself. So fostering a positive desire for these good fruits, as well as a holy fear of losing them, is useful. Reflect, today, upon the beautiful and meaningful image given to us by Jesus of the vine and the branches. Think of a vine and then think of yourself firmly attached to that vine. Sit with that image prayerfully and let God speak to you. He wants to do great things in you and through you. If you will only cling to Him with all your heart, an abundance of good fruit will be produced. Jesus the Vine, You are the source of all goodness, and, without You, I can do nothing. Help me to always remember how deeply I need You in my life and help me to cling to You always. Please bring forth an abundance of good fruit in my life and, through me, into the world. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured images above: by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

Quiet Time Coaching Episode 511 | New Creation Series — Part 3 | “What is a Spiritual Life” | Malcolm Cox Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on the topic of ‘A new creation'. QUESTION: What is a 'spiritual life'? A 'with-God' life that effects an on-going transformation towards Christ-likeness through the power of the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3.18 “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” How do we live this? God's vision - Jesus' example and inspiration - the Spirit's strength. God's vision Genesis 3.8-9 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”” Revelation 21.2-3 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” God chose a people - father and son Deuteronomy 1.31 “and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”” Glimpses - David, “The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.” (Psalm 23:1 HCSB) What kind of life did (does) Jesus offer his followers? Fitting yoke Matthew 11.28-30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”” Full life  John 10.10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Friendship  John 15.13-17 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” Relationship with abba father  Mark 14.36 ““Abba , Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”” See Galatians 4.6 “And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”” Overall - blessed Matthew 5.3-10 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” "These ‘blessings', the ‘wonderful news' that he's announcing, are not saying ‘try hard to live like this.' They are saying that people who already are like that are in good shape. They should be happy and celebrate." – Wright, N. T. Matthew for Everyone Part 1 Chapters 1–15. This is the good life. Do we believe this? How can we find a way to believe this when life is so hard? Are you looking to strengthen your relationship with God and deepen your understanding of Christian spirituality? Look no further than the AIM Spiritual Life Course, an in-person and online course designed to enhance and guide your spiritual journey. The course covers character, sexual issues, financial responsibility, spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, meditation, scripture, devotional reading, and so much more—the secret of mirroring Christ's character: the inner spiritual life. Teachers include Douglas Jacoby, Andy Boakye and Malcolm Cox. At the live session on 23 March we will cover the crucial topics of growing through suffering (Andy Boakye), discipleship as the door to life to the full (Malcolm Cox) and the joys of personal spiritual growth (Douglas Jacoby). Additionally, you will have access to specialised teaching from many others on-line after the event. Join our worldwide community of learners and experience the transformative power of Christian spirituality. More Information AIM UK & Ireland site: https://aimukandireland.com/ Spiritual Life Module description: https://aimukandireland.com/enrol/index.php?id=13 Details Location: West Watford Free church, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 6NU Date & Time: Saturday 23rd March 2024, 9:30AM – 2.45PM Registration & Payment: https://tvcoc.churchsuite.com/donate/fund/usz20xvr Cost: £20 for the day; £75 for the entire module Refreshments: Light lunch, hot and cold drinks Transport: Nearest stations — Watford Junction (35 mins walk), Watford High Street (30 mins walk), Watford Metropolitan Line (20 mins walk). Parking: Free parking onsite and adjoining roads If you have any questions please drop me a line. God bless, Malcolm Please add your comments on this week's topic. We learn best when we learn in community. Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here's the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org. If you'd like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org. Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. "Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

CD 1620 Christ's ChurchIn My Place, In My Position = in His PromisesA FAMILY OF FAITH - Jesus referred to His disciples as His His brothers and sisters, indicating that the church should be a family of believers who love and support one another. See Matthew 12:48-50 A servant community: Jesus modeled a life of service and taught His disciples to do the same. The church should be a community of servants, following Jesus' example of humility and selflessness. See Matthew 16:24A place of transformation: Jesus came to transform lives, and the church should be a place where people are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. See Galatians 2:20-21A light in the darkness: Jesus said that His followers are the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), and the church should be a beacon of hope and love in a dark and broken worldSupport the show

A. W. Pink said, "We cannot know God's will if we are ignorant of His word." That is so true! There is no way for us to know what God asks of us if we do not know what He has planned in the scriptures. Even as diligent students, we can forget, be distracted, or lose focus on what must take precedence in this life. This life goes by quickly. So, occasionally, we can all use a reminder about what is essential. Unfortunately, it often takes tragic loss, sickness, and pain as the catalyst to a much-needed wake-up call and reset.But there is another way for us not to lose focus. Embrace the daily reminders we find in our faithful devotion and study of the Word, Yes, we will hear, read, and meditate on the same thing repeatedly; that is not bad. It is how good habits are formed.The Apostle Peter figured we need to be reminded, too. He lost focus and received some redirection from Paul. (See Galatians 2:11-14) Peter goes on to write, "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you..." (2 Pe 1:12–13) Therefore, when in community worship and bible study, do not check out but rather lean into what you think you know.God is using His Word for His purpose in your life's every moment. (See Isaiah 55:11) We may need a reminder to refresh our souls and redirect our paths today. The Psalmist writes, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) God illuminates where we are now and where we must go for God's glory. So do not neglect the simple things. Embrace their truth and application to our daily lives. A conversation about salvation and baptism should refresh and encourage our souls, never bore our spirits.-----Call us: 208.524.4747prayer@watersprings.netOnline Giving: https://watersprings.net/give.phpServe at Watersprings: https://watersprings.churchcenter.com...CCLI Streaming License: 20080252 Size ECCLI Copyright License: 1406906 Size FDISCLAIMER: Closed captioning and/or transcription is being provided solely for the convenience of our viewers. Watersprings Church does not review for accuracy any information that appears in a closed caption or transcript. Watersprings Church makes no representations or warranties, and expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability with respect to, any errors or omissions in, or the accuracy, reliability, timeliness or completeness of, any information that appears in a closed caption or transcript.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5The first amazing thing to recognize in this passage is the simple fact that God wants to produce good fruit in your life. He also wants to bring His grace and mercy into the world through you. The vine does not produce the fruit alone but does so through the instrumentality of the branches. So if we take this teaching at face value, God is saying that He has chosen to bring His grace and mercy into your life and into the world through you.To add greater clarity to this holy mission that we have all been given, Jesus makes a very profound statement. He says “without me you can do nothing.” When considering this line spoken by our Lord, it may be useful to reflect upon what the word “nothing” means. Saint Augustine points out that Jesus added “you can do nothing” to emphasize the fact that, by ourselves, by our own effort, we cannot even produce a “little” good fruit. For example, it would be like cutting off a twig from an apple tree and hoping that the twig will produce an apple.The fruit that God wants to produce also takes place within your soul, in the form of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits consist of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (See Galatians 5:22–23). Each one of these gifts from God will have the effect of transforming you more fully into an image of God Himself in our world. Try to take a moment to consider each one of those Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Each one is very desirable. Growing in a desire for them will help you grow in a desire for the Holy Spirit in your life.When the Gospel passage quoted above is considered in its two parts, it is also clear that if we separate ourselves from God, then it is impossible to experience any one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Without a firm connection to our God, we will have no love, no joy, no patience, kindness, etc. None of that is possible unless our lives are firmly connected to the Vine, Who is Christ Himself. So fostering a positive desire for these good fruits, as well as a holy fear of losing them, is useful. Reflect, today, upon the beautiful and meaningful image given to us by Jesus of the vine and the branches. Think of a vine and then think of yourself firmly attached to that vine. Sit with that image prayerfully and let God speak to you. He wants to do great things in you and through you. If you will only cling to Him with all your heart, an abundance of good fruit will be produced. Jesus the Vine, You are the source of all goodness, and, without You, I can do nothing. Help me to always remember how deeply I need You in my life and help me to cling to You always. Please bring forth an abundance of good fruit in my life and, through me, into the world. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Lesson 4 – Blessed are they which hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filledIgnorance is not bliss! The more Word we have on the inside, the more equipped we will be to stand against the enemy's wiles! In essence, we can be as close to God as we want to be! A true sign of spiritual maturity and growth is wanting to live in holiness, is wanting to learn more, growing, and being mature.After all the Bible says, be holy, for I am holy. Think about it in simple terms for a moment. Perhaps there is a mentor, parent, or role model in your life that you really look up to. Don't you want to make them proud? Don't you want to do the things that you know they like in order to show them how much you love and honor them? Think about the small girl who wants to be like her mommy or the boy who follows his daddy around doing and saying the same things. We all want to be valued and appreciated and it is only natural to want to be like the people in our lives we really value and look up to. In the same manner, God has graciously adopted us into His family! Given us a new heart and a new name and we should want to be close to Him, to be like Him!However, the desire to want to be holy, to be like God, or to want to go upstream in a culture that is constantly screaming at us to go the other way, is not always what believers want to do.The propensity to grow weary is a real thing, thus why Paul encourages us in Galatians not to grow weary in well doing. (See Galatians 6:9)The good news is this: We don't have to do things to get Him to like us, love us, or accept us! He already does! Also, we don't have to try and be more righteous or holy apart from Him. We can't. He did all the work on the cross and we will never be more holy than we already are in Him. But we can still grow closer to Him each day, tossing aside things that keep us from growing closer to Him and walking in love toward others. 

What does it take to be a strong spiritual leader? Spirit-filled leaders don't save their lives. They lay down their lives for Christ. Their focus is on Christ and others. They, like Stephen in the book of Acts, aren't concerned about living for now. They are on a mission of multiplication for the Kindom to come. In other words, to God, the greatest tragedy is not the life laid down but the life lived solely for oneself. In Act 7, the leaders told Stephen to explain himself, as they thought he was speaking blasphemous words against God. Stephen wasn't interested in defending himself; he wanted to proclaim the truth. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, addresses the high priest and explains the historical events of his people, pointing to Jesus, and asks the leaders to consider how big God truly is. ACTS 7:51 “'You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.'” He told them they resisted the Holy Spirit. And this “cut to the heart” of all who were listening. ACTS 7:54 “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” Spirit-filled leaders don't resist the Holy Spirit. They are filled with Him. And when filled with the Holy Spirit, we crucify the flesh. You can't really live for Christ unless you've first laid down your life for Christ! Jesus calls us not to “come and live” but to “come and die.” And in dying, we live! (See Galatians 2:20) Join Pastor Phil as he… Tells us the life we have when we lay ours down Tells us what a martyr is and isn't Let's continue to journey through the book of Acts and discover what biblical leadership looks like and how we can live and lead by the Spirit of God. Don't forget to click the “bell” to SUBSCRIBE to get more videos like this to grow your faith! Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/about-us/pastor-phil/ Get the FREE download to go with this series, “Biblical Leadership Principles: Learning from the Book of Acts”: https://livingproof.co/biblical-leadership-principles-acts/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? Me too, and too many times for my liking. It is tough when it is someone that you have trusted and have authentic relationships with. Betrayal is why some people are hard to get close to. They have been hurt time and time again. Those who are close to us are loyal, right? We would never expect this kind of hurt and pain to come directly from anyone. Especially those we are in a biblical relationship with. We know them and are known by them, or at least we thought we did, right? Paul had his fair share of this in his life. Paul writes, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech, deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18) What happens to cause us as Christians to bite and devour one another? (See Galatians 5:15) The simple answer is sin. Many of us have had this heartbreaking experience. Most of the time, we are left wondering why this happened. One thing is for sure, whatever the final catalyst for the betrayal, we can be sure it did not come about overnight. Things have been heating up for a while and have finally boiled over, and we just got burned again. Jesus understands our plight and the pain of betrayal, for He went through the same thing with Judas and the leaders of God's people in Israel. He was with Jesus in the ministry and saw and did the miraculous for years, and yet, His sin fuel heart opened the door for Satan to use him in the most horrific event in history; the mother of all betrayals. References:Ex 20:13Matthew 10:28Ephesians 2:1–3Luke 4:13Mark 8:33John 13:2John 13:27John 6:70–71John 12:6Ephesians 4:25–27James 4:71 Pe 5:8–92 Corinthians 2:10–11Matthew 26:24Ephesian 5:17-21Psalm 23:5Proverbs 3:5–6-----Call us: 208.524.4747prayer@watersprings.netOnline Giving: https://watersprings.net/give.phpServe at Watersprings: https://watersprings.churchcenter.com/people/forms/8221CCLI Streaming License: 20080252 Size ECCLI Copyright License: 1406906 Size FDISCLAIMER: Closed captioning and/or transcription is being provided solely for the convenience of our viewers. Watersprings Church does not review for accuracy any information that appears in a closed caption or transcript. Watersprings Church makes no representations or warranties, and expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability with respect to, any errors or omissions in, or the accuracy, reliability, timeliness or completeness of, any information that appears in a closed caption or transcript.

In chapter two Ruth and Naomi remain in an incredibly difficult season. In seasons like these it is tempting to grow weary, sink into despair, and abandon faithfulness. However, we are called, even in seasons of famine to walk in faithfulness. Join us for session four as we witness the diligence of Ruth, despite the difficulty, and the subsequent provision of God as a result. Verses Used: Ruth 2:1-7 Ruth 2:1-7 John 13:5-9 Proverbs 16:9 Isaiah 40:28-31 Galatians 6:9 Ruth 2:5 Discussion Questions: 1. What excuses do we offer for failing to be faithful in our famines? 2. How do we see Ruth's faithfulness and God's provision work together to bring her to her next step and how have you seen this to be true in your own life? 3. It is easy to abandon faithfulness if you don't see immediate results. What does the Bible command us to do instead and what does it promise us will happen as a result? (See Galatians 6:9 & 1 Corinthians 15:58) 4. Are there any specific areas in your life in which you have become lazy, grown weary or quit on? What can you do to press into diligence in those areas?

Welcome back to the 100X podcast! You may have heard Pedro famously say - “Oak trees are hidden in acorns.” This simple truth holds profound wisdom on the Kingdom principle of faithfulness.  If you don't give up and you are faithful with what's in your hand, you are promised a harvest. See Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. It's right there in the Bible, if we don't give up a harvest is garenteed! So what does that mean practically? In this episode of the 100X podcast, Pedro Adao explains how in the Kingdom, we all have to start small to grow big.    Connect with Pedro: Want more 100X? Follow Pedro on Instagram @PedroMAdao, like us on Facebook 100x, or go to www.100xacademy.com Want to know more about challenges? Go to challengesecrets.com

Introduction: The Gospel in the Garden: Three Foundations of Faith (Genesis 3:20-24): Believe God's Promise . (Gen 3:20) Receive God's Provision . (Gen 3:21) Trust God's Path . (Gen 3:22-24) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Genesis 3:20-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is a curse? What does it mean that disobedience to God results in a curse from God? What does this have to do with Jesus? See Galatians 3:10-13What is faith? How did Adam demonstrate faith (Gen 3:20)?Explain the significance of God clothing Adam and Eve with skins (Gen 3:21).Why did God drive Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:22)? How was this actually a blessing for them?BreakoutPray for one another.

Introduction: Cursed By God: The Consequences of Sin (Genesis 3:14-19): To the serpent: Defeat . (Gen 3:14-15) To the woman: pain at Home . (Gen 3:16) Genesis 4:7 - And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it. To the man: pain at Work . (Gen 3:17-19) What does this have to do with Good Friday? Galatians 3:10-13 - For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Genesis 3:14-19What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is a curse? What does it mean that disobedience to God results in a curse from God? What does this have to do with Jesus? See Galatians 3:10-13What is faith? How did Adam demonstrate faith (Gen 3:20)?Explain the significance of God clothing Adam and Eve with skins (Gen 3:21).Why did God drive Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:22)? How was this actually a blessing for them?BreakoutPray for one another.

Genesis 3 Sermon Notes:1) Why is man cursed?2) What does the curse mean?3) How will the curse be reversed?Reflection questions:1) What happened to the Garden of Eden? How can I find it today? See Revelation 22:1-5.2) How do I know that Jesus is the seed/offspring/he that is mentioned in Genesis 3:15? See Galatians 3:16. Also see Galatians 3:13-14.3) What does it mean (see Gal 3:13, above) that Christ became a curse for us, to redeem us from the curse? Read Numbers 6:24-26. Think about each blessing in this list; think about what the opposite might be; now think about what Christ experienced on the cross. Compare Matthew 27:45-50.

< Back to Joshua IndexTALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANSThe Cities Given to the Levites Printed Version BACKGROUND NOTESDOCTRINAL POINT(S)God provides Levites for His people.God provides His people for the Levites.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONRemember, rest land is not vacation land.QUESTIONSName the three groups of Levites.How many cities were given to the Levites in all?Why didn't the Levites receive territory in Israel?What territory was Simeon given?What special role was given to the Levites and why?Who were the official interpreters and scribes of the law?Why were the Levites situated throughout the land in the forty-eight cities, and not just around Jerusalem and the temple?ANSWERSKoathites, Gersonites, and MeraritesForty-eightBecause of their participation with Simeon in leading the unholy slaughter of the Jeshonites.Only cities scattered throughout Judah's territory.They were servants of the Lord because they stood with Moses at the tragic event of the gold calf. See Exodus 32:26.The Levites.So they could teach the word of God to all the people. No Israelite lived more than ten miles from a Levitical city. Anyone who had questions about the law and the word of God could have easy access to speak to a LeviteDISCUSS/CONSIDERGod provided the Levites as servants and teachers of the word for His people. Today, God continues to provide for His people. See Ephesians 4:11-12. Recall servants of the Lord who have taught and ministered the word of God to you over the years.The tribes of Israel gave up forty-eight of their cities for the Levites, as well as the surrounding pasture lands and suburbs. The Levites were provided for by God's people both in this way and they were supported by their tithes. Can you relate this to today? See Galatians 6:6 and 1 Corinthians 9:13-14. How have you shown your appreciation for the Lord's servants who have ministered to you through the years?Read Nehemiah 13:10-12. During the closing days of the Old Testament period portions were not given by the people, so the Lord's servants had to go back to secular employment, and the work of the Lord suffered. Do you know of a case of this today? Do you at least tithe? If you are serving the Lord full time, remember that the Levites tithed, too. See Numbers 18:26CHALLENGEThe tribes got bogged down, failing to fully possess all the land that God had given them. Are you possessing all the spiritual land of blessing that the Lord has given to you? See Matthew 11:28-29 and 1 Corinthians 15:58.KEY VERSES"The Israelites gave to the Levites from their own inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, cities and common lands." (Joshua 21:3)"Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." (Joshua 21:45)

The Crucified Life, Part 1 - Romans 7Jesus said He came to give us life abundantly, yet most Christians live consistently in inconsistency if not complete captivity. This is the problem the Apostle Paul articulated in Romans 7:7-24.Romans 7 is the Apostle Paul's personal story of futility in fighting his flesh—his sinnature. Paul's story is the story of all of us. We all go through the same “stuff” because we're all made of the same “stuff.”More religion, determination, and self-discipline cannot bring our sanctification—the victorious life in Christ. Colossians 2:20-23, Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP (KJV), false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.The flesh cannot be disciplined into submission. It must go through a crucifixion. The cross is the way grace, not works, overcomes the flesh—your sin nature. (See Galatians 2:20)Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Romans 7:1-6, Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.To be delivered from sin's penalty, Christ had to die. To be delivered from sin's power, you must die. 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily.”Romans 7:24-25, O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.Matthew 11:28-30, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”The yoke of Christ is the cross. The invitation is to come and die. But in dying, you live. (See Matthew 11:28-30)

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. John 15:5The first amazing thing to recognize in this passage is the simple fact that God wants to produce good fruit in your life. He also wants to bring His grace and mercy into the world through you. The vine does not produce the fruit alone but does so through the instrumentality of the branches. So if we take this teaching at face value, God is saying that He has chosen to bring His grace and mercy into your life and into the world through you.To add greater clarity to this holy mission that we have all been given, Jesus makes a very profound statement. He says “without me you can do nothing.” When considering this line spoken by our Lord, it may be useful to reflect upon what the word “nothing” means. Saint Augustine points out that Jesus added “you can do nothing” to emphasise the fact that, by ourselves, by our own effort, we cannot even produce a “little” good fruit. For example, it would be like cutting off a twig from an apple tree and hoping that the twig will produce an apple.The fruit that God wants to produce also takes place within your soul, in the form of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These fruits consist of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (See Galatians 5:22–23). Each one of these gifts from God will have the effect of transforming you more fully into an image of God Himself in our world. Try to take a moment to consider each one of those Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Each one is very desirable. Growing in a desire for them will help you grow in a desire for the Holy Spirit in your life.When the Gospel passage quoted above is considered in its two parts, it is also clear that if we separate ourselves from God, then it is impossible to experience any one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Without a firm connection to our God, we will have no love, no joy, no patience, kindness, etc. None of that is possible unless our lives are firmly connected to the Vine, Who is Christ Himself. So fostering a positive desire for these good fruits, as well as a holy fear of losing them, is useful.Reflect, today, upon the beautiful and meaningful image given to us by Jesus of the vine and the branches. Think of a vine and then think of yourself firmly attached to that vine. Sit with that image prayerfully and let God speak to you. He wants to do great things in you and through you. If you will only cling to Him with all your heart, an abundance of good fruit will be produced.Jesus the Vine, You are the source of all goodness, and, without You, I can do nothing. Help me to always remember how deeply I need You in my life and help me to cling to You always. Please bring forth an abundance of good fruit in my life and, through me, into the world. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2021 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED JESUS At the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, he stood in the synagogue on a certain day, opened the scroll to that day's reading, Isaiah 61:1–2, and read this aloud: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”—Luke 4:18–18 Just prior to this scene, Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptist, where the Spirit rested on him (see Luke 3:22), then Luke 4:1 describes that he was “full of the Holy Spirit” as he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days of prayer and fasting, which is where he was also tempted by the devil. So in the span of just a few verses, the Holy Spirit is described as being both on Jesus and in Jesus. There is a difference between the two! The idea of Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit was in the context of being led by the Spirit into the wilderness, fasting, praying, and overcoming the temptations that the devil threw at him. In this context, we see the Holy Spirit empowering Jesus from within to overcome. In essence, the Holy Spirit is in Jesus for Jesus. Luke 4:14 then mentions that after the testing “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” The power was released after the testing. His time of testing proved that he wasn't going to use the power of the Spirit foolishly or flagrantly. Jesus had all access to the power of the Spirit, but not once in his life did he use it childishly or selfishly. This is the definition of gentleness. (See Galatians 5:22–23). Then in verse 18, Jesus practically announces the beginning of his ministry, while reminding them obliquely (by quoting the prophet Isaiah), that the Holy Spirit is on him for healing others and setting them free. What this is saying is that the Holy Spirit is on Jesus for others. So we see in Luke 4 that the Holy Spirit is in Jesus for Jesus and on Jesus for others. Remember, Jesus was completely obedient to the Father. He reminded his disciples that he only did what he saw the Father doing, (see John 5:19), and he only said what he heard the Father saying (see John 12:49). Though fully man, he was also fully God and filled with the Holy Spirit, able to conquer the enemy, heal the sick, raise the dead, and set the captives free because of the Holy Spirit who rested on him. He spelled all this out before he did one miracle. He gave credit to the power of the Holy Spirit who was on him. He lived his life in deference to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. There is so much more we could say about the Holy Spirit—who is represented in both the Old and New Testaments in various ways such as water, oil, and fire. You can spend the rest of your life getting to know this Person of the Trinity and never reach the end of it! What have your past experiences with the Holy Spirit been like? What have your past experiences with others who have approached you about the Holy Spirit been like? If the Holy Spirit just brought to mind any negative thoughts or feelings about others, take a moment to choose to forgive and release them. Please don't let others' perceptions of God limit your approach to him! Instead, pray and ask him to show you who he really is. Do you have any fear associated with allowing the Holy Spirit to fill you, to lead you, to even take control of your daily life? If so, ask Holy Spirit where the root of that might be. 

THE BODY In Genesis 2:7, we learn that God formed our bodies from the earth. The body acts as a temporary house or shell that contains our soul and spirit. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was housed in the inner sanctuary of the temple called the Holy of Holies. At the death of Jesus, the veil of the temple was torn and the presence of God moved out of the structure and into the hearts of all believers. First Corinthians 6:19 confirms that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Just as we would not shatter the windows and destroy the furniture in the church, we should not do anything to intentionally harm our bodies; they are special, designed by God and given to us in order to carry out the plans he has for us on this earth. Our bodies have appetites, both healthy and unhealthy. God's Word warns us to be careful of anything that leads to our flesh getting whatever it wants. (See Galatians 6:8). It is common for people to want to know how far they can sin and still enjoy the benefits of God's blessing, but the snare with sin is that it never satisfies. James 1:14 explains that we are tempted when we are “lured and enticed by our own desires.” We may give into the desire because we crave satisfaction, and though we may find gratification in the moment, the craving soon returns with increased intensity. This cycle repeats itself over and over until we break it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself: Are my actions driven by my cravings? Read 1 Corinthians 6:12, and fill in the blanks: “‘I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is . ‘I have the right to do anything'—but I .” Another real consequence of sin is the ripple effect. A healthy filter for every choice we are faced with is this: How will this action affect those around me? It is important to remember daily how the consequences of our own sin affect our spouses, our family and our friends. Listen to the heart of our Father as you read 1 Corinthians 8:9 from The Message Bible: “But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.”—1 Corinthians 8:9, Message As you reflect on this verse, ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas in your life or your relationships where your words or actions have caused another to stumble or be offended. 

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.[00:09] - Q: Are the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost the same thing?A: TBD[00:54] - Q: What is a spirit/soul and how do they interact with our mind and body?A: TBD[03:08] - Q: Since Genesis mentions God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply prior to the fall, and part of the curse was to increase pain of childbirth... will babies be born in heaven?A: See Matthew 22:30 - For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.[04:32] - Q: Did God make hell? If you go to the first book of the Bible it says God made heaven and earth so where does hell come into play?A: See Matthew 25:41 - Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’[05:57] - Q: In the old testament God refers to Lucifer as "the morning star" (Isaiah 14:12?), in Revelation Jesus says "He is the bright morning star." (Rev 22:16) How would you explain the differences in these 2 passages to someone who believes they are the same and therefore; Jesus = Lucifer?A: See 2 Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.[10:03] - Q: Are prophesies still a way that God communicates? How does God communicate to masses of people in today's world?A: See Romans 10:14-17[13:48] - Q: We know that God is outside of time. We believe that old testament saints did not have to wait for Jesus's sacrifice to enter into Heaven (bc it was as if it already happened). We believe that absent from the body = present with God. And yet, Jesus's return will signal a new heaven and new earth, and the reception of our glorified bodies. That indicates that there is some element of time in Heaven. How is it both? How is God outside of time, but also waiting on the right time?A: See Galatians 4:4-5 - … fullness of time had comeRevelation 6:10 (5th Seal) - …how long before you will judgeRevelation 22:2 - …yielding its fruit each month.[19:22] - Q: I really miss a lot of my friends that I have been very close to since childhood, but they live very sinful lifestyles and I have tried talking to them about how they act and talk, but they always say they like the way they live, so I have stopped talking to and spending time with them. I have spent a long time trying to fall out of the sinful habits they encourage and I don't want to fall back into those habits, but I have known those friends for so long and I have created such a connection to them that can't just be recreated. I know I shouldn't do anything that would encourage a Godless lifestyle but I also don't want to just abandon them. Do you have any tips or encouragement at all that could help me through this?A: TBD[23:07] - Q: If there is evidence or individual belief that the government was elected or established through fraud or corruption, are we still called to submit to their "power"?A: See Mark 12:17 - Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.[27:43] - Q: If Christians are the majority who don't believe in wearing masks, are we chasing non-Christians away from the church by not wearing masks? Shouldn't we be the first to want to protect others and make them feel comfortable? Thank you in advance!A: TBD[38:27] - Q: Flat earth vs Round earth? Thoughts?A: See Isaiah 40:22 - It is he who sits above the circle of the earth…Revelation 7:1 - After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.Any question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer on the blog.Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group Questions (Whole Group):Review the questions submitted above. Discuss any of these that stuck out to you, or that maybe your group finds particularly interesting.Breakout Questions:Pray for one another!

When we live in the Spirit, we can therefore walk tall in Yahweh's grace. We will not fulfill the mandate of the flesh,but exemplifly the fruit of the Spirit.We will love each other and make no provisions for the flesh.See Galatians 5: 16, 24, 25,26

Jonah and Patrick pick up the threads of the conversation on justice and lead them into the question of 'faith'.  What is 'Faith in Christ'? And why is this power of the human heart so essential in the story of Christianity?  Join us for the conversation.Resources for this episode include:- Paul's letter to the Phillipians, chapter 2.- Michael J. Gorman and his work on 'Cruciformity' - The Pauline practice of 'putting on Christ'.  See Galatians 3:27, for example, or Romans 13:14.- The goal of being 'conformed to the image of Christ' - See Romans 8:28-31 and Rudolf Steiner's book, Esoteric Science, towards the end of the fourth chapter where he speaks of Christ as the great ideal 'human being'.Our thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed the opening music, "On the Road", the musical interlude, "Water of Life" and the closing music, "Seeking Together".  You can find more of his music here. If you'd like to join our support circle, visit our Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/ccseminary/posts)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.(See Galatians 5:25 & 26)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The Good News brings great joy. The Good News is revealed in the three titles that the angels use: Savior (a deliverer), Messiah (God’s promised), Lord (all power and authority). This joy is an announcement NOT a set of rules. This joy is a declaration NOT to do list. (SEE GALATIANS 4:4-5) The Good News is people being brought to life because God made His way to us, not that we made our way to GodLuke 2:9-12 - Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Like a Good Neighbor”07/28/2019Matthew 22:34-40Core Competency: Compassion I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need.Psalm 82:3-4 3 Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.Text: Matthew 22:34-4034 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”The Message Of This Passage From the Ligonier Ministries: After the Sadducees fail to confound Jesus, the Pharisees gather together to try and trap Him again, sending one of their own to test Jesus on their behalf. A lawyer, this man’s training in the Mosaic law goes beyond even that of most Pharisees, legal experts in their own right. The question he asks our Savior is likely an attempt to get Jesus to deny one or more laws in the Torah and find proof of heresy.Rabbis hotly debated the lawyer’s question during the lifetime of Jesus. One count lists 613 individual stipulations in the Torah, and Jewish teachers wanted a unifying principle to aid the Law’s application. Christ’s answer to His examiner (vv. 36–39) is not wholly original; others combined the concepts of loving God and neighbor as the greatest duty in the Law. Yet Jesus is the first to combine the two specific texts in today’s passage to prove the point. He quotes from Deuteronomy 6:5, which is part of the Shema that pious Jews still recite daily (Deut. 6:4–9). The injunction to love one’s neighbor is found in Leviticus 19:18.Despite attempts to interpret passages like Matthew 5:17 otherwise, today’s passage indicates that Jesus does not abrogate the Law when He fulfills it. He would not single out passages from the Law as God’s greatest commandments if He wanted to eliminate all principles found in the Mosaic code. Also, Jesus’ answer reveals that love is primarily an action, not a feeling. The commandment to love is an order to do something; thus, we are to love others, serving them even if we do not feel like it. Furthermore, if love for God and neighbor are the commandments upon which the Law and Prophets hang, we cannot somehow separate love from these stipulations and define love in a way that ignores God’s law. Any act the Bible forbids is not love; rather, the Law shows us how to express true love. Paul can say, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10) and also expect Christians to live out the basic ethical code of the Old Testament (v. 9). Above all, John Calvin comments, Jesus says that “love is the first and great thing that God demands from us, and therefore the first and great thing that we should devote to him.”Questions for Reflection:Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or even yourself, who do you know that believes there is a God, but still has yet to have a personal relationship with Jesus?Knowing that God loves each of us unconditionally, and that His love saved us, how can this fact help motivate you to love others?Do you put conditions on love? Why, or why not?How can we get over the self-imposed rules we generate by putting conditions on love?Think of an experience in which you saw “loving your neighbor as yourself” work out – either in your life – or another’s life.Who do you know who needs a little selfless love?In what sense is this commandment bad news?In what sense is this commandment good news?The absolute love Jesus describes is beyond our abilities. So what do we need to do to love like this? See Galatians 5:14-16,22-23.We grow in love by cooperating with God’s Spirit who lives within us; and we cooperate by practicing the spiritual disciplines, habits such as reading the Word, giving, and serving. What Spiritual Discipline will you work on this week so that God’s Spirit can grow your love?Notes:

II Peter 1:1-7 II Peter 1:4 “partakers of the divine nature” See Galatians 4:19 “escape” God provides a means of escape for us. “corruption…

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Sprit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.(See Galatians 5:25 & 26)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, generosity, and faithfulness.(See Galatians 5:22)(New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Hello everyone. My name’s Eric Wilson. Welcome to Beroean Pickets. In this series of videos, we have been examining ways to identify true worship using the criteria laid down by the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since these criteria are used by Witnesses to dismiss other religions as false, it seems only fair to measure the Organization known as JW.org by the same yardstick, wouldn’t you agree? Oddly enough, in my experience, I’ve found that when dealing with true-blue Witnesses, failure to meet these criteria doesn’t change anything.  The rule seems to be, if other religions fail these criteria, that proves they are false, but if we do so, it only proves that there are things which Jehovah has yet to correct.  Why do they feel that way?  Because, we are the true religion. There really is no reasoning with this type of thinking because it is not based on reason. Please understand that the criteria we are using are those established by the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  We’re using their measuring stick, and so far, we’ve seen they fail to measure up. Jesus said, “Stop judging that you may not be judged; for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you.” (Matthew 7:1, 2) From here on out, we’ll be using the criteria that Jesus gave us to determine who are his disciples? Who are true worshipers? Witnesses believe that truth in worship is of prime importance, but really, who has all the truth?  And even if we did, would that make us acceptable to God?  Paul told the Corinthians, “if I…understand all the sacred secrets and all knowledge…but do not have love, I am nothing.”  So, 100% accuracy in truth is not, in and of itself, a mark of true worship.  Love is. I will grant you that truth is important, but not the having of it, but rather the desiring of it.  Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth, not with spirit and with truth as the New World Translation mistakenly renders John 4:23, 24. In this simple sentence, Jesus says so much.  First, that worship is of the Father.  We don’t worship the universal sovereign—a term not found in Scripture, but our heavenly Father.  Thus, true worshipers are children of God, not simply friends of God.  Second, the spirit is “in” them.  They worship “in spirit”.  How could true worshipers be anything other than spirit anointed ones?  God’s spirit guides and motivates them.  It transforms them and produces fruitage that is pleasing to the Father.  (See Galatians 5:22, 23) Third, they worship “in truth”.  Not with truth as if it were a possession—something apart of them—but in truth.  Truth dwells in the Christian.  As it fills you, it pushes out falsehood and deceit.  You will seek it out, because you love it.  Real disciples of Christ love truth.  Paul, speaking of opposers, said that such ones “are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept”—notice—"the love of the truth in order that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10)  “The love of the truth.” So now, finally, in this series of videos, we come to the one criterion that Jesus gave as a means for all to discern who his true disciples really are. “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:34, 35) Love for one another identifies us as true disciples; but not just any love, but rather, the type of love Jesus showed for us. Notice that he didn’t say that all will know you have the true religion by your love.  You might have experienced a truly loving congregation in your lifetime.  Does that mean the worldwide Organization is loving?  That the worldwide Organization is true? Can an Organization be loving?  People—individuals—can be loving, but an Organization?

Sunday, May 6, 2018 -- Sermon Questions Series: Real Christianity “THE HOLY SPIRIT” Read Matthew 12:30-33. What is Jesus saying here? What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Why is it so damning? What are the steps to peace with God? What do you tell a person when they say, “I will trust in Jesus when I get older”? When is a person most likely to trust in Jesus? (Matthew 19:14) Read John 3:3-7. What does it mean to be born again? Why was Nicodemus not born again? (See Matthew 23:27) What precedes repentance? (John 16:7-8) Why is John 2:23-25 so alarming? What is the great deception sweeping the American church? (See Galatians 1:6-9; Mark 1:15.) What is the heart of Jesus’ message? (See Mark 1:15; also Revelations 19:11-16.) What are the true marks of the Holy Spirit? (John 16:5-8.) If you would like to not receive any more emails from Bethlehem Community Church, then click here to unsubscrib

I Peter 2:14-3:2 I Peter 2:16 – See Galatians 5:1-2. God set us free from sin through forgiveness of our sins so that we could be His…

No matter what, we must continue to strive for the great things God has for us. I know the grind gets discouraging sometimes, because we work so hard and it seems our time will never come, but it will. See Galatians 6:9 Blog: http://insharonsheart.blogspot.com/2018/02/continuing-to-strive.html?m=1

You're staying strong, right? You're not growing weary and you're most definitely not giving up, right? I certainly hope not, because you're going to get there. See Galatians 6:9. Blog: http://insharonsheart.blogspot.com/2018/02/dont-grow-weary-of-well-doing.html?m=1

James 3:7-4:11 James 3:17 – See Galatians 5:22-26. James 4:5 – Compare Romans 6:16-18. The ESV and NASB make this verse clearer. God yearns…

What Do You See (Galatians 6:9) | Jon Oertel - Sunday 15th Jan 2017

SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)Main Idea: God's method to advance his kingdom is using Mobile Ministry Teams for healing.Sermon Notes: The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 leads us to 1. Exalt him, 2. Advance his kingdom, and 3. Do his will.Matthew 9:27, Jesus heals two blind men who called out to him, "Son of David." Matthew 9:32-34 Jesus heals demon possessed man, and many sick because of his compassion for the "harassed and helpless...sheep without a shepherd."Kingdom refers to God ruling over us, us submitting to his will. Kingdom was their present reality. The king was here, and it was not Caesar. This was counter cultural! However, we and they still live in a broken world. Yet the power, the majesty, the perfection of heaven was already revealed in the person and mission of Jesus Christ.The example of Jesus in Matthew 9 was he Went, he Saw, and he Felt.Matthew 10:1, 7-8 Jesus sends people out to proclaim and demonstrate his compassion.Philippians 3:18-21 Paul states that Jesus will transform us, and Christ followers are citizens of heaven.We will have total healing when Jesus appears! But meanwhile; 1. Jesus levels the hurting and understands the pain 2. There's going to be some better days ahead 3. Every Christ follower will ultimately be healed.When we pray for others, we may consider these guidelines: 1. Ask clarifying questions. 2. Show that you care. 3. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you. 4. Check in to see how they are doing. 5. Reassure them of Gods love.Application Questions: 1. How can/do we proclaim and demonstrate the compassion of Christ? 2. How can compassion move us to human need? 3. What are ways Jesus transforms us? See Galatians 5:22

The cross is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. It has been this way since the third century. It hasn't always been used properly or understood in the way the New Testament writers intended. Nevertheless, we consider it with Paul as a matter for glory...for it was on an old rugged cross that the destiny of mankind was altered forever (See Galatians 6:14).

Series: The Book of Ephesians-- Sermon Questions – 1/10/16 “A Prayer that Gets God’s Attention” 1. What do you tend to pray for? 2. Read Ephesians 3:14-16. What is Paul praying for the believer to have? Why is it necessary? (i.e. Think about how a person can really change, or get patience or self-control. See Galatians 5:22-23.) 3. Read Ephesians 3:17. What is Paul saying here? Where does strong faith come from? (i.e. Read Matthew 14:22-32. Why does Peter’s faith fail?) 4. Read Philippians 4:13. What does Paul mean by this statement? What are the practical ramifications? (i.e. See Ephesians 5:18-31.) 5. Read Ephesians 3:18-19. What is Paul praying for the believer here? Why is this so important for the believer? The Bethlehem Community Church Office Team “Love God, Love Others. Make Disciples!”

WALKING FREE OF POISON (2) NOVEMBER 8, 2015 EPHESIANS 4:21-32 è Review Ephesians 4:21-32 è Ephesians 4:31 • More poison that grieves the Holy Spirit (hurts Him because He wants so much better for you, and, He is capable of so much more for you) è Ephesians 4:32 • Kindness …. A requirement of walking under the Spirit’s control (See Galatians 5:22) • Goodness, gentleness, in our disposition …. Especially to those taxing our patience. (See Romans 2:4) è Ephesians 4:32 • Tenderhearted and forgiving …. Not hardened …. Willing to release from my desire to “make you pay” • “Even as” …. To the same extent è Why is it so difficult to forgive? • It hurts! And our emotions are bruised • Our minds replay the offense • Our flesh wants offender to acknowledge his/her offense; repent; retribution • Our misconceptions of what it means to forgive (Forget? Act same as before? Everything restored?) Must receive Grace continually when near the offenders. • Forgiveness is an act of our will, in faith, enabled by His grace, to release someone, for Jesus sake, from our desire to “make him pay”, thus releasing him/her to the Lord to deal with as He chooses. (This decision must be reinforced as long as the acute pain lingers and challenges our position of forgiveness! è How do I get there? • Ask the Lord for revelation of His love and mercy and my own forgiveness! (Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 8:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21) • Get serious about Jesus requirement and the consequences of harboring unforgiveness.  My faith won’t work (Mark 11:25)  Can’t get connected to my own forgiveness  My inner man gets poisoned …. I am held hostage!  I build and leave a legacy of bitterness with those I influence the most. ACT! ASK GOD FOR GRACE TO FORGIVE AND DO IT!

As was in Paul's day, so it is in ours -- there is pressure to manipulate the Gospel to meet human standards. Among them is the temptation to think we can earn God's favor. But Paul had some very strong things to say about that sort of thing. See Galatians 1:6-9