Podcasts about sevenfold

There's more to the Holy Spirit than what many believers have encountered. Isaiah 11:2 unveils a sevenfold expression of the Spirit of God – the Spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. When believers live in the fullness and power of the Spirit, the evidence in our lives becomes supernatural. The Church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice. We need the sevenfold Spirit of God fully operating in our lives.

There's more to the Holy Spirit than what many believers have encountered. Isaiah 11:2 unveils a sevenfold expression of the Spirit of God – the Spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. When believers live in the fullness and power of the Spirit, the evidence in our lives becomes supernatural. The Church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice. We need the sevenfold Spirit of God fully operating in our lives.

The cross that Christ bore was not easy, nor was it enjoyable. He suffered immensely so that you and I might have salvation from the just penalty for our sins. Jesus, and Jesus alone, was able to go through the pain and suffering that He endured. Praise be to God for His great love!

Sevenfold Sprinkling of Blood – Guest Speaker Barb MarshallIn this powerful message, guest speaker Barb Marshall explores the profound spiritual significance behind the “Sevenfold Sprinkling of Blood.” Drawing from biblical themes and rich spiritual insight, Barb unpacks how this imagery points to redemption, covenant, and the fullness of Christ's sacrifice.Through this message, listeners are invited to reflect on the depth of God's grace, the completeness of His work, and the transformative power available to every believer. Whether you're seeking deeper understanding or renewed faith, this teaching offers encouragement and a fresh perspective on the power of the blood of Jesus in our lives today.Tune in and be inspired to walk in freedom, restoration, and spiritual victory.

In this week we look at the advantages and disadvantages of writing interconnected series. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Blade of the Elves, Book #3 in the Dragonskull series, (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store: ELVES50 The coupon code is valid through March 16, 2026. So if you need a new audiobook this winter, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 293 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is March 6th, 2026. Today we are looking at interconnected series/whether they're a good idea or a bad idea for a writer to pursue. We also have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Blade of the Elves, Book #3 in the Dragonskull series (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store. That coupon code is ELVES50. And as always, the coupon code and the link to my Payhip store will be available in the show notes. The coupon code is valid through March the 16th, 2026. So if you need a new audiobook as we head into spring, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing and publishing and audiobook projects. Cloak of Summoning is done and it is out. You can get it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, Smashwords, and my own Payhip store. It has done quite well and actually got to number one in its category on Amazon US as of this recording, which is all the more impressive because on March 5th, the day my newsletter went out, Amazon US was down for a significant chunk of the afternoon. Despite that, that doesn't seem to have slowed down Cloak of Summoning any, and it is still going strong. So thank you all very much for that. And as I said, you can now get the book at all the ebook stores. Now that Cloak of Summoning is out and published, my main project is Blade of Wraiths, the fourth book in my Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series. I'm currently 28,000 words into it. So I'm hoping if all goes well and nothing comes up, I can have that out sometime in April. My secondary project is Dragon-Mage, which will be the sixth book in the Half-Elven Thief series and I am 1,000 words into that. That will take over as my main project once Blade of Wraiths is done, and hopefully that will be out in May, if all goes well and nothing crazy happens. In audiobook news, Cloak of Titans, as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy, is now available at almost all the audiobook stores, including Audible, Apple, Amazon, Google Play, Kobo, and the other major ones. So you can get that and listen to it at your audiobook store of choice. Brad Wills is currently recording Blade of Storms, which was the third book in the Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series, and he is about halfway through recording that. So hopefully we should have that out in April sometime, if all goes well. So that is where I'm at on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. With that, let's move on to our main topic. 00:02:51 Main Topic of the Week: Interconnected Series Our main topic is today we're going to talk about whether interconnected series are a good thing or a bad thing. First of all, what are interconnected series? Interconnected series have different standalone stories, but share at least some characters and locations from previous series. Many of the ideas and themes carry over as well, but not always. Romance writers use interconnected series. A couple or couples featured in previous series make an appearance in a new place or with a new group of people. Author Abby Jimenez has characters in her romances occupy the same social orbit in Minnesota across multiple series (and of course, they all share a love of the author's real life Minnesota bakery, Nadia Cakes). There's something of a joke among romance writers that your series can be as long as you want it to be, just make sure that the heroine has a large number of single/unattached sisters so that after the heroine has their happily ever after, you can go one by one down through the sisters and make sure they find their love interests and that they too can have their happily ever afters and extend the series for as long as you want. One example of a non-romance interconnected series from books I've written would be Sevenfold Sword, which is a direct follow up to Frostborn. The new series involves Ridmark, Calliande, and the other characters from the Frostborn series, but they are in a new location with new allies, new adventures, and new adversaries. A reader could (and has) read the Sevenfold series without having read Frostborn, but Frostborn fans get more time with characters they like and there are nods to the previous series. I fully intended Sevenfold Sword to be a standalone series, but what I found is that people tend to start Sevenfold Sword and then go back and start Frostborn and read all of Frostborn and then proceed on to Sevenfold Sword. So in that sense, the interconnected series was successful because that led to sales of Frostborn that might not have happened otherwise. So with all that in mind and that introduction, here are four reasons interconnected series can help you as a writer. #1: Readers are already invested. Readers have already spent a substantial amount of time with these characters and places. They have formed a bond with them across the entire previous series and are excited to spend more time with them and find out more about them. Even a brief appearance from returning characters feels exciting to readers. A very recent example of this from pop culture is how the TV show The Paper used a character from the US version of The Office. Because audiences are familiar with the character of Oscar in Accounting (who is the only returning character thus far), they are interested in seeing what he's doing and why he's in Toledo instead of Scranton. Also, his reaction to seeing a documentary crew at work again is exactly what you expect that it would be and is a great moment of humor that perfectly fits the character's personality. The show does mention some small things from the previous series, like a quote from Michael Scott, but it's certainly not a classic spinoff and is very much its own creation, reflecting how both office culture and humor have changed a great deal in the over 20 years since the US Office first began airing. #2: You already are invested as the writer, if you are the one writing the interconnected series. Writers as well as readers can get invested in a set of characters in the world building in a certain series and they're excited to continue. This is especially true if you haven't yet concluded the character's external and internal conflict arcs, because I have found after 171 books that it is generally easier to write a character that has an ongoing conflict instead of one that has all of his or her conflicts resolved. It's also a bit easier to write in a series over the long term because in a certain sense it's less work because you don't have to create everything from scratch. Cloak of Summoning was the 14th Cloak Mage book, but counting Cloak Games, it is the 26th overall book with Nadia as the main protagonist. By now, I'm very familiar with how Nadia thinks and acts and what she would do in any given situation and the rules of her world and setting are very well established. And so in some sense that makes it easier to write because I don't have to create everything from scratch again in terms of the worldbuilding. It's also in some ways easier to generate the sort of enthusiastic energy to write the book because people are very frequently asking when the next Nadia book is going to come out. So that is heartening for morale, so to speak, as one is writing the book, the knowledge that people are actively waiting to read it once it is finally published. #3: You can use ideas you weren't able to in the previous series or expand on existing characters. It's often said that there are more ideas than time for a writer. Interconnected series lets you use some of the ideas that didn't make sense to use in a previous series and lets you build on the world you have already created. It's exciting to watch characters grow and see how familiar places evolve as time has passed. For example, my Blades of Ruin series returns to the world of Sevenfold Sword in the Kingdom of Owyllain, but a century has passed and the humans from the previous series have died of old age. How did the culture of Owyllain evolve and change in that length of time? How did changes in the monarchy create new problems and enable new enemies and how else did the world change? For example, Sevenfold Sword did not have goblins when I wrote it, but in the century since, the goblins that appeared in the Dragontiarna series have migrated to Owyllain and set up their own new kingdom on the borders. This also is something I explicitly did in Cloak of Summoning. In one of the previous books, I mentioned that $34 million was stolen from one of the organizations aligned with the protagonist, so that is the major plot hook for this book, trying to figure out who stole that money and why. In addition, I'm able to expand on several ideas from the previous books, such as the Forerunner, Grayhold, and some of the other characters and expand on them and use them in the book in a way I wasn't really able to in previous books. So being able to do that as a writer is very enjoyable. #4: A series is often easier to market. New series are famously much harder to market than a continuation or interconnected series. It's easier to hook people when there is some amount of familiarity involved. After all, after 171 books, I've started a few new series from scratch and it is definitely harder to get those off the ground than it is to do say, book seven in an ongoing series. Returning to the previous example of the show The Paper, there's a reason that Oscar was featured heavily in the trailers and the promotional materials for the news series, despite being really a secondary character in the show instead of a lead character. Featuring Oscar in the promotions for the new show was a great shorthand for what type and style of show The Paper was going to be, and it made people more interested in the new series than they might have been otherwise. Given that The Paper was apparently renewed for a second season and did well enough to merit a second season, I think that strategy paid off. However, having an interconnected series may be a disadvantage and it may cause you problems. So here are five potential pitfalls and problems to be managed. #1: Managing reader expectations. One thing that can make interconnected series difficult is when your new series diverges from the expectations that readers have based on the previous series. They might feel frustrated when a character has changed significantly and acts differently than they might have before, or if there was a conflict that does not meet the way that something might have happened in a previous series. This can be potentially tricky because for the series to work, for the stories to be interesting, the characters have to evolve and change and grow and experience setbacks, but at the same time, you don't want to drift too far from what drew readers to the series in the first place. I've had a couple of times in my own series when people were not happy about specific plot points in Frostborn or Sevenfold Sword or Silent Order or The Ghosts or Cloak Mage. I think there are two ways to look at that. The first way is what you don't want to do, and this would be an example of what you should avoid. There's a story I read about a Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master who had been running a campaign with his players for two years and it all had the same characters and all the characters had leveled up together, but one of the players was moving away to a new part of the country. So at the last session, the player character in question decided to murder all the other players as he left (their characters rather, not real life murder, of course). Just because he could, just because he felt like being a jerk. That would be the very extreme end of what you do not want to do. It's best to never act out of spite. The better version of that is if you are writing a long series and you have a clear artistic vision about what you want to happen with it, in terms of character development or major plot events or even major characters who get killed, it's best to stick to that and not waffle. Yes, you are going to tick off some people. That is essentially inevitable. If you are going to write something, no matter what you write, it's going to annoy somebody, but it's best to have a clear artistic vision and stick to it. And if you do have dramatic plot developments, it's best to establish them well in advance and then to deal with the consequences as well, because you want to avoid as much "handwavium" as possible. So I think the key to managing reader expectations is to be as transparent as possible. I've had people asking me for the next Cloak Mage book already, even though the new one's only been out for like two days and I've said repeatedly that I'll probably start working on it in May once Dragon-Mage becomes my main project and to also be as reasonable as possible in the writing in terms of making sure everything makes sense as you write it. #2: A second disadvantage is that you may need to help the reader in terms of glossaries, summaries, character lists, et cetera. If a series continues characters, plots, and locations from a previous series, it can be helpful to provide glossaries, plot summaries, or character lists to help refresh their memories or to explain something to a reader who has not read the previous series. Although an interconnected series should largely stand on its own as much as possible, people still feel slighted if there's a reference to something they don't remember or know. In my own books, I have often included a footnote if a reference contains a plot point from a previous book. I've done this in Ghost Armor, Shield War, and Cloak Mage a couple of times, though I haven't done it in Blades of Ruin because it's set a century after the other books. People have responded favorably to those, though I have to admit Cloak of Summoning doesn't have any just because I simply forgot to do them. So I may need to remind myself to do that once we get to Cloak of Frost. But people have responded well to that. I've also done glossaries of characters and glossaries of locations at the end of, let's see, Frostborn, Sevenfold Sword, Dragontiarna, The Shield War, and Ghost Armor and people found those helpful. I may do that for other series if they get long enough to require it. I have seen some authors include summaries of previous books at the start of their new books. I've even seen some traditionally published books that do that as well. I've never done that. I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not. I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I feel like the book should stand as much on its own as possible. If you need to include the summary at the beginning, there might be something wrong, but on the other hand, some people do like those and do find them helpful. So I think that may come to a "your mileage may vary" experience. #3: The potential disadvantage number three would be adding new characters and evolving old ones. The danger of an interconnected series with a new cast of characters is that readers may not like the new ones as much or they feel cheated that their favorite characters are not there. Having at least one character return gives the reader an audience and anchor while they meet the new characters. It's important to evolve returning characters, but it's also a fine balance to make sure they don't change in a way that's forced or artificial. The famously bad examples of this are the legacy characters in the Star Wars sequel trilogy where the filmmakers made Luke and Han into Sad Old Losers just to make the new characters look better by comparison and that did not work out so well in terms of the movie's reception. The personality needs to reflect what is happening in the new series without sacrificing what readers like best about them from the previous series, which seems to be what happened in the Star Wars sequels. Returning again to The Paper, if Oscar had suddenly become a cheery and high energy middle manager instead of remaining true to his original personality of a slightly prickly and judgmental accountant, it wouldn't have felt true to viewers of The Office who spent nearly a decade with that character. Instead, he remains pretty close to what viewers remember, cautious based on his previous experience with the documentary film crew at work and as the first season goes on, philosophical about the passage of time and his relationship with the documentary crew who have been part of his life for so long, which is a good example of character evolution. I actually think the recent Ghostbusters movies are also a good example of that where the focus is on the new characters, but the legacy characters from the original Ghostbusters movies return and they act as sort of a mentors and sort of guiding authority figures for the new characters. #4: A fourth potential difficulty is gaining new readers with an interconnected series. Many readers have been burned by interconnected series that claim to be standalone, but as they are reading it, they feel lost in allusions to prior events or feel like they're missing information. It's important that even interconnected series stands on its own for readers and that references to the past book actively serve the plot of the current one. Many readers are also completionists and will want to start interconnected series from the first possible starting point. And I've already talked about that with Frostborn and Sevenfold Sword, which makes them less likely to start an interconnected series since they're possibly committing to a huge multiple series at once. #5: And that leads to the fifth and possibly the most serious disadvantage of a long interconnected series like that, what I've called before Marvel Continuity Lockout Syndrome. I've done a previous podcast episode on what I call Marvel Continuity Lockout Syndrome, which refers to the MCU movies. Essentially, a series of interconnected series can go on for so long and reference so many things that it feels daunting for someone to start. The idea of having to catch up or doing homework on dozens of items in order to watch or read something is unbearable for a lot of busy people and most people's memories can't sustain a few decades of content like the Marvel Cinematic Universe now has. This is one reason, in fact, it's probably the main reason that I started the Half Elven Thief series because of Marvel Continuity Lockout Syndrome. I had written Frostborn, Sevenfold Sword, Dragontiarna, Dragonskull and The Shield War. This is this long interconnected series, but I was worried that Marvel Continuity Lockout was affecting its ability to draw in new readers. So I started Half-Elven Thief, which is completely separate and new, and it's done quite well, and I think partly because it doesn't have the sheer daunting scale of someone looking at over 50 connected books set in Andomhaim and Owyllain. To mitigate this as much as possible, I think it's best to make absolutely sure that references to the past series are only necessary for driving the plot of the current one, and that they don't make the story unnecessarily complicated. You can avoid this by following the good rules of story structure. Make sure the protagonist of the book has an interesting conflict that they have to struggle to overcome, and that the central point of the conflict isn't references to past books. So to sum up, interconnected series are a great way to build loyal readers and create more complex characters in worlds. It's becoming more popular in the publishing world in works like Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, which proves that readers are willing to read long and sometimes only loosely interconnected series to keep experiencing a world they enjoy. Just be aware of the potential pitfalls and guard against them as best you can, which fortunately can be done with a proper story structure and a little foresight. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave your review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

Series: God's Promises, Our JourneyTitle: "How can we be sure God will keep his promises?"Scripture: Genesis 15:7-21 NIV Jeremiah 34:17-20Galatians 3:13-16Bottom Line: Our confidence in God's promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDMy opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. ⸻INTRODUCTIONThe Wedding VowMost people understand contracts, but marriage vows are closer to biblical covenant.In a wedding, two people stand before witnesses and promise faithfulness:“For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”Those vows mean:“I am committing myself to you even if circumstances change.”Now imagine a wedding where only one person says the vows.Imagine the groom saying:“Even if you fail me, I will remain faithful to you.”That would be startling.But that is essentially what happens in Genesis 15.Abram prepares for a covenant ceremony. He would have expected both parties to pass between the pieces. Instead, Abram is put into a deep sleep, and God alone passes through.God is saying:“Abram, this promise finally rests on Me.”That is how we can be sure God will keep His promises.Not because we are so faithful, but because He is.⸻CONTEXTGenesis 15 comes in the middle of tension.God has already promised Abram land, offspring, and blessing. But Abram still has no son. Sarai is still barren. The land is still occupied.So Genesis 15 is about the space between promise and fulfillment.And in that space, God does not rebuke Abram.He reassures him.Last week in Genesis 15:1, God said, “I am your sovereign/shield.”Now in verses 7–21, God shows Abram WHY He can be trusted.⸻Bottom Line: Our confidence in God's promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.SERMONGenesis 15 has two halves:• Verses 1–6: the promise believed• Verses 7–21: the promise guaranteedLast week we focused on Abram believing God.This week we focus on God guaranteeing His promise.3 BIG TRUTHS1. God reminds Abram who He is and what He has done (v. 7)“I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”Before God explains what He will do, He reminds Abram who He is and what He has already done.That is important.God builds Abram's confidence in the future by reminding him of His character and His track record.Two anchors are right there in verse 7:• Who God is: “I am the LORD”• What God has done: “who brought you out of Ur”God often strengthens our faith the same way.When we struggle to trust His promises, He points us backward before He points us forward.He reminds us:• I am the LORD• I have been faithful before• I will be faithful againApplicationWhen your faith is weak, start here:• Remember who God is• Remember what God has doneOur confidence in God's promises grows when we look at His character and His past faithfulness.⸻2. God's covenant promise depends on His faithfulness, not Abram's performance (vv. 12–17)This is the heart of the passage.Abram prepares the covenant animals. In that world, both parties would normally walk between the pieces. It was a solemn way of saying:“May this happen to me if I break this covenant.”But Abram never walks through.Instead:• Abram is put into a deep sleep• God alone passes through the piecesThe smoking firepot and blazing torch represent the presence of God.So what is God saying?He is saying:“Abram, I am taking full responsibility for this covenant.”This promise rests finally on My faithfulness, not yours.That does not mean Abram's faith does not matter. It does. But the covenant is not secured by Abram's perfection. It is secured by God's commitment.That is why Abram's later failures do not cancel God's promise.Simple way to say itAbram receives.God guarantees.IllustrationIt is like an inheritance.A father prepares something for his children.The children do not create it.They do not negotiate it.They receive what the father establishes.Genesis 15 shows us that God is building a covenant family, and Abram is receiving what God creates.ApplicationThat is good news for us.If God's promises depended mainly on our consistency, we would all be in trouble.But the covenant rests on God's faithfulness.⸻3. This covenant ultimately points to Jesus (Galatians 3; Lord's Supper)Genesis 15 does not end with Abram. It is foundational. It points forward to Christ.Think again about the covenant ritual.Animals are cut apart.The covenant maker passes between them, saying in effect:“May I bear the curse if this covenant is broken.”In Genesis 15, God takes that oath upon Himself.So the big question becomes:If people fail God again and again, who will bear the covenant curse?The answer is Jesus.Galatians 3:13 says:“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”Galatians 3:16 says the promises were ultimately centered in Christ.So Genesis 15 is pointing ahead to the cross.At the cross:• God keeps His promise• God bears the curse• God secures salvation for His peopleWhat God symbolized in Genesis 15, He fulfills in Jesus.God said, in effect, “I will bear the cost.”And at the cross, He did.That is why Genesis 15 is one of the clearest foreshadowings of the gospel in the Old Testament.⸻CONCLUSIONSo how can we be sure God will keep His promises?Because in Genesis 15, God does three things:• He reminds Abram who He is & what He's done• He guarantees the covenant Himself based on His willingness to die for our failures• He points us forward to JesusSo when you struggle to trust God, remember:• Look at His character• Look at His past faithfulness• Look at the crossThe cross is the ultimate proof that God keeps His word.⸻LORD'S SUPPER TRANSITIONAs we come to the Lord's Table, we remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant promise.At this table we look back and remember:• Christ has died• Christ is risen• Christ will come againThe bread and cup remind us that God does not just make promises.He keeps them.Jesus said in Luke 22 that the cup is the new covenant in His blood.So today we come not trusting in our faithfulness to God, but in God's faithfulness to us through Christ.Bottom Line: Our confidence in God's promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.CLOSING APPEALSo what is God saying to you today?Perhaps He is saying:• Stop measuring My faithfulness by your circumstances• Remember who I am• Remember what I have done• Trust My SonAnd what will you do about it?Will you trust Him again?Will you rest in His faithfulness?Will you come to the table grateful that Jesus has secured what you never could?Amen.Series: God's Promises, Our JourneyTitle: How Can We Be Sure God Will Keep His Promises?Scripture: Genesis 15:7–21Jeremiah 34:17–20Galatians 3:13–161 Corinthians 11:23–26Luke 22:14–20; 28–30Hebrews 8:8–12Bottom Line: Our confidence in God's promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.⸻INTRODUCTIONThe Wedding VowMost people understand contracts, but marriage vows are closer to biblical covenant.In a wedding, two people stand before witnesses and promise faithfulness:“For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”Those vows mean:“I am committing myself to you even if circumstances change.”Now imagine a wedding where only one person says the vows.Imagine the groom saying:“Even if you fail me, I will remain faithful to you.”That would be startling.But that is essentially what happens in Genesis 15.Abram prepares for a covenant ceremony. He would have expected both parties to pass between the pieces. Instead, Abram is put into a deep sleep, and God alone passes through.God is saying:“Abram, this promise finally rests on Me.”That is how we can be sure God will keep His promises.Not because we are so faithful, but because He is.⸻CONTEXTGenesis 15 comes in the middle of tension.God has already promised Abram land, offspring, and blessing. But Abram still has no son. Sarai is still barren. The land is still occupied.So Genesis 15 is about the space between promise and fulfillment.And in that space, God does not rebuke Abram.He reassures him.Last week in Genesis 15:1, God said, “I am your sovereign/shield.”Now in verses 7–21, God shows Abram WHY He can be trusted.⸻Bottom Line: Our confidence in God's promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.SERMONGenesis 15 has two halves:• Verses 1–6: the promise believed• Verses 7–21: the promise guaranteedLast week we focused on Abram believing God.This week we focus on God guaranteeing His promise.3 BIG TRUTHS1. God reminds Abram who He is and what He has done (v. 7)“I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”Before God explains what He will do, He reminds Abram who He is and what He has already done.That is important.God builds Abram's confidence in the future by reminding him of His character and His track record.Two anchors are right there in verse 7:• Who God is: “I am the LORD”• What God has done: “who brought you out of Ur”God often strengthens our faith the same way.When we struggle to trust His promises, He points us backward before He points us forward.He reminds us:• I am the LORD• I have been faithful before• I will be faithful againApplicationWhen your faith is weak, start here:• Remember who God is• Remember what God has doneOur confidence in God's promises grows when we look at His character and His past faithfulness.⸻2. God's covenant promise depends on His faithfulness, not Abram's performance (vv. 12–17)This is the heart of the passage.Abram prepares the covenant animals. In that world, both parties would normally walk between the pieces. It was a solemn way of saying:“May this happen to me if I break this covenant.”But Abram never walks through.Instead:• Abram is put into a deep sleep• God alone passes through the piecesThe smoking firepot and blazing torch represent the presence of God.So what is God saying?He is saying:“Abram, I am taking full responsibility for this covenant.”This promise rests finally on My faithfulness, not yours.That does not mean Abram's faith does not matter. It does. But the covenant is not secured by Abram's perfection. It is secured by God's commitment.That is why Abram's later failures do not cancel God's promise.Simple way to say itAbram receives.God guarantees.IllustrationIt is like an inheritance.A father prepares something for his children.The children do not create it.They do not negotiate it.They receive what the father establishes.Genesis 15 shows us that God is building a covenant family, and Abram is receiving what God creates.ApplicationThat is good news for us.If God's promises depended mainly on our consistency, we would all be in trouble.But the covenant rests on God's faithfulness.⸻3. This covenant ultimately points to Jesus (Galatians 3; Lord's Supper)Genesis 15 does not end with Abram. It is foundational. It points forward to Christ.Think again about the covenant ritual.Animals are cut apart.The covenant maker passes between them, saying in effect:“May I bear the curse if this covenant is broken.”In Genesis 15, God takes that oath upon Himself.So the big question becomes:If people fail God again and again, who will bear the covenant curse?The answer is Jesus.Galatians 3:13 says:“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”Galatians 3:16 says the promises were ultimately centered in Christ.So Genesis 15 is pointing ahead to the cross.At the cross:• God keeps His promise• God bears the curse• God secures salvation for His peopleWhat God symbolized in Genesis 15, He fulfills in Jesus.God said, in effect, “I will bear the cost.”And at the cross, He did.That is why Genesis 15 is one of the clearest foreshadowings of the gospel in the Old Testament.⸻CONCLUSIONSo how can we be sure God will keep His promises?Because in Genesis 15, God does three things:• He reminds Abram who He is & what He's done• He guarantees the covenant Himself based on His willingness to die for our failures• He points us forward to JesusSo when you struggle to trust God, remember:• Look at His character• Look at His past faithfulness• Look at the crossThe cross is the ultimate proof that God keeps His word.⸻LORD'S SUPPER TRANSITIONAs we come to the Lord's Table, we remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant promise.At this table we look back and remember:• Christ has died• Christ is risen• Christ will come againThe bread and cup remind us that God does not just make promises.He keeps them.Jesus said in Luke 22 that the cup is the new covenant in His blood.So today we come not trusting in our faithfulness to God, but in God's faithfulness to us through Christ.Bottom Line: Our confidence in God's promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.CLOSING APPEALSo what is God saying to you today?Perhaps He is saying:• Stop measuring My faithfulness by your circumstances• Remember who I am• Remember what I have done• Trust My SonAnd what will you do about it?Will you trust Him again?Will you rest in His faithfulness?Will you come to the table grateful that Jesus has secured what you never could?Amen.NOTESNumerology1. The Difference Between 3 and 73 — Divine Witness or Divine ActionThree often signals that God himself is acting, confirming, or revealing something.It frequently appears where God's activity or testimony is emphasized.Examples:• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob — the patriarchal line.• Jonah three days in the fish (Jonah 1:17).• Jesus raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4).• Peter's threefold restoration (John 21:15–17).In simple terms:3 = God's action or divine testimony.It often marks a moment when God steps into history.7 — Completion / Covenant FulfillmentSeven signals completion, sacred fullness, or covenant perfection.It often appears where God brings something to its intended completion.Examples:• 7 days of creation (Genesis 1–2).• Sabbath on the 7th day.• Sevenfold covenant symbolism in several passages (e.g., Genesis 21:28–31).• Seven seals, trumpets, bowls in Revelation.In simple terms:7 = God bringing something to completion or covenant fullness.A Helpful Way to Distinguish ThemNumber Core Idea Function3 Divine action / witness God stepping in7 Divine completion God finishing what He startedSo you might say:• 3 = God acts• 7 = God completes2. The Number 2 Is Very Relevant in Genesis 15 as wellThe Biblical PrincipleDeuteronomy 19:15“A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”Ancient covenants normally involved two parties walking between the pieces (a self-maledictory oath):“May what happened to these animals happen to me if I break this covenant.”What Makes Genesis 15 UniqueNormally two covenant partners would walk the path.But in Genesis 15:• Abram does not walk through the pieces.• Only God passes through (symbolized by the smoking firepot and flaming torch).It means:God takes the entire covenant obligation upon himself.In other words:• God is both witness and guarantor.• Abram receives the promise by faith (Genesis 15:6).3. How the Numbers Work Together in Genesis 15Interestingly, several symbolic numbers converge here.2 — Witness / Covenant TestimonyGod acts as the covenant guarantor.3 — Divine ActionThe covenant ritual itself emphasizes God's direct intervention in Abram's story.5 Animals (Genesis 15:9)• Heifer• Goat• Ram• Turtledove• PigeonSome see 5 here as grace, though that connection is less certain.⸻4. The Real Theological PointThe numbers serve the story, but the story drives the meaning.Genesis 15 shows:• Abram believes (15:6)• God guarantees the promise himself (15:17–18)Which is exactly how Paul interprets the passage in Romans 4 and Galatians 3.You could summarize it for preaching like this:In Genesis 15, God doesn't just make a promise to Abram—He walks the covenant path alone, declaring that the fulfillment of His promise ultimately rests on Him.

In this enlightening episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a profound conversation with the Rev. Richard Carter, of St. Martin in the Fields in London. With over two decades of experience in urban ministry and a rich background as a member of the Melanesian Brotherhood, Richard shares the journey of founding the Nazareth Community—a movement centered on a sevenfold rule of life that emphasizes silence, service, scripture, sacrament, sharing, staying, and Sabbath.The discussion explores how Richard's commitment to contemplative prayer and community life has transformed the way people engage with spirituality in the bustling heart of London. He reflects on the importance of being present in a fast-paced world and how gratitude can serve as a form of quiet resistance amidst anxiety. Richard's insights highlight the power of vulnerability and connection across diverse backgrounds, illustrating how the Nazareth Community fosters an inclusive environment where everyone can experience the richness of spiritual life.KeywordsNazareth Community, contemplative prayer, urban ministry, spirituality, gratitude, community, silence, serviceTakeawaysThe Nazareth Community offers a sevenfold rule of life that integrates contemplative practices into everyday urban living.Silence is foundational for listening and spiritual growth, encouraging deeper connections with oneself and others.Acts of service and community building are essential for fostering inclusivity and belonging.Gratitude serves as a powerful response to anxiety and a means of recognizing the goodness in our lives.Spirituality is not separate from the world; it is deeply intertwined with our everyday experiences and interactions.

On today's pages, Zevachim 68 and 69, we encounter a striking comparison: a living sheep makes one sound, but in death its horns, bones, skin, and sinews become a symphony. This parable points us toward the power of enduring influence, showing how the traces we leave behind can create beauty and meaning long after we've departed. How might we shape a legacy that continues to make music in the world? Listen and find out.

Ready for an earth-shaking perspective on worship? This week on Monday Morning Pulpit, we dive into the cosmic worship scene of Revelation 5:8-14.Forget a quiet, polite gathering. John's vision explodes with a thrilling, three-tiered chorus of adoration:The Redeemed (The Elders & Living Creatures) sing the New Song of Christ's redemption.The Angels (Myriads of Myriads) chant the Sevenfold ascription to the Lamb's worth.All Creation (Everything in Heaven, Earth, and Sea) closes with a universal declaration of God's glory.Discover how your prayer life is linked to the golden bowls, and why the worship in heaven is the pattern for your life on earth. Press play and let your week begin with a glimpse of the Lamb's unrivaled worth!Please complete the content survey ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠My Portion: A 40 Day Journey of Finding All you Need in God⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Musings of A Redneck Reverend

Sevenfold president Evan Rosell joined WBJ editor Kirk Seminoff to talk about the company on the BizTalk with the Wichita Business Journal podcast on Oct. 13, 2025.

Pentecost 2025 Graduation season is a time of giving—gifts to celebrate, to remember, and to send forth with love. But what if the greatest gifts we receive aren't wrapped in ribbons, but in the presence of the Giver Himself? In this episode, we explore the love language of gift giving—not as materialism, but as the sacred act of saying, “You are seen. You are loved. You matter.” We then turn to the most profound gifts of all: the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, given by the Paraclete—our Advocate, who stands beside us as we step into the unknown. Let this be your commissioning: to carry these gifts boldly into the world.

Healthy fear of the Lord helps protect us through obedience and leads us toward holiness. We can approach the Lord with confidence only because of His grace.

Nick Kunze of Sanlam Private Wealth discusses AngloGold and the outlook for gold miners' profits as the metal trades just below record highs. Sappi CEO Steve Binnie unpacks the company's results and the possible upside from trade tariffs. KAL CEO Sean Walsh comments on results, with revenue impacted by lower fuel prices.

In part one of this teaching, we look closer on how fear of the Lord is needed in our spiritual life. As the Holy Spirit guides us toward the fear of the Lord, it leads us to the worship God deserves from us.

Why does Revelation depict sevenfold judgment cycles -- e.g., seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls? How might the Old Testament help us to understand the logic of Revelation's structure in this regard? And what other biblical prophet depicted divine judgment along the lines of a sevenfold schema?+++Support the The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedRead Matt's blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠matthewhalsted.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

This is not therapy as you've heard it before. This is a journey—through trauma, memory, and the slow awakening of the self. These seven stages aren't linear steps or clinical checklists. They are living movements, drawn from ancient wisdom and modern insight, designed to help us learn the first and greatest commandment we were never taught: how to love ourselves well. We begin in survival, but we do not end there. Each stage reveals what the others miss—how to prepare the heart for sorrow, how to meet the mirror with mercy, how to grieve without drowning, and finally, how to give without losing yourself. This is a therapy rooted in the Shema, in kenosis, in the embodied soul. It is the integration of the East and the West, the sacred and the shattered. A love that forgives. A hope that stays. A faith that doesn't flinch.

Holy Spirit power helps us proclaim the kingdom of God, to be born again and be transformed into a life showing fruit of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comforts, guides, warns, and convicts as our divine Counselor.

The unity of the church is based on and distantly reflects the unity of the Godhead.

Knowledge part 2

As we continue to explore the various attributes of the Holy Spirit, we compare our human knowledge with the revelation that comes from God alone.

Spirit of Understanding

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.Ephesians 1:17

Pastor Alan R. Knapp discusses the topic of "We See Jesus Expecting (with an Addendum: The Sevenfold Commitment)" in his series entitled "Hebrews 2020: We See Jesus" This is Increment 370 and it focuses on the following verses: Psalm 110:1; Romans 3:24; 4:5, 25, 5:1, 15, 18, 8:33; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 8:9, 12:9-10; Ephesians 1:4-5, 2:10; Colossians 1:14, 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:4, 6, 9; Hebrews 10:10, 13, 14, 27; Hebrews 10:18 cp. Ephesians 1:7

Consuming fire

Building off of Isaiah 11:2 and symbols throughout Scripture, this new series highlights the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this first teaching, the Word attests to His divinity and sevenfold nature (as seen in Revelation). Then we start with His first attribute, specifically as “the Spirit of the Father.”

Historically, seven types of individuals were anointed in the Old Testament. All of them foreshadowed the Messiah to come who would fulfill all these anointed roles in the highest degree possible. But here is the mystery of mysteries. Those seven roles have now been transferred to every son and daughter of God in the New Covenant. Powerful!Ministry website: www.shreveministries.org Comparative religion website: www.thetruelight.net The “Catholic Project” website: www.toCatholicswithlove.org Video channel: www.YouTube.com/mikeshreveministries All audio-podcasts are shared in a video format on our YouTube channel. Mail: P.O. Box 4260, Cleveland, TN 37320 / Phone: 423-478-2843Get Mike Shreve's book revealing the spiritual identity of God's people: WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in ChristMike Shreve's other podcast Revealing the True Light—a study on comparative religion themes, as well as mysterious or controversial biblical subjects: https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/revealingthetruelight

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How should we respond to the book of Revelation? Revelation 1:4–6 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should respond to the book of Revelation especially by praising and submitting to Jesus Christ as God, our Mediator.

Sharing our Sevenfold Flames of the Mighty Seven Elohim Activations for guidance, clarity and protection! Namaste

Lead singer of the band Fame on Fire, Bryan Kuznitz returns to the Rockcast and my radio show The Cutting Edge Countdown this week to dig into their new album The Death Card. Joining us from somewhere backstage on the Wage War tour, we talk about the story behind their new album, how it came to be, why tarot cards, opening for Wage War, our love of Avenged Sevenfold, and much more. For tour dates go to fameonfireband.com

In today's tumultuous world, it's easy to lose sight of God's love for us. The palpable anger of the Lord reveals 70x7 of guilt, shame, and rebellion of mankind. God must take action for a generation that continually grieves Him! Discontent stems from a loving Father who desires nothing but the best for His children. Melia shares a personal testament of experiencing the heavy burden of God's grief and anger, as she pleads for the lost and brokenhearted. A powerful prophetic message about the Lord's burdened heart and judgment on rebellion, guilt, and shame. The solution? A heartfelt repentance and a steadfast return to God's ways to avoid spiritual blindness. Chapters: 00:00 Judgment and prophecy 00:44 Spiritual cataracts explained 01:19 Spiritual blindness explored 01:52 Sevenfold spirit insights 02:39 Discussing angels and demons 03:07 Personal burdens and spirits 03:38 Feeling misaligned with God 04:01 Seeking divine guidance 04:31 Forgiveness through scripture 04:58 Disobedience and divine mercy 06:14 Significance of the blind ghost 07:17 Call for obedience and repentance Blessings xo- Melia's Services -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Melia's Books ->https://meliadiana.com/books Melia's Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy FREE Resources - > https://meliadiana.com/resources  

On today's MadTech Daily: Perplexity AI Usage Increases Sevenfold Since January; Snapchat Simplifies Ad Campaign Setup; Tesco Launches Digital Passports in Sustainability Push

The eternal impact of the Lord Jesus' ministry was made possible by the sevenfold Spirit of God. In today's message, Pastor Steven teaches on the seven Spirits of God and how they can come to rest upon you, just as they rested upon the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry.

Revelation 9 (NASB95)Andrew and Edwin discuss the cycles of sevens and a connection back to Leviticus 26, when God warned Israel about coming judgment.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=16508The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Monday, May 6, 2024

Friday, May 3, 2024

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Revelation 5 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin talk about Jesus having the sevenfold spirit of God.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=16229The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

In Theaters March 20, 21 only!Noah's Ark withstands a global flood, corroborated by scientific evidence across disciplines. A team exposes the truth behind this ancient tale found in cultures worldwide, confirming the Biblical account.There is a tale over 4,000 years old, preserved in ancient writings from every major culture around the world. Many thought it was only a myth, but recent discoveries confirm what the Bible has said all along. From the Director of Genesis: Paradise Lost, Sevenfold films and Genesis Apologetics present The Ark and the Darkness. Geology, paleontology, the fossil record, ancient history, volcanism, earth science—all of these scientific fields converge on one simple truth: Noah's Flood actually happened. Join our team of scientists from Answers in Genesis and Liberty University as we reveal the truth about Noah's Flood. Dr. Dan Biddle Daniel A. Biddle, Ph.D. is President of Genesis Apologetics, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to training youth pastors, parents, and students about Genesis, Creation, and the Flood. Daniel has authored/edited 10 books and published hundreds of videos on Creation and the Flood. Dr Biddle is a behavioral scientist and HR consultant with a doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology. His professional background includes 20 years' experience in expert witness consulting/testimony in state/federal cases involving statistical research methods and psychometrics. He maintains an executive role in two HR consulting and test development firms.While Daniel has been a Christian since age 11, he says his position on the specific chronology of Genesis was “undeclared” until 2011 when the evidence surrounding the fossil record (dinosaurs in particular), flood geology, and biblical exegesis led him to the historical position on the Genesis account.Ark and Darkness TicketsGenesis Apologetics

Pastor Ken Ortize opens up a new series into the book of Revelation. This multipart series will dive into the study, interpretation and help better understand the passages and their meanings. We will be looking in 'Revelation 4:5,6.

The Devil. “Men do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.” - Proverbs 6:30-31(KJV) More about me: https://linktr.ee/imanigibson --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/markedrose/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/markedrose/support

DIVINE ORDER AND THE SEVENFOLD EMPOWERMENT OF THE FIVE OFFICES OF THE MINISTRY (2013)Taken from a message given on September 15, 2013Support the showThank you for listening to our podcast!If you have any questions, subjects you would like to hear discussed, or feedback of any kind, you can contact us at: mansfieldgac@yahoo.com or through the links below, where you can find additional information about our work as well as other materials: https://mansfieldgac.com/ (church website)https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldGAC/ (church Facebook page)

When Brandon Gaide started the strategy and innovation firm Sevenfold, he found an unlikely partnership with construction firm Hutton.  Brandon shares with Don and Ebony how that partnership has allowed the creation of something new to help businesses make work more human.  On this episode we discuss: Helping organizations become more strategic Partnering with construction firm Hutton to build something new for businesses The meaning behind the Sevenfold name The marriage of strategy and innovation Launching change, not just talking about change How getting married relates to business strategy De-risking strategy Going beyond operational conversations to give leaders a place to belong Can Wichita handle new ideas? Learn more about Sevenfold:https://huttonbuilds.com/services/strategic-planning/LinkedIn ProfileA piece of paper can take flight when you fold it seven times, which takes both imagination and intention. Ben Hutton sees this as the perfect metaphor for the challenges many of our architecture and construction clients face at various times in their careers as leaders. They know they need to change and are looking for help to get there. So why not create a service to meet those clients' needs? Enter Sevenfold, a Hutton Company. Sevenfold is a strategy and innovation consultancy led by Brandon Gaide. He's helping clients solve large-scale problems and design better futures by unlocking the genius and creativity in people. Sevenfold offers a fresh approach to strategic planning for companies and organizations of all sizes.A former Presbyterian pastor, Brandon holds an MBA from Indiana University, an MDiv from Fuller Seminary, and a BA from the University of Texas.  Brandon has lived in five foreign countries, learned and forgotten four languages, has two daughters, two Vizslas, and one wife.  He lives in Wichita, Kansas.Other Resources:Join the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce! This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail communications@wichitachamber.org. This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

Episode #151 Johnny Christ is the bass player from Avenged Sevenfold, who has a new album 'Life Is But A Dream' coming out on June 2, 2023, and a massive US tour with AlexisOnFire kicking off this summer. Johnny, from his 'Drinks With Johnny' studio, checked in with Mistress Carrie to talk about his podcast, the new album, the upcoming tour, being a Dad, coming back from Covid-19, Lakers vs Celtics, The Stanley Cup, Bass Players, joining A7X, Bill Cosby, Queen, and so much more! Episode Notes Thanks to Royal Cymbals for sponsoring this episode. Check out the custom playlist for Episode #151 here See Avenged Sevenfold at the Xfinity Center on July 19, 2023 Find Johnny Christ online: Drinks with Johnny Instagram Find Avenged Sevenfold online: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Find Mistress Carrie online: Official Website The Mistress Carrie Backstage Pass on Patreon Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube Cameo Pantheon Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices