Podcast appearances and mentions of son jesus

By Mary Lindow Hello to all of you who are listening via podcast today or who are reading this message! I just finished being a part of our weekly prayer gathering this evening, and I have to tell you, the presence of the Father was so absolutely strong and evident in our time together! I am literally to the point that I anticipate all day long on Thursday evenings, getting together with the group that we pray with.    We have been blessed week after week, month after month with the sweet and strong presence of God as we intercede for our nation, for the globe, and for so many other things that the Lord lays on our hearts to pray about.   I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PODCAST THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. I am still trying to get it to compile and come together and I know that if I rush this, I will not share it in the light of how the Lord wants it to be presented properly.   BUT, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ANOTHER MESSAGE AND WORD FROM THE LORD STIRRING DEEP WITHIN MY SPIRIT, AND SO THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. Hearing God accurately in the mess and chaos that the world is in right now, is of huge importance!  May the Lord continue to use you all to proclaim and speak truth, no matter what the cost. It is so worth being called a servant of the Lord during hard and challenging times.   TODAY, I'M GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN A PLACE OF SAFETY, A PLACE, OR A “HAVEN” OF BEING SHELTERED BY THE LORD. Especially during very, very difficult and hard times. I'll share how to discern and hear His voice in the chaos of the nonstop noise the dark world bombards us all with. It's ratcheted up to crazy levels, and shouts loudly to attempt to distract us from discerning the times, and hopes to discourage us and knock us off balance with fear, and then rob our peace.   IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE EARTH IS IN ONE MASSIVE UPHEAVAL, AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU TURN RIGHT NOW, THE CRISES CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND BOIL! And so, people begin to put aside spending time in the word of God, and certainly in his presence, to spend time with the love of the Internet and scrolling through their telephones through social network information and high charged doomsday podcasts and videos. This can absolutely create stress and anxiety, and it also creates a terrible problem with comparing ourselves to other people and where we are at in life.   PRAYER IS NOT A BORING HARD THING WHEN YOU REALIZE  THAT YOU ARE FACE-TO-FACE, OR LITERALLY,  “PRESENCE TO PRESENCE” WITH THE FATHER.   A tremendous man who walked daily in the Presence of God, Andrew Murray, said in a book that he wrote,  “It's one of the terrible marks of the diseased state of the Christian life in these days that there are so many that are content, and remain passive and content, without the distinct occasion of having experienced answered prayer. They pray daily, but know very little of direct, definite answers to prayer as the rule of their daily life.”    Psalm Thirty verse four says, “I sought the Lord and he answered me.”   We must understand that it's the Father's will that WE SEEK HIM OUT to daily have dialogue with his will, and it's his will to have his children to listen to him and then, he listens to his children and agrees to their requests. It's his will that we should come to him day by day, with specific requests, and he will every day, do for us great and wonderful things! What we ask sometimes might be a case where the specific answer is that he refuses our request, but our Father lets us know when and why he can't give us what we request. It's like his Son Jesus, and so we will withdraw our petition or our request.   When did Jesus do that? Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If this cup could pass from me, but not my will, but your will be done.”  He said this to the Father.   WHETHER OUR REQUEST IS ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL OR NOT, GOD WILL BY HIS WORD AND BY HIS SPIRIT, TEACH THOSE OF US WHO ARE TEACHABLE, and he will give us time to withdraw our requests if they're not according to God‘s mind or purposes.   LET'S PRESS IN. LET'S JUST STAND FIRM UNTIL THE ANSWER COMES! PRAYER IS GIVEN TO US TO OBTAIN AN ANSWER! It's in prayer and its answer, that the exchange of love between the Father and we his children takes place.   MY QUESTION IS, “ARE YOUR  PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED?” During the last hours of the age that we're in, there will be two opposing groups or alliances in the world.    The First group are those whose hearts are absolutely overwrought with bitterness, resentment and hatred.   The Second group is those whose love has actually increased, and are experiencing the power of the Kingdom of God, now!   Jesus told us about this in Matthew in chapter 4:10-13. He said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” And then in Matthew 24:14 he added, “This gospel (good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations and then the end shall come.”   SO, THE BIG QUESTION IS... ...“WHAT IS THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?”  It's the whole truth Jesus came to bring, not only that part that saves us from our sins, but also that part which creates us in his image! It's the full message, the full good news with all its requirements and all of its rewards!  It's is the full price for the full power! It's the most glorious pearl that a person can possess. The presence of God in His glory, revealed, made known within and among us!   IF WE WANT TO GAIN THIS GREAT LOVE, WE WILL CONTINUALLY BE FORCED TO MAKE CHOICES TOWARD MERCY, OR, TOWARD UNFORGIVENESS, and if we don't walk in a forgiving attitude, we will certainly become prey to an embittered spirit, if it's in fact, God‘s plan to allow wickedness and holiness at the same time,  so they grow to full maturity.   We must guard our hearts ahead of time from reacting in bitterness or unforgiveness because the increasing anarchy will certainly give us occasions to lose love, with the attempt to make us hard so we can survive in this cruel world.   WE OFTEN WITHDRAW FROM THE GENUINENESS OF PURE LOVE! We can't choose cautious, selective love, and also walk in the power of God's kingdom, my friends! To defy pain, we sometimes unconsciously shut down our love, because after all, its love that makes us vulnerable.   GOD WANTS US TO BE A PEOPLE WHOSE LOVE IS GROWING HOT, NOT COLD. Jesus didn't say that we had to trust our enemies, but he did say that we had to love them anyhow. You might be asking why!  One reason God allows difficulties is to test us! ( I know! I know! We don't want to hear that! ) He wants to see if our Christianity is just an intellectual pursuit or just thoughts and feelings of the mind, or if following him is truly the highest passion of our hearts. So, he tells us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Wow!    SOME OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH REJECTION AND BETRAYAL MOST LIKELY. The Lord says to you today, “You did not fail, you have continued to love, and although you went through great pain, yet you have forgiven, those who have hurt you.”  My friends you have passed the test.   THERE ARE HOWEVER, SOME OF YOU LISTENING OR READING THAT STILL HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR LIVES THAT YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN, AND WHOM YOU DO NOT LOVE.  Maybe you're right, they don't deserve your forgiveness, but what you don't realize is the consequence of your anger. You see, as long as we refuse to forgive, a part of this is trapped in the past where you will always be reminded of your pain, and until we forgive, we will not be fully released to go on with our life. Even the time of year in which you were hurt will bring depression.   THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN HAVE TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND THAT IS IN THE HERE AND NOW, RIGHT NOW, LIVING IN THE PRESENT. But if our mind is in conflict with others, we're neither here nor in the present. When we live in the past, we are cut off from God! What people did to us to hurt us is over! It's done; it doesn't have any real existence or life of its own, except in your mind.   SO THERE WITHIN US, THE DEED CONTINUES TO LIVE AND FESTER AND AS LONG AS IT LIVES, WE'RE STILL BEING HURT BY IT. The person or the people who wounded you may have long since died. They can't be blamed because it's us who keeps our wounds alive. Not only is the quality of our spiritual life affected, but often our physical health pays a price as well!   As long as we keep holding onto the burden of what someone has done to us, every time we think about it or think about that person, the stomach acids start to churn and anxiety increases, and then of course our body is continually put under stress.   If we don't forgive those who have hurt us, we lose a measure of our capacity to love and whether they deserve forgiveness or not, we deserve a better life! God wants to give you a better life but you can't enjoy abundant life and carry unforgiveness, because we're shackled to something that was hurting us. Did you know that our own unforgiveness tortures us?   SO HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF THAT PRISON?  HOW DO YOU FIND THE PROTECTION OF GOD FOR YOUR SOUL?    Well, God calls us to forgive. You have to see the hands of God reaching to you in the midst of your pain. He wants to redeem that conflict using that specific crisis or hardship to develop and perfect character in you. It will be this experience that he will use to make you like Jesus. To become like Jesus is to dwell, to live, in the place of rest and the safety of God. Every time we say, “Father, I choose to love. I choose to forgive. I choose to forget and not hold it against this person”, we are taking on the nature of Jesus. Friends, rejoice that Jesus is taking over your heart. You are entering into the strong, safe haven of God's shelter.   I DO MANY THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED ME TO DO IN LIFE NOT ONLY AS A MINISTER, BUT ALSO AS A PASTORAL COUNSELOR. I also host and facilitate a group called “The international Prophetic Women's Mentoring Council.” This is a group of women from all walks of life several cultural groups and different backgrounds. We meet through zoom video sessions and individually. The thing that is “the glue that bonds us” is the fact that each of us have been called into ministry, and each of these women flows in a different expression of the prophetic gift. This past week we had a zoom session and our conversation and subject matter was regarding, the power of intercession and what it takes to approach the Face of God, in a right attitude.   One of the things that stood out so strongly in our time of dialogue and accountability to one another was the fact that in order to hear clearly from the Spirit of God, we need to have the inward witness, or the “inside part of us that communicates with God”, clearly in a place of submission and humility before him, and, that we first come into a place where we have asked the Lord to cleanse us. That means cleanse our hearts before we try to come to Him in prayer.   MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD. They seek it through quick daily devotionals, or they seek the voice of God through other people every day, instead of seeking the Lord himself. The scripture tells us clearly in John 10:4-5, “His sheep know his voice, and strange voices, they will not follow.”   SO WHAT ARE THE STRANGE VOICES? The voices from the external world that are constantly pumping us full of data, fear, rhetoric and forced compliance to social conditioning. If we choose to listen to the voice of strangers, then we move further away from being sheep in the pasture of the Lord.   SO HOW DO WE KNOW HIS VOICE? How do we discern that it's him? The number one thing, is that God always speaks life. He always speaks truth. And when God speaks, it brings peace, even in the midst of hard difficulties or hard decisions. An absolute solid peace comes and says, “This is the way, and this is what you have to do!” Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. That's Isaiah 30:21.   THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU. God absolutely wants to direct your life through your decision-making. The Holy Spirit guides us in our spirits (not through our physical body). The Number One way The Holy Spirit leads and guides us is through what the Bible calls, the “Inward Witness.” Proverbs 3:6 says,  “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”   WHAT IS AN INNER OR INWARD WITNESS? An inner witness is an impression, or a sense or perception on the inside of you. Romans 8:16 tells us, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit, to affirm, to confirm, that we are God's children.” Jeremiah 7:23-24 says this to us,  “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.'  Yet, they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward.   AS KINGDOM PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT LED BY OUR SENSES. We're not led by our ears or our eyes. We're led by our spirit. When we talk about hearing God, we're not talking about hearing God with our physical ears. We're talking about hearing Him in our spirit.  Here's a great example:  The Apostle Paul had been arrested and he was headed to his trial. Before he took the journey he sensed something in his spirit. He wasn't the captain of the ship, but he sensed something in his spirit.  In Acts 27:10, Apostle Paul said, "Men, I perceive we're going to face a disaster and heavy losses on this voyage. This disaster will cause damage to the cargo and the ship, and it will affect our lives." It wasn't long before the ship hit a cyclone, but an angel appeared and guaranteed Paul that everyone would make it, and they did! What was it that what Paul said in the beginning? “I perceive".   This is what we're looking at right now. We're talking about being led by the Spirit of God, no matter what circumstance or difficulty we might encounter.   BEING A PERSON WHO IS CALLED TO A PROPHETIC MINISTRY, I AM CLEARLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT 90% OF WHAT I DO, ALSO COMES FROM TEACHING PEOPLE FROM THE WORD OF GOD REGARDING HOW TO  “HEAR” THE VOICE OF GOD.   My job is not to be a telephone for people to connect to God with, nor simply through prophesying. This is not going to change lives long term if the word of God is not taught and also if people don't act on it and obey it.   I HAVE HAD SOME STRANGE ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT I HAVE SOME KIND OF HOTLINE OR SATELLITE CONNECTION TO GOD TO HELP THEM GET ANSWERS. They need something or want to hear what the Lord has for them by asking me for a prophetic word. My friends this is not how the prophetic word of knowledge or word of wisdom works!  I had a lady when we were Pastoring a local fellowship come up to me after the service and she asked me if I would please, “do whatever I do, do that thing that I do”, and see if God would show me where she had put her wedding ring. She had lost it. I remember feeling very uncomfortable and a cold chill went through my body! My thought process was, “this woman wants me to be like a palm reader, or a magic eight ball! She wants me to use divination to find her wedding ring!“ Very kindly but firmly I told the woman, “You can ask the Lord to show you where it is yourself, or just simply go on looking for it. Pray that the Lord would lead you to it, but to ask me to ask the Holy Spirit to show me where it is, is basically trying to use another voice to speak to God for you when you can speak on your own to him.”   THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN GOD WILL SPEAK A WORD, AND IT IS DONE THROUGH A PROPHETIC UTTERANCE, and it gives us a word of knowledge about something or a word of wisdom about a specific event where we need to have insight, but it will always confirm with the Spirit of God what he has already put down on the inside of us that we can't seem to quite untangle, until the prophetic word comes and brings a clarity to it.   SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HAVE SOMEONE BRING A PROPHETIC WORD THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF LOVING CORRECTION, BUT IT IS STILL CORRECTION, AND PEOPLE GET ANGRY AND SHOUT, “HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME! Who are you to judge me?!”   Of course what this is a reaction to being caught out in bad behavior or hidden sin, and the Lord gently, lovingly, brings a word of warning.   ALL OF US KNOW WHEN WE SLIP AWAY FROM SPENDING TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. We know when we slack off from reading the scripture and from meditating on it, letting the Holy Spirit speak through the word to us. This is where the areas of bitterness and lack of purity in our walk with the Lord get all tangled up.   FRIENDS.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE LED BY HIM. (By the way, you might need a refreshing of your commitment to only follow his voice.) You don't need a prophet to hear from God for you, or have a constant prophetic word to make decisions. Simply say these words. “Holy Spirit, teach me how to be led by you.” Then, before you make any major decisions, acknowledge God. Say, “God, this is what the situation is,  >  insert your situation  

There are some people who really like to travel. There are others who really like the idea of traveling, and my wife and I belong to that latter camp. Because though we're certainly interested in other areas of the world — curious about the geography, architecture, and culture of other cities — we're far less interested in paying the cost and taking the time to go to any of them. And so, what we do instead is watch online travel videos.As you could guess, online travel videos often only ever highlight the most beautiful and the most impressive parts of the cities that they feature. And this is not by accident. They are, after all, often sponsored by travel agencies who want to convince you, the viewer, that you really ought to go there. In a way, Psalm 87 is not unlike our modern travel videos. This psalm gives us a look into one specific city. It features some of the rare beauties of that city. And, its purpose is, without a doubt, to convince us that we really ought to go there.And what we're going to do this morning is move through Psalm 87, and do so with the help of three main concepts: City, Citizens, and Celebration. Let's pray, and ask the Lord for his help.Father, you are the maker of heaven and earth. And you are the maker of this great city that we are about to read about. Open our eyes to the wonders that are there. Awaken us to the surpassing splendor of the city called by your name. Call us toward it, and do so through your Spirit to the honor of your Son. Amen.So, once again, Psalm 87 is a psalm about a city. And we're looking at it along the lines: City, Citizens, and Celebration. We begin with the city.CityVerse 1,“On the holy mount stands the city he founded;”Notice how, when read slowly, the sentence seems to pull us upward phrase by phrase. First, we've got a mountain: “On the holy mount.” And, of course, a mountain, by its very nature, requires that we raise our eyes upward to acknowledge it. The path through the mountain is a climb. The entrance in, requires ascension. You must rise in order to reach it. Mountains are not hidden objects, let alone insignificant ones. Mountains epitomize the land in which they reside, and demand their recognition to the north, south, east, and the west of them. You can miss a body of water. You can be blind to a valley or lowland. It is hard to ignore a mountain. And, as we can see, the mountain in Psalm 87 is no ordinary mountain. It is holy.“On the holy mount.”Holy means set apart from what is sinful, unclean and common. Set apart so as to make it fit to be in the presence of God. Holy things are blessed things because they get to be near God.And so Psalm 87 is about a mountain upon which God can rightfully dwell! A mountain upon which God “places his feet,” so-to-speak. A mountain upon which God built a city.Still, verse one, “On the holy mount | stands the city | he founded;” Can you imagine? A city whose designer and builder is God. Follow me on this: The Planning Director for the City of Saint Paul is named Nicolle Newton. And the Planning Director for the City of Minneapolis is named Meg McMahan. The Planning Director for the city is named: I AM, Yahweh, “I am Who I am.” The God who places his footstool upon the earth and sets his throne in heaven. Wouldn't you want to live in the city made by the very one who: “Forgives all your iniquity, heals all your diseases, and redeems your life from the pit,” and “crowns you with steadfast love, and satisfies you with good, and works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”If the God of the universe had a city, well then wouldn't you want to go there?And in verse two, we're told even more about this city. Namely that,“The LORD loves this city. The Lord loves the gates of Zion, more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.”Note that it's not saying, “God loves no other city but this one.” But it is saying that of all the places, and of all the cities God loves, there is none so loved by God as this one.And, we should ask, in the Bible, what does God typically do when he loves something? When he really loves something? Perhaps some of you might remember from Numbers and Aaron's blessing in Numbers 6:24-27. What does God typically do when he really loves something? He puts his name on it. God puts his name on what he most loves. Said another way, God puts his name where his heart is already.Hence, verse 3,“Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.”God loves this city. He, by putting his name upon it, has committed himself to its flourishing. The city that has God's name upon it is the city that should rest assured, “God is for us, therefore, what could be against us?” So, Psalm 87, is a psalm about a city. That's our first main concept — the city itself. Second, the citizens of the city. CitizensNow what actually sets us up for this next section is that little phrase we see there in verse three: “Glorious things of you are spoken.” It's clearly addressing the city, yes? “Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.” And, so, it begs the question: What are the glorious things being spoken of this city? And, honestly, this is where things get interesting. Remember back in our intro, we compared Psalm 87 to a modern travel video. We said, Psalm 87 is not unlike a travel video in the sense that it highlights the beauties of a city in order to convince people that they really ought to go to that city. Where Psalm 87 differs from a modern travel video however: The beauties it features are not towering buildings and impressive architecture. Not picturesque parkways and pleasant boardwalks. There's no mention of beaches, or blue skies, or even sunshine. Those are the beauties features in modern travel videos — the stuff. The featured beauties of the city in Psalm 87 are people — the city's citizens.Look with me at verse 4, as the psalmist himself takes a back seat, and God himself speaks. Verse 4: “Among those who know me” God is clarifying to whom he is about to speak. To those who know me. Which, in biblical language, means those who have a relationship with God. Those who love and are loved by me.It's to that group of people who know God that God now mentions, or proclaims:“Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush.”And you might think: “What about them? We've been talking about the city of God. The holy mountain. The city he made. The city he loves. Suddenly, God steps into view and says, “To my followers over here, let me tell you about Rahab and Babylon; Philistia, Tyre, and Cush.” What about them?I mean, if you have much familiarity with the Old Testament, then you likely don't need me to tell you that most of these nations were historical enemies to God's people. They had fought wars against God's people. They had lured God's people into idolatry, and many other forms of sin.I mean, you see Babylon in that list, right? Babylon was the nation that broke down the walls of God's city, Jerusalem. Babylon killed the Israelites king, the Israelites killed its high-priest, and exiled most of its people. Babylon even burned God's Holy Temple to the ground (2 kings 25).And Philistia. Philistia was constantly at war with God's people throughout the period of the judges and the kings. At one point, the Philistines even stole the Ark of the Covenant and set it up next to one of its false gods — as if to say that the God over Israel was on par with their god Dagon. And don't let that first one trip you up — you see Rahab? The Rahab here is not the Rahab who hid the Israelite slaves and defended God's people. That'd make for a positive character in this list. Instead, Rahab here actually refers to Egypt. And one way to know that is to simply turn over to Psalm 89, only two psalms after this one, where it says in verse 10: “You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.” Rahab is an enemy. And Isaiah 30:7 makes it even clearer: “Egypt's help is futile and empty; therefore, I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still."And so, we've got Babylon (who destroyed God's Temple), Philistia (who stole God's Ark of the Covenant), and Egypt (who enslaved God's people and, plague after plague, resisted God's will to let his people go).So again, we ask, what about these nations? Why bring them up here in light of God's Holy Mountain and God's beloved city?Is it to clarify that these are the nations who are not welcome in God's city? That these are the peoples who dare not set foot upon God's mountain?Given the background, this is exactly what we'd expect God to say next. But he doesn't! He doesn't! In fact, as the ESV translates it, God doesn't even say anything at this point. Instead, it's the people, those who know him, who speak up. And here's what they say, verse 4,“This one was born there,” they say.”Born there. And again, more emphatically, verse 5,“And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her;”Babylon, born in the city of God. Philistia, born on God's holy mountain. Egypt, born within the gates of Zion. Do you see what its saying?These surrounding nations, most who've historically been enemies to God, and enemies to God's people, are not: Merely going to be visitors in God's city, though that alone would've been shocking enough. They're not going to be temporary residents of God's city. “Here's your pass, expires six months from now.” But they're going to be citizens. They're going to receive a declaration of citizenship so complete, so real, so permanent that it could rightly be said of them, “They were born in this city! Born within these walls.”There is no one — no human being, no political group — who could ever orchestrate such a grand transformation as this. But God could. And God does. Verse five, when read in full, says:“And of Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her;' for [or, because of the fact that] the Most High himself will establish her.”God's going to do it. He's going to make it happen. The God who founded this city is going to fill it with former enemies.And, in verse 6, we get to watch him do it. “The LORD records as he registers the peoples, ‘This one was born there.'” The language is that of a king taking a census. Much like what Caesar Augustus did in the gospels. He, too, declared a census — an official counting of the people. Which meant that all the people, Joseph and Mary included, had to go and be registered, each to his own town.Droves and droves of people flooded the major city-centers in that time. People lined the streets, filled the cities — it's no wonder Mary and Joseph could find no room in the inn. Well here in Psalm 87, God is taking his census. Which means his people are coming to his city, and in that long line of people, we find Babylonians, Philistines, Egyptians, and, I might add, Europeans, and North Americans, and people from every tribe, nation and tongue. They're standing in the line. They're heading toward the gates. And when they finally arrive at the entrance, God is there. Pen and paper in hand. Looks up at them, total foreigners, former enemies, and declares — Born here. Inscribes: Born in my city. It's an amazing story. And, if you are a Christian, it is your story. It is. If you are a lover of Jesus. A follower of Jesus, then God has written over your life — not enemy, not foreigner, not illegitimate, not insufficient, but born here.“Born here.”Hebrews 12:22-23 says, of Christians:“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled [And where are they enrolled? Where's the true city?] in heaven.”“The assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.”Do you see it? Psalm 87 foretells of the King of Heaven's great census, and, if you are a lover of Jesus, you're in it. And Ephesians 2 reasserts this marvelous reality:“At one time you were separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ… So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Eph. 2:12-13, 19).Do you see it? The story of Psalm 87 is your story. God has always had a city. You've not always been its citizen. But, now you are, thanks be to God — the one who fills his city with former enemies. And he calls that a good thing. Diverse peoples, varying cultural norms, a multiplicity of languages, wide-variety of skin tones and facial features. God loves it all. Do we?So, we've had City, and now Citizens. Last C – Celebration. CelebrationVerse 7,“Singers and dancers alike say, ‘All my springs are in you.'”What's the rightful response to God's great city? How should its newly welcomed citizens enter in? With Joy. With excitement. With leaping, dancing, music and song.These citizens of Psalm 87 are not walking into the city of God, and they're certainly not dragging their heels through its gates. And the reason they're not, is because they know the city's worth. They know they're bound for the city God loves! They think, “I'm a card-carrying citizen of God's holy mount.” And so, they're going to sing because of it. They're going to dance because of it. And they're not going to be the only ones. Everybody whose coming into this city is coming in with joy in their hearts and a song on their lips. Friends, if ever there was a thing worth celebrating, this is it.And now, hear the words that are echoing throughout the city: “All my springs are in you.”Springs. Think rivers. Fountains. Sources of clean, fresh, flowing water. In the Old Testament world, a spring meant life. You needed one to drink. To cook. To bathe. To farm. To keep your flocks and herds alive. No sinks in any of these houses. And so if you find a spring, man, you've found life. And the citizens of this city are saying, “Every spring of water. Every source of life, joy, and satisfaction. Every single one that has ever been found ultimately flows from here. Which means, what?You'd be a fool to search for springs elsewhere.Think about it friends. In Psalm 87, the peoples of Babylon, Philistia and so on — They're not saying “we found some springs back there, but there's ones here just a bit better. Just a bit more plentiful.” That's not what they are saying. And why? Because they had searched for water in Babylon. Had worked for water in Egypt. Had paid for it and dug for it in Philistia. Had even thought for a time that they'd found it. But it all proved empty.I mean, it's just simple logic: If they are saying, “All my springs are in you,” then how many other springs did they find outside God's city? Right? And so, given all that, how much sense does it make for a citizen of God's mountain to go trekking into Babylon in search of other springs? I mean, seriously, we've got to take people at their word when they say: “Look, I've been there, I've done the money thing, I've done the party thing, I've done the hook-up thing, I've done the self-worship and self-exaltation thing and, in the end, none of it made me to sing. None of it made me to dance. None of it made me to say, ‘life can be found here.'” I found no other springs, save the ones I found in God's holy city.”Brothers and sisters, aim all your life toward this city. You will find no other springs elsewhere. God owns all the springs.And so, Christian, what springs are you seeking to drink from, in this season, that do not ultimately find their source in God's city? What sources of joy and satisfaction are you seeking that do not ultimately flow from God's hand? The time has come to walk away from those things. The time has come to leave Babylon. Turn yourself, turn all that still remains to be turned. Turn it toward God's holy city, and sing, by faith: “All my springs are in you.”Lastly, non-Christian: the gates of God's city are currently open. Every day people, from diverse nations, and diverse situations, are saying — “I'm in. I want the springs. I want the city. God, I want to be a citizen.” You can become a citizen today. Like, right now. It can be said of you, in this moment, “Born here.” You can just pray, simply,God, I'm done with my sin.I'm done trying to find life in everything but you.I need your Son Jesus.I need the sacrifice he made for my sins.Receive Jesus. Receive entrance into the city. Now, what leads us to the table this morning is, just that, Jesus' sacrifice. He died for us. His body was bruised, his blood was shed for us. And this table commemorates his sacrificial death, and when we eat from this table, we do so in anticipation of Jesus coming again.Because this table represents Jesus' shed blood and broken body, I gladly invite those who are trusting in Jesus' death on their behalf, to take and eat this meal with us. If you've not put your trust in Jesus, we ask that you'd let the elements pass for now, but encourage you in this moment, turn to Jesus, see his glory, come to him by faith that you may have life.

If you feel weighed down by guilt or shame, there is hope for you. Barbara Rainey explains the solution found only in Jesus.Barbara Rainey invites us to reflect on the parts of ourselves we've always wished were different, sharing openly about her own lifelong struggle with shyness. Through storytelling—from childhood memories to passages in C.S. Lewis's Narnia—and a deep dive into John 9, Barbara reminds us that God doesn't make mistakes with our design or our past. Even the things we might view as handicaps, she says, can be purposed for God's glory. Join Barbara and host Michelle as they explore what it means to find confidence and healing through Jesus, the Son—who is, indeed, enough for every painful chapter in our story.Timestamps00:00 "Narnia Storytime"06:09 "The Paradox of a Good God"07:17 "God's Sufficiency for Your Past"12:29 "Jesus' Initiative and Compassion"15:45 Born with a Shy Nature18:06 "Embrace Your God-Given Traits"20:07 "Barbara Rainey Podcast Outro"Key Topics1. Introduction: Struggles with Our Insecurities and Personality TraitsBarbara Rainey poses a reflective question about what personal traits listeners wish they didn't have.Michelle introduces Barbara's own struggle with shyness.Establishing a theme of personal dissatisfaction with innate characteristics.2. Assurance of God's Purpose and No Mistakes in CreationBarbara asserts that God doesn't make mistakes in our design or life circumstances.She affirms that, even if we never understand why we're made a certain way, we can trust God's intentions.3. The Search for Satisfaction and God as the Ultimate SourceMichelle discusses universal longings and the tendency to search for fulfillment in things apart from God.Introduction to the idea that God—Father, Son, and Spirit—is sufficient for every need.4. Literary Reflection: Excerpt from The Chronicles of NarniaBarbara reads a passage from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”The children's discovery of Narnia and initial encounter with Mr. Beaver.The children ask about Aslan and learn He is both powerful and not “safe,” but fundamentally good.Drawing parallels between Aslan and God: Good, not always “safe,” mysterious in His ways.5. Wrestling with Wanting a Predictable and Safe GodBarbara shares her own desire for a God she can understand and predict.Insights on learning to accept God's goodness even when His ways are beyond comprehension.Introduction of the theme: “God is enough for our past, present, and future.”6. Focus on God the Son: Jesus is Enough for Our PastPlan to examine three aspects: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; today focusing on the Son.Context-setting for the selected scripture:The significance of the word “believe” in the Book of John.Exploration of belief as a feminine noun in Greek, and its relational implications (e.g., women's faith at the tomb).Scriptural context for John 9:Story takes place midway through Jesus' ministry, during the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah).7. The Story of the Man Born Blind: John 9Jesus notices the blind man, highlighting divine initiative.Consideration of the man's lifelong dependence, potential for isolation, and feelings of hopelessness.Disciples' question about the source of the man's blindness reflects human desire to find blame and maintain control.Jesus' response: blindness is not a result of sin, but an opportunity for the works of God to be displayed.8. Theological Implications: God's Sovereignty and Human StruggleReference to Exodus 4:11: God as creator of all abilities and disabilities.Wrestling with the discomfort that God can allow suffering or hardship for His purposes.God's higher plans may involve temporary or lifelong struggles to display His glory.9. Personal Application: Identifying Our Own “Handicaps”Barbara shares her own story of lifelong shyness and feeling different.Listeners are prompted to identify and reflect on their own “handicaps” or lifelong struggles.Sharing experiences of feeling like a mistake within one's family or community.Encouragement to see personal struggles as purposeful in God's plan.10. Conclusion: Believing God's Good Purposes in Our StoriesReflection on the blind man's faith and response to Jesus.Posing a question to listeners: Will you trust God's purpose and believe, like the man born blind?Michelle's summary: It takes faith to believe that Jesus is enough for our past and that God is wise in all He allows.11. Closing and Next Episode TeaserMention of resources (Barbara's Substack and epic poem “The Wonder of the Word”).Preview of part two: “God the Father is enough for our present.”

Julie Williams: Jesus Our Teacher: The Parable Of The Lost Son Jesus Pt.5https://drive.google.com/file/d/19RKFzFGNpRfdk-dtTQa4k_k0IdA3AIBL/view?usp=sharing

A Sermon for Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11 by William Klock The King came to Canada this week and I can help but reflect on how providential this event has been—the King of Canada coming to take his throne in the Senate chamber in Ottawa—in the same week that we remember and celebrate the ascension of Jesus.  I might be tempted to title my sermon: A Tale of Two Kings. So a new Parliament needed to be opened.  A throne speech had to be read.  That's normally done by the Governor General, but these are not normal times.  The new President next door, in what has always been Canada's best friend and ally, is now making economic war and daily challenging the country's sovereignty.  It was time for the Sovereign to come and save the day.  And so the King came, and he ascended to his throne in Parliament, and he read a speech.  The last time the Sovereign did this was almost fifty years ago, so this is no small thing.  And yet the King was here for all of about twenty-four hours.  The speech he read was written by government speech-writers, not by the King.  And even then, it's vitally important in our constitutional monarchy that the King avoid any openly political speech—and so the big concern of the day, the big thing that threatens the nation's economic well-being and sovereignty—was only hinted at obliquely.  And everyone applauded.  And then the King got back into his jet and flew home.  And maybe it's just because I'm an American, but it doesn't seem to me that all the pomp and circumstance and expense really accomplished anything.  The King didn't go to Washington to negotiate peace with the belligerent bully or to rough him up a bit or even to give him a good talking to.  Instead, he came here, he sat in the Senate chamber, and recited back to the government the talking points it gave him.  Again, I mean no disrespect to the King or to Canada's constitutional monarchy, but watching and listening to this week's events as an American—although I suspect even the staunches of Christian monarchists can't help but notice it too—that there's a big—an enormous—difference between the ascension of King Charles III in Ottawa this week and the ascension of Jesus that we read about today in both our Epistle and Gospel. I listened to the throne speech and even though I know that the King can't actually do anything, when it was over I still felt like: What now?  The King flies all this way, he ascends to his throne with great pomp and circumstance, he reads a speech intended to stir patriotic feelings—and even as an American, watching and listening I felt pride for Canada—but then he got back into his airplane and went home.  He didn't do anything about the current crisis.  The enemy is still there.  In fact, the King's talk of Canadian sovereignty just seemed to provoke a new round of fifty-first state talk.  It's kind of a let down.  I don't know what I expect the King should do, but he's a king after all and I sort of have a mental image of him taking off his pinstripe jacket, putting on a shining suit of armour, going to Washington, and popping the President in the nose.  In real life that probably wouldn't solve anything.  It's just that kings are supposed to deliver their subjects in times of trouble and cast down their enemies.  Right?  That's what kings are for. This is why the disciples were so discouraged when Jesus was crucified.  They thought he was the Messiah, the anointed king, and then he got himself killed—and that's not what was supposed to happen to the king.  He was supposed to defeat his enemies and take his throne.  And then Jesus rose from death and he met them and they were so excited to go declare the good news to Jerusalem that Jesus actually had to calm them down and tell them to wait.  Enthusiasm isn't enough.  They also needed the power of God's Spirit—but that's for next week.  But for forty days Jesus has been teaching them.  He's been walking them through the scriptures and showing them how it was there along: the Messiah had to die in order to defeat his enemies and take his throne.  Like I said a couple of weeks ago, those forty days must have been the most thrilling days in all of history as Jesus taught them and as it all came together.  And yet, even then, the disciples were still stuck on the wrong things.  But now I'm getting ahead of myself for today.  Keep this all in mind and let's look at our Epistle again.  The first chapter of Acts.  Luke writes: Dear Theophilus, the previous book which I wrote had to do with everything Jesus began to do and teach.  I took the story as far as the day when he was taken up, once he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to his apostles.   Luke is talking about his Gospel.  He goes on in verse 3: He showed himself to them alive, after his suffering, by many proofs.  He was seen by them for forty days, during which he spoke about God's kingdom.  As they were having a meal together, he told them not to go away from Jerusalem, but to wait, as he put it, “for the Father's promise, which I was telling you about earlier.  John baptised with water, you see, but in a few days from now you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”   So good so far.  Forty days of Bible teaching with Jesus.  All about the kingdom.  He thinks they're ready to do the proclamation part of their new ministry, they just need to wait a minute so he can ascend to this throne and send the Spirit who will empower that proclamation.  Jesus thinks their ready to be set loose on the world.  But have you ever taught something to someone, explaining it to them, and they're nodding and you think they understand.  You're ready to turn them loose.  And then they ask you a question and you realise that they still don't understand the central point of what you've been trying to teach them? I took calculus as a freshman in college.  Twice.  The only class I ever failed.  I understood the instructions.  But no matter how hard I tried and no matter how long the professor explained it to me—I had the benefit of sitting next to him in the church choir—I never understood what it was all about.  I didn't get it.  I thought that at least I could just follow the instructions to solve the equations.  I found that usually worked pretty well with math.  But it didn't with calculus.  So he—or my friends who understood calculus—would explain it to me and I'd say, “Right.  I do this, then this, then this, and so on.”  And they'd smile and say, “Yes!”  Like it was finally sinking in for me.  And then I'd do what I thought were the steps and it wouldn't work and they'd ask me to explain it, and I couldn't, because I never could wrap my head around the concept at the heart of it all. Brothers and Sisters, the kingdom was the heart of everything Jesus was teaching and doing.  And the disciples knew this.  That's, again, why they were so discouraged when he died.  Dead kings don't establish kingdoms.  But now Jesus is alive again and they're excited and especially so because for forty days Jesus has been teaching them even more about the kingdom.  And then they ask, “Master, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel.”   I remember the look on my calculus professor's face when he through I'd finally got it through my thick skull and how his smile faded away when he realised I didn't get it at all and I can picture the same look on Jesus' face.  Disappointment and exasperation.  I don't know.  Maybe Jesus knew that no amount of talk would get them straight on this and that it would only fall into place once they saw him ascend and once they'd received the Spirit.  But it's clear: despite all the teaching, the disciples still didn't get it. See, this idea of the “kingdom of God”, for the Jews it had become shorthand for the idea that one day the Lord would fulfil his promises, come back to Israel, take up his throne.  He'd defeat Isreal's enemies and he'd set Israel to rights—and then they'd all live happily ever after with God as their king and the pagans under their feet.  They sang songs, like Psalm 2, about the nations raging and the kings of the earth getting together to plot against the Lord and his people.  And in the middle of the song the Lord bursts out in laughter, mocking the nations and their feeble kings.  And then the Lord lets loose his wrath and announces, “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”  And then the king speaks: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”  And then the Psalmist can announce to the nations: “Now, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.”  It's the king in shining armour come to crush his enemies and set his people to rights. They sang songs like the one in Isaiah 52 about the beautiful feet of the one who brings good news and who announces to Zion, “Your God reigns.”  “The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.”  This was the same song in which they sang about the suffering servant who would be exalted only after he had borne their griefs and sorrows, only after he'd been stricken and afflicted.”  This was the hope of Israel and this is why the disciples had followed Jesus.  They believed he was the Messiah, the king who would rescue his people and defeat their enemies.  Again, for those three days he was in the tomb it looked like they'd been wrong, but now Jesus was alive again.  They knew with absolute certainty that he really is the Messiah.  And so now they're asking him: “Your resurrection put the story back on track, Jesus.  So when are you going to fulfil those old promises, defeat the nations and their kings, and set Isreal on the top of the heap?” And Jesus says to them in verse 7: “It's not your business to know about times and dates.  The Father has placed all that under his own direct authority.  What will happen, though, is that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth.”   I've noticed a lot of people read this and think that Jesus is saying something like, “No.  It's not time to restore the kingdom.  I'll do that sometime in the future and only the Father knows the date.”  But that's not what Jesus is saying at all.  Think of the pair Jesus met on the road to Emmaus.  They were saying that they'd hoped Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel, but well, he'd been crucified so scratch that idea.  And that's the point when Jesus explains to them that it was actually through his crucifixion that he would accomplish God's long-promised redemption.  Even though it was there all along in songs like Isaiah 52, it doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone that the Messiah would usher in God's kingdom by his suffering and death.  And yet when Jesus says this, suddenly a lot of other things he said and did finally make sense.  Think of the stories—the parables—he told.  Over and over: The kingdom is coming—yes!—but it's not coming like you think.  Instead, the kingdom is coming like seed planted in the ground.  The kingdom is coming like leaven in a lump of dough.  The kingdom is like a man who had two sons.  Or when Jesus and the disciples were approaching Jerusalem and they asked this same question: Is the kingdom finally coming now?  And Jesus said that the kingdom is like a nobleman coming back to see if his servants have been faithful with their stewardship.  Over and over Jesus has been saying, “Yes, the kingdom is coming right now, but you keep missing it because it doesn't look like what you expected. At that last Passover meal Jesus ate with his friends, he told them that he would not drink with them again until the kingdom had arrived. And here they are, these forty days after the resurrection eating and drinking with Jesus as he teaches them.  The kingdom has come, Brothers and Sisters.  Too many Christians live as if the mission of the church is to prepare for Jesus to become king, when the church's mission is, in fact, really all about announcing and living out the reality that Jesus is the king even if his kingdom isn't quite what a lot of people expected. And then, just to make all of this absolutely clear, Luke says in verse 9: As Jesus said this, he was lifted up while they were watching and a cloud took him out of their sight.   We're prone to missing the significance of this image because we're not steeped in the Old Testament the way they were.  The disciples, however, understood exactly what was happening: Jesus was acting out the prophecy of Daniel 7.  That's the chapter were Daniel has this nightmare full of beasts coming up out of the ocean.  It's a vision of the nations and their kings raging against God's people.  But then “one like a son of man” is taken up and exalted on the clouds to sit beside the Ancient of Days.  He's given a kingdom, power, and authority so that all people, nations, and languages should serve and obey him.  It's a vision of the kingdom being restored to Israel.  And now, all through Jesus' ministry, we've heard him talking about himself as this son of man, as Israel's representative, and now—in answer to the disciples' question about the coming of the kingdom—Jesus literally acts out Daniel's vision.  He fulfils it.  In fact, in Matthew's telling of the ascension, Jesus even says—echoing the words of the Ancient of Days in Daniel—“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  So you must go and make all the nations into disciples.” The ascension proclaims: Jesus is king and his kingdom is here.  One day Jesus will return to finish what he's begun, but never forget that it has begun.  As Paul says in Romans 15, “He has to go on ruling until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” So the disciples were thinking that Jesus was going to lead a revolution—like Judas Maccabeus or Simon bar Kochba—except this time it wouldn't fizzle out.  This time it would be successful and it would be forever.  And Jesus is saying (and acting out) that no, the kingdom has been inaugurated and it's going to take shape and grow—the nations will be put under Jesus' feet—not as the disciples take up arms, but as they go out into the world as witnesses of Jesus: as they go out and proclaim the good news that Jesus crucified and risen, is the world's true Lord and as they live out the reality of his kingdom.  Like Jesus did, the disciples would work miracles—miracles that underscored that in the kingdom all the sad thing are beginning to become untrue; and they would live lives transformed by the Spirit's fruit, but maybe more than anything else, they would confront the kings of the present evil age with the reality of Jesus' lordship.  And through their witness, the world would begin to change. It's not a linear, always progressing, always upward change.  That was the idea of theological liberalism a century ago, but two world wars and nuclear bombs and fascism and Communism blew that idea up.  But through the witness of the church, the world is changing.  I've mentioned before Tom Holland's remarkable book Dominion and how, in that book, he writes about the profound changes that the gospel brought to Western Civilisation.  Each generation lives in its own brief age and so, if we don't know anything about history, we're prone to not even noticing the changes that have happened, but happen they have.  Christians began taking in the unwanted girl babies of the Greeks and Romans, left to die of exposure, and we taught the world the value of life.  The influence of the gospel put an end to gladiatorial games and slavery.  The gospel has taught the world mercy and grace, the value of life, the dignity of each person.  And on and on.  The church, when we are faithful witnesses of Jesus and living the new creation life the Spirit gives, builds and spreads the kingdom and someday, when the work is done, Jesus will return—not to take us away, but to restore heaven and earth, God and human beings, and to put an end to death and sin once and for all.  To consummate his new creation. But there's work to do in the meantime.  He created us in the beginning to be his stewards—to cultivate his garden.  That's why, when it came time to set us back on that track, God called and created a special people for himself: to be his representative, to be his stewards, to be his living kingdom in the midst of the old.  And so Luke says, They were gazing into heaven as he disappeared.  Then, lo and behold, two men appeared, dressed in white, standing beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?  This Jesus, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”   Brothers and Sisters, there's work to do.  Like Jesus said, they needed to wait a few days before going out, so that when they did go out, they would go out in the power of the Spirit.  The kingdom doesn't happen in our power.  But it does happen as we go out to faithfully fulfil the mission we've been given to witness Jesus.  Our task is to go out in faith, to till the soil, to steward the garden.  It's an overwhelming task.  That's why it takes faith to go out and do it.  But we go out in faith knowing that God has given us his Spirit who infuses what we do with divine power.  We go out in faith knowing that in Jesus—at the cross and in the resurrection—God has already done the impossible part.  Now, as Paul wrote, all he has to do is go on ruling until all his enemies have been put under his feet.  There's no “if”.  It's just “until”.  It's a sure thing.  And so is the witness of his church. It doesn't always seem that way.  Sometimes it seems like we're going backwards and things are getting worse.  People won't listen or won't take us seriously.  Sometimes we're tempted to give up.  Sometimes we act like all Jesus did was come to earth to give us a rousing pep talk, then he went back home to heaven.  But read the Gospels and that's not it at all.  He hasn't just gone back to heaven and left us alone.  He's ascended to his throne, where he rules and reigns over his kingdom, which—remember—is like seed planted in the soil and like leaven in a lump of dough and like a man who had two sons.  And one day, through his people—through us—the work of his word and the work of his Spirit will be done.  The world will know his death and resurrection, it will know the forgiveness of sins, it will know the end of death, it will know mercy and grace.  The knowledge of his glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.  Because Jesus died and rose again, because the Lord's word does not return void, and because he does not give his Spirit in vain. Let's pray: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus the Messiah with great triumph to your right hand in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us for the task you have given, and that we might look forward in hope to the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Amen.

Send us a textJohn 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 "He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.' In this section Jesus makes it very clear that if you have trusted Him as your Lord and Savior that the world will hate you because it hated and still hates Him. The people of the world love us if we live like they do in sin, but when we live for God they hate us because we make them feel guilty and look bad. Jesus reminds them that they are His because He first loved them and chose them. He says that we will be persecuted because they even did it to Him and He is both Lord and Creator of everything.  Then He says that the Pharisees and those who have heard His word would not be guilty of willfully rejecting Him if He had not come and revealed Himself.  The principle of the Bible is that we are all guilty and deserving of hell according to Romans Chapters 1:16-3:31, but the more we know about God, the guiltier we become. If we respond to the light or revelation of Christ we have been given, God will show us more about Him (John 7:17). Lastly, He says that you cannot know God and do not love Him if you hate the Son Jesus. Anyone who claims to love God and hates Jesus is a liar. He finishes by saying that people hate Jesus for no reason other than He condemns their sin.  He never did anything wrong that would make them hate Him. 2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.      Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?             John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32           Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.nethttps://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you.

patreon.com/commonprayerdaily------Opening Words:Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)------Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.------The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.------The Psalms & LessonsPsalm 119: ZayinRemember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments. Psalm 119: HethYou only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes. Psalm 119: TethO Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.The law of your mouth is dearer to me *Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.------Wisdom 4:16-5:8The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous. For they will see the end of the wise, and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them, and for what he kept them safe. The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them, but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this they will become dishonored corpses, and an outrage among the dead forever; because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and shake them from the foundations; they will be left utterly dry and barren, and they will suffer anguish, and the memory of them will perish. They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face. Then the righteous will stand with great confidence in the presence of those who have oppressed them and those who make light of their labors. When the unrighteous see them, they will be shaken with dreadful fear, and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of the righteous. They will speak to one another in repentance, and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, "These are persons whom we once held in derision and made a byword of reproach-- fools that we were! We thought that their lives were madness and that their end was without honor. Why have they been numbered among the children of God? And why is their lot among the saints? So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, and the sun did not rise upon us. We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, and we journeyed through trackless deserts, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What has our arrogance profited us? And what good has our boasted wealth brought us?------Colossians 1:24-2:7English Standard Version24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Luke 6:27-38English Standard Version27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted;  the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge;  the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him,  the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior;  Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them;  they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might;  your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods?  who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand;  the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed;  with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them  on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,  the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign  for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.------The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.------The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us; And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern us And lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your people And bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O Lord And defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God And take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.------The CollectsSpecial Collects:The Fourth Week of EasterO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for Mission Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.------General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.------DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

patreon.com/commonprayerdaily------Opening Words:Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)------Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.------The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.------The Psalms & LessonsPsalm 119: ZayinRemember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments. Psalm 119: HethYou only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes. Psalm 119: TethO Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.The law of your mouth is dearer to me *than thousands in gold and silver.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.------Wisdom 4:16-5:8The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous. For they will see the end of the wise, and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them, and for what he kept them safe. The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them, but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this they will become dishonored corpses, and an outrage among the dead forever; because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and shake them from the foundations; they will be left utterly dry and barren, and they will suffer anguish, and the memory of them will perish. They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face. Then the righteous will stand with great confidence in the presence of those who have oppressed them and those who make light of their labors. When the unrighteous see them, they will be shaken with dreadful fear, and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of the righteous. They will speak to one another in repentance, and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, "These are persons whom we once held in derision and made a byword of reproach-- fools that we were! We thought that their lives were madness and that their end was without honor. Why have they been numbered among the children of God? And why is their lot among the saints? So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, and the sun did not rise upon us. We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, and we journeyed through trackless deserts, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What has our arrogance profited us? And what good has our boasted wealth brought us?------Colossians 1:24-2:7English Standard Version24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Luke 6:27-38English Standard Version27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted;  the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge;  the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him,  the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior;  Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them;  they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might;  your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods?  who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand;  the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed;  with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them  on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,  the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign  for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.------The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.------The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us; And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern us And lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your people And bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O Lord And defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God And take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.------The CollectsSpecial Collects:The Fourth Week of EasterO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for Mission Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.------General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.------DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

patreon.com/commonprayerdaily------Opening Words:Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)------Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.------The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.------The Psalms & LessonsPsalm 41Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.The Lord preserves them and keeps them alive,so that they may be happy in the land; *he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.The Lord sustains them on their sickbed *and ministers to them in their illness.I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; *heal me, for I have sinned against you.”My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *“When will he die, and his name perish?”Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *their heart collects false rumors;they go outside and spread them.All my enemies whisper together about me *and devise evil against me.“A deadly thing,” they say, “has fastened on him; *he has taken to his bed and will never get up again.”Even my best friend, whom I trusted,who broke bread with me, *has lifted up his heel and turned against me.But you, O Lord, be merciful to me and raise me up, *and I shall repay them.By this I know you are pleased with me, *that my enemy does not triumph over me.In my integrity you hold me fast, *and shall set me before your face for ever.Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *from age to age. Amen. Amen.Psalm 52You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *against the godly all day long?You plot ruin;your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *O worker of deception.You love evil more than good *and lying more than speaking the truth.You love all words that hurt, *O you deceitful tongue.Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,and root you out of the land of the living!The righteous shall see and tremble, *and they shall laugh at him, saying,“This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *but trusted in great wealthand relied upon wickedness.”But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.I will give you thanks for what you have done *and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.------Wisdom 1:16-2:11,21-24But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death; considering him a friend, they pined away and made a covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to his company. For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one has been known to return from Hades. For we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been, for the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts; when it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. Our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will remember our works; our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, and there is no return from our death, because it is sealed up and no one turns back. "Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pass us by. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. Let none of us fail to share in our revelry; everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, because this is our portion, and this our lot. Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow or regard the gray hairs of the aged. But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls; for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it. ------Colossians 1:1-14English Standard Version1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:Grace to you and peace from God our Father.3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Luke 6:1-11English Standard Version6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted;  the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge;  the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him,  the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior;  Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them;  they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might;  your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods?  who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand;  the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed;  with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them  on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,  the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign  for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.------The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.------The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us; And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern us And lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your people And bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O Lord And defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God And take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.------The CollectsSpecial Collects:The Fourth Week of EasterO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for Mission Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.------General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.------DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

The Collect and Psalm will be read from The Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer The First Lesson, Second Lesson and Gospel will be read from the Christian Standard Bible The Collect: O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him … Continue reading → The post Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 11. 2025 appeared first on Sunday's Lectionary.

Listen to this week's message as we learn about God's Love for us.  If God showed his love by sending his Son Jesus, he believes you are worthy of his Love.  

God wants the whole world to know His love. First, He sent His only Son Jesus to live and die and rise again to bring us new life. Next, He sent His disciples to spread the good news everywhere. And today that remains the challenge and calling for every Christian. But first we need to start much closer to home by doing all we can to connect the people we know the best with Jesus. So we start a new series called: Bringing your friends and families to Jesus. Whatever the size or the state of your family, as Christians we must love our families. God has great plans for families. God wants to work miracles in our families, to reunite families, to bless families, to prosper families.   All of us need friends, not just so-called Facebook friends or Instagram friends but true friends that really care for us and want the best for us. So many people today are lonely and need real friends to help them. As Christians we can be great friends to people and the best thing we can do is to introduce our friends to Jesus.   We read in Luke 5:17-20 about four outstanding friends who did everything they could to help a friend in great need. Jesus was likely staying at Peter's house in Capernaum during this time. Capernaum was an ancient city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel which you can still visit. It was the operational centre for Jesus' ministry, and where great crowds gathered from near and far to listen to the teaching of Jesus and seek miracles of healing. So many people packed into the house that the four friends who desperately wanted to help a sick friend could not get in. In those days, people relied on charity for their needs. Moreover, illness was often associated with sin, leading to social stigma. In this case, the paralysed man's condition not only caused physical pain but also added to his sense of isolation and helplessness. He definitely needed friends around. In this story we see: 1. Friends will carry you when you cannot carry yourself (Luke 5:18; Galatians 6:2) 2. Friends with real faith who believe in Jesus (Luke 5:18-20) 3. Friends who are determined to find a way to connect with Jesus (Luke 5:19; Mark 2:4) 4. Friends who will bring you great blessings (Luke 5:20; Luke 5:25-26; Hebrews 13:8) Apply  1. Friends will carry you when you cannot carry yourself (Luke 5:18). This paralysed man could not walk on his own. Often there are moments in life where is difficult to stand, to move and we need friends around us, people who will lift us up (Galatians 6:2). Carrying means much more than saying kind words or “I am praying for you.” It means going to them, lifting them up with encouragement, carrying the weight with them, pitching up to their house in a time of need, being available, helping them to stand strong. Maybe you feel like you are paralysed in some areas in your life. Well, today you can count on your church family. You are not alone, you are not friendless. Today we can lift each other up.  2. Friends with real faith who believe in Jesus (Luke 5:18). There are different kinds of friends: friends who can lead you in wrong ways and friends who can help you in the best ways, so we must choose friends with real faith who believe in Jesus. Real friends will not carry you just anywhere, say to the pub or sports ground. Real friends will carry you to the presence of Jesus. Real friends will take you to the right place, a place of hope, miracles and where you can encounter the one answer to your real need. Real friends can have faith for you even if you struggle to have faith for yourself. Real faith means real action. These friends were putting their faith into action. These 4 friends were determined to help their friend (e.g. when you invite someone to Life Class, you are being that good friend trying to carry your friends to the right place to encounter Jesus). Each one of us should take care to surround ourselves with people filled with faith, not people of doubts and negativity. Jesus was impressed by the faith of these four friends (Luke 5:20). Jesus immediately reacted to not only the faith of the paralysed man but especially to the faith of his four friends. This is the power of teamwork, the power of friends working together.  3. Friends who are determined to find a way to connect with Jesus (Luke 5:19). When these friends saw that there was no way in, they must have considered their options. The doors are blocked. People are spilling out everywhere. So, what now? Then one of them probably suggested ‘ok let's make a hole in the roof. We'll get him in some way, even if it means smashing in someone's roof and getting into trouble'. How happy would you be if someone suddenly knocked a hole in your ceiling? Well, the four friends managed to get their paralysed friend to the roof. Then they started pulling or digging or banging. The NIV study notes on Mark 2:4 say: “The roof was often made of a thick layer of clay (packed with a stone roller), supported by mats of branches across wood beams.” The friends even had to remove tiles (Luke 5:19). Whatever mess they were creating with falling debris, they somehow managed to create a big enough hole to lower their friend down so that he ended up right in front of Jesus. These four friends exhibited extraordinary compassion and sensitivity towards their paralysed companion. But they were also so determined to overcome every obstacle stopping their friend getting to Jesus. We too must not be easily put off by difficulties in seeing a friend come to hear the gospel and see Jesus work in their lives. Maybe your friends are paralysed with work or social commitments. Maybe other friends want to keep them from Jesus. Maybe your friend has lost hope. Well, make a plan to help get your friends close to Jesus. Just do what it takes.   4. Friends who will bring you great blessings (Luke 5:20). The first reply of Jesus was not to heal, it was to forgive his sins. Jesus was interested in something much deeper than the physical aspect. A healing is for a limited amount of time. Forgiveness of sins is forever. So, what does it mean to be forgiven? Well maybe you live all the time with a guilty conscience, you may have done wrong, made many mistakes in your life and feel like you are spiritually paralysed. Forgiveness means that your relationship with God is restored and that you can be washed clean through the blood that Jesus shed at the cross. It means you can live a life of friendship with God. This man received the great gift of forgiveness. He was no longer paralysed by sin. But he also received physical healing (Luke 5:25-26). He came in paralysed through the roof but was able to walk out through the door. No wonder everyone was amazed. The same Jesus who healed this man is still the healer and saviour today (Hebrews 13:8). You can be healed in your body. You can be healed from whatever paralyses you. You can be healed in your mental health, your emotions and from traumatic past experiences. Wouldn't you like to be forgiven and healed also? Wouldn't you like to have friends like this? And wouldn't you like to be friends like this and bring your friends to Jesus?  

Send us a textDon't you rejoice when good news comes? When someone is very sick, but they are now well and healthy. Or when a bad situation is reversed.This is Paul's announcement in Colossians and in Ephesians. He tell us first the very bad news of our spiritual situation outside of Christ Jesus - dead, condemned, sold under transgressions, without God.  "But God..."This simply phrase is how he introduces the good news, the gospel.God intervened in Jesus Christ to save us, to rescue us from a bad, impossible situation and condition. He acted out of his nature by his electing love in the person of his Son Jesus and the activity of his Spirit, making us alive!Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Don't you rejoice when good news comes? When someone is very sick, but they are now well and healthy. Or when a bad situation is reversed.This is Paul's announcement in Colossians and in Ephesians. He tell us first the very bad news of our spiritual situation outside of Christ Jesus - dead, condemned, sold under transgressions, without God. "But God..."This simply phrase is how he introduces the good news, the gospel.God intervened in Jesus Christ to save us, to rescue us from a bad, impossible situation and condition. He acted out of his nature by his electing love in the person of his Son Jesus and the activity of his Spirit, making us alive!

As we head towards Easter yet again, perhaps it's time to think about – well, what makes us so special, that God would do this Easter thing for us?   An Intimate Knowledge It's always something special to me, that time of the year we call Easter. So we are going to carry it on a little longer this week in the Easter story. This is my 17th Easter since I became a Christian. And it just never ceases to amaze me what the Easter story is all about. It's a good time for us to think about what God was up to. I mean, Christmas seems like it was just a few weeks ago. Hey, you know, that's when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the whole baby in the manger thing; Jesus becoming a man. But Easter for Jesus didn't happen just a few months after Christmas. Easter for Jesus happened about 33 years later during the Passover celebration. It was the time when Israel celebrated the freedom that they had out of slavery. They'd been slaves in Egypt for a few centuries; God had sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go and God sent a whole bunch of plagues on the nation of Egypt. And the last plague, the most powerful plague, was the first born of every Egyptian family, their animals as well, the firstborn was killed by God and that ultimately convinced Pharaoh to let God's people go. But it didn't happen to the Israelites. You see, they were slaves in Egypt and God said to them, ‘Look, you get a lamb and you slay that lamb, and you put that lamb's blood on the top of your door frame and the angel of death will pass over your house and this plague upon Egypt won't befall your house. And so the Passover celebration was the celebration of the freedom that Israel received from slavery by the shedding of the blood of the lamb. And that of course is what Easter is all about. So here Jesus was in His early 30's and it's the Passover celebration and it's the time that we remember Jesus not only came to earth as a man, He not only walked through every trial and temptation that you and I do, He not only healed the sick and cast out demons and preached with power, He laid down His life for you and for me. He died for us! Now we will look at the how and why of that, but for me, Easter begins long, long before that. You look at God and you say, "Well, why did you go to such an extreme? What was this all about – you sending your Son, your only Son Jesus, your beloved and you let Him be spat upon and beaten and crucified?" Easter is God saying to us that you and I are "to die for". Now the term ‘to die for' is a contemporary term. If you're not aware it's SMS shorthand; you know, the kids as they send the SMS messages to one another often put the word "to die for" They don't write it out in full, they write it as 2di4 and it's shorthand for something that you just have to have. A girl might send an SMS to a girlfriend of hers and talk about a boy, say, "He was 2di4". A boy might look at a car or a motorbike and say, "That car or that motorbike is 2di4". Something that's ‘to die for' is something that you just have to have. And so that's why we're talking about it right now because that's what Easter's about. And this term "to die for" started me thinking, God was prepared to send His son "to die for" you and me. You and I, in His eyes, in His heart, we are "to die for". There's a beautiful Psalm. You may have heard me talk about this Psalm before. We're going to spend today looking at this Psalm. If you have a Bible grab it, open it up at Psalm 139 because Psalm 139 is a Psalm that I guess lays the foundations of Easter for me. It lays the foundations of "to die for". We're going to unpack this whole idea and have a look at what was going on in the Father's great and mighty heart. What was He thinking? How was He thinking about you and Me when He hatched Easter. Easter's a hard thing to get our hearts around; it's a hard thing to get our minds around, but Psalm 139 is a great place to start. Psalm 139 tells us just what was going on in God's heart. What drove God towards this amazing plan that we now call Easter? Let's have a read. If you have a Bible open it up. Psalm 139. We'll just look at verses 1-12 to begin with. This is what it says: Lord, you searched me and you know me. You know me when I sit down, you know when I rise up, you know my thoughts from a long, long way off. You discern my going in and my lying down; you're familiar with all my ways. Before even a word is on my tongue you already know it completely, Lord. You hem me in; behind me, in front of me, you laid your hands upon me. Such knowledge is just too wonderful for me. It's too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens you're there. If I make my bed in the depths of hell you're still there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the farthest side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand me fast. If I say, surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me, even the darkness isn't dark to you. The night will shine like day because darkness is like light to you. Isn't it a beautiful Psalm. They're not just words. This man who wrote the Psalm is pouring out his heart about how wonderful God is. And the three things that jump out at me in this short passages, the first few verse of Psalm 139: firstly how intimately God knows us. "Lord, you've searched me, you know me. You know when I sit down, you know when I get up, you know when I go out, you know when I lie down, you know what I'm thinking. Even before I say a word you know what words are going to be on my lips. Lord you know me." God knows us intimately. Sometimes Easter feels a little bit like a retailing phenomenon. You know, lets go buy chocolate eggs, have a long weekend, have a rest. And if God is a busy God and He doesn't have time for us then He doesn't love us. But that isn't who God is. He knows you and He knows me, everything we're thinking, everything we're doing, everything we're hoping for, everything we're for hurting for … God knows us. And secondly, He's on this journey with us. "Lord you hem me in: you're behind me, your in front of me, you've laid your hands upon me." It's interesting you know, when this was written all the other God's that all the other nations worshipped lived in static places. They lived in temples, on hilltops and people went up to the hills to worship them in their temples. But this God whom the Psalmist is writing about, this God spent 40 years on a journey in the wilderness with His people Israel. You can read some more about it in the Book of Exodus. This God sent up home amongst His people in the temple in Jerusalem when they finally crossed over into the Promised Land. This God has a heart to be with His people. It's His heart's cry. We hear it time and time and again from the beginning of the Bible, way back in the Old Testament, to almost the end. In the second last chapter of the Book of Revelation. God over and over says this: ‘I will be your God and you will be My people. And I will make my dwelling place among you'. God is a God who is on this journey with us. Even in hell, even in heaven, even if we go to the farthest part of the world, even there God is with us. His presence, His face – that's literally what the Hebrew means – His face is there. Even when it falls dark, surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become like night around me. But God, even in the darkness it won't be dark to you. The light will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you. God is in those dark places and He's not some distant God. This is not some unmoved mover. You know, someone who just doesn't feel for us. This God is a God who knows us – wonderfully, and beautifully and intimately – and He's on the journey with us. And I know that's hard for us to fathom. There are billions of people who've lived down through the ages and He knows each one of us more and more intimately than we can ever imagine. That's what God's like. He knows each one of us like that. And that for me sets the scene for Easter.   He was There We're taking a look today at what was going on in God's heart. What was He thinking when He was dreaming up this whole Easter thing? It's an amazing plan. God sends His Son to earth to be beaten and spat upon and crucified, to die on that brutal Cross at the hands of men. Psalm 139, which is the Psalm we were looking at the break, tells us about His motivations behind Easter. It doesn't talk specifically about Easter, but it tells us what God's heart is for us. And we just had a look at the first part of that Psalm to show us that God knows us intimately, He's on every step of the journey with us. And that's huge … to know that God is walking every step of the way with us. There is nowhere we can go and be alone or apart from Him, even in heaven or hell. But how is it that He knows us this well? I mean, sometimes we don't even know ourselves, do we. We can't explain why we do what we do or how we react to something or why we did that. You and I are pretty complex creatures. There's so many layers to who we are. Some things are so deep inside us, we can't really understand them or talk about them ourselves. So how does God know? Well the writer of the Psalm goes on to explain that. Let's have a read now of Psalm 139 going on to verse 13 to 16. If you have a Bible, grab it. This is what it says: For God, you created my innermost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that so well. My frame wasn't hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days were ordained for me, they were written in your book even before one of them came into being. That's one of the most precious passages in the Bible to me. As I look back on my life, and you too, there's a mixture of wonderful and desperate; beautiful and ugly. We've both done some brilliant things and we've done some really stupid things. There are great heights and there are dark valleys. But when you and I were conceived, God was there. My innermost parts – who I am; your innermost parts – who you are. A DNA blueprint – the way that we look and sound and all our gifts and abilities and strengths and weaknesses – all that, those layers of complexity He created in our innermost being. He knit you and me together in our mothers wombs. Imagine you and I have been handcrafted by God. Distinctive, one of a kind, completely, utterly, amazingly, beautifully, wondrously made. Separated and different from any other person who has ever lived or any other person who will ever live. Intricately woven together, each strand of DNA laid down according to God's plan. But not only that, not only who we are, but everything that would ever happen to us. Look at it again. ‘All the days that were ordained for me, they were written in your book before one of them came into being.' I so despair when I meet people who waste away their lives worrying and complaining about their lot. Yes, some people seem to have better lives than others. Some people seem to get all the breaks and the benefits and the blessing and other people seem to get handed more difficult lives – painful lives. A bit like Jesus; people like the Apostle Paul. But that's all part of God's plan. There's a beautiful poem, you might have heard it once before and it goes something like this: My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me.I cannot choose the colours as He weaveth steadily, Sometimes He chooses dark threads and I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reasons why The dark threads were as needful in the weaver's skilful hand As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He hath planned. You and I are what He made us to be. We're living the lives He planned for us, lives He always knew that we'd live. Nothing is a surprise to God. And when we put our faith in Him we experience the most incredible joy. I was having lunch recently with a women who is well into her 70's now, whose husband, quite a few years back, committed suicide. How devastating would that have been. But she put her faith in Christ. She spent time in God's Word and she has this quiet joy and a beautiful countenance about her. She could have lived the rest of her life bitter, but no, she's live it in Christ. And when we see the beauty of God's plan, handcrafted as we are by Him to live the life that He laid out before time began, we get some sense of what was going on in His heart when He came up with this plan for Easter. Because we can only live the life He has planned if we live it with Him. We have a basic problem, that problem is called "sin". It's the things that we've done wrong that keeps us away from Him. And that's what Easter's about. We're going to look at that shortly.   That's Huge … As we continue to look back on Easter, one of the things that I hope we'll ponder is the reaction of the writer, the Psalmist, the person who wrote Psalm 139 that we've been looking at today. There's a sense of awe and wonder as He ponders how intimately God knows Him, how faithfully God hangs in there with Him, and the wonder of God's craftsmanship and plan. Look again at what the Psalmist writes in verse 6: Such knowledge is too high for me, it is so high I can't attain it. Verse 14: I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, oh God, that I know very well. Verse 17: How weighty are your thoughts oh God, how vast is the sum of them. I try and count them but they're more than the sand on the beach. I come to the end and I'm still with You. Easter is the time when God sent His Son to die for us, to solve this basic problem of humanity that we have. A problem that God calls "sin". And I know, "sin" used to sound like such an old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy word to me too, but it is the problem of humanity. And we've been looking at that over the past few weeks. But the thing that oozes out of this Psalm for me – that speaks so much about God's motivation behind Easter – is His incredible love. We will never ever be able to wrap our minds and hearts around God's love completely. We'll never, ever be able to understand how God feels about us. God says in His Word that one day we'll stand before Him and all things will be revealed. I can't imagine … I just can't imagine looking at God; I can't imagine looking on the face of Jesus; I can't imagine knowing and understanding fully how much He loves us. And when He created you and when He created me individually and wondrously and perfectly handcrafted you and me – intricately woven together in our mother's womb – that was the most amazing act of grace because He knew when He did that, that you and I would reject Him. He always knew that. He always knew that to bring us back to Him, to save us from ourselves, to save us from what we deserve – which is an eternity without Him – He'd have to send Jesus to die on that Cross for you and me. No if's, no but's, no maybe's – you and I, our sin, our rebellion are no surprise to God. He always knew and He still created us. He still allowed us to be born and He still planned every day of our lives, even before any of those days existed at all. That blows me away. No wonder the Psalmist writes: How weighty are your thoughts to me oh God, how vast is the sum of them. I try and count them but they're more than the grains of sand on the beach. Because behind Easter is this amazing act of grace. Not just that Jesus came to suffer and die for our failure but that God always knew that by creating us He would have to do that. And yet He created us anyway. Could I encourage you never ever put Easter in some measured little box; never ever to consign Easter to some head knowledge thing, but like the Psalmist be blown away by God's love. Every breathe you take, every step, every hilltop, every valley, every twist, every turn, everything that we have to suffer and bare – live it in this awe and wonder of who God is and how much He loves you in Jesus. Life takes on a completely new meaning and vibrancy and colour. Doesn't matter how much we have to suffer, how much we have to weep, how many tears we cry, we know that God has a plan and He always, and God was there when you were handcrafted by Him in your mother's womb. God always had a plan for you to be who you are, for you to live the life that He's given you and for you to have a life through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. And for you and me to walk in wonder and awe of the completely unattainable knowledge of His love for us in Jesus Christ. We've been looking at that over the last few weeks and we've seen how His love plays itself out on the Cross. But right now, unless we are completely lost in the wonder of His plan and His love, you know what, I think Easter just becomes another long weekend, doesn't it? Listen to the Psalmist: God I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are so wonderful that I know full well. My frame wasn't hidden from you when I was made in that secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days that were ordained, they were already written in Your book before any of them as yet came into being. How precious to me are your thoughts oh God, how vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them, they'd outnumber all the grains of sand on the earth. When I awake I'm still with you. You see, you and I are "to die for" in God's sight. God created us. He knew that we'd rebel, He loved us and He knew that His Son would have to come and die for you and for me. That, my friend, is what Easter is about. Because your rejection of God, my rejection of God severed the perfect relationship that we can have with God. And God is good, He's righteous, He's perfect. Ultimately when we reject Him, when we sin, when we turn against Him, when we do what we know is wrong, somebody has to pay that price. Now, if you look at our law and our judges, they don't work perfectly, but if we do something wrong, someone has to pay the price. That principle of justice comes from the very nature of God. God is a just God and He's a loving God and God's justice and His love were in conflict. Justice demanded that we be punished, love demanded that we be forgiven. On the Cross they come together, on the Cross they merge. Through the death of Jesus the demands of justice are met and the demands of God's love to set us free, to have a new life, are met as well. Friend, Easter is about the central devastating sickness of humanity. Easter is about setting you and me free from our sin to give us a new life. That's what it's all about. That's why we celebrate Easter. The chocolates are nice, the long weekend is nice, the church services are nice for those who go but bottom line God sacrificed His Son so that you and I could have an eternal relationship with Him. It's relationship that begins the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Let's call our sin for what it is – it is sin. And friend, as much as we look in the mirror and we see wrinkles and warts and failures and bad things, God knows those, that's why He sent His Son Jesus to die on a Cross for you and for me, and that my friend, is Easter. If you have never put your trust in Jesus, then you do not know the freedom of God's forgiveness. The moment we believe that Jesus died to pay for our sin and through His death we're forgiven by God, the moment we accept that and believe that my friend, we are set free to live a new life. That's why Jesus rose again – to give us a new life. And that new life begins here and now. That is Easter.

In a rare look at Jesus' early life, we find him in the temple at twelve years old. Even though his parents have left Jerusalem without him, Jesus is right at home in his Father's house, because he is the Son of God. In this passage, Luke shows us the kind of Son Jesus is: authoritative, surprising, and obedient. Each one gives us a lesson on following Jesus in our own lives today.Application Questions: 1. As the Son of God, Jesus claims total authority over our lives. How have you embraced Jesus' authority in your life? What areas of your life might need to be brought under his authority? 2. Can you think of a time that Jesus was different than you expected him to be? How did you handle that surprise? 3. Jesus is the obedient Son, obeying his Father even when it led to judgment and death. How might Jesus' obedience move you to embrace his authority in your life, even when he violates your expectations?

Do you live with an awareness of God's presence?   1.  There is the Omnipresence of God:            - God is everywhere even when you do not experience His presence.          - God's omnipresence can exist without our awareness.          - Psalm 139:7-12:  Where can I flee from God's presence?                    v. 8. Death cannot separate you from His presence.             vs. 9-10. Distance cannot separate you from His presence.           vs. 11-12.  Darkness cannot separate you from His presence.   2.  There is the Manifest Presence of God:           - God's manifest presence is when He is made known.  It is clear to see.        - Adam & Eve:  Genesis 3:7-8        - Cain:  Genesis 4:16        - God the Father manifested Himself to Moses at the burning bush.  Exodus 3       - God the Son (Jesus) manifested Himself in Daniel 3.                  Jesus the Word became flesh in John 1:14.        - God the Holy Spirit manifested Himself at Pentecost in Acts 2.   3.  There is the Indwelling Presence of God:             What is better than Jesus walking beside you?  It is Jesus living inside of you.                     - Acts 1:8;  Acts 2:38-39           - 1 Corinthians 6:19   What is the result of being in God's presence?   "In Your presence is fullness of joy."  Psalm 16:11                Are you living aware of God's presence?              Do you have the indwelling presence of God?

Do you understand the weight of your sin? Owner-God Vineyard-Israel and promises made Tenants-Israel's leaders Servants-Prophets Owner's Son-JesusWe want to be OWNERS instead of TENANTSHow do you see yourself?Are we handling everything like it belongs to God?Pride                HumilityAre you living your life humbly, as a tenant of God's stuff, leveraging everything for God's glory? Or pridefully, as an owner, using everything for your glory?Have you acknowledged Jesus as the cornerstone of your faith or are you rejecting Him through your actions?

A Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent St. Matthew 15:21-28 & 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 by William Klock In today's Gospel St. Matthew tells us that Jesus and his disciples left Jewish Galilee for the district of Tyre and Sidon.  While there were plenty of Jews living in the district of Tyre and Sidon, this was Canaanite country—pagan country—outside the bounds of Israel.  I expect they kept themselves to the countryside and away from the cities crowded with unclean gentiles.  That, and Mark's telling of this story suggests Jesus was taking a little bit of a holiday from the crowds that followed him everywhere in Galilee.  So Jesus and the disciples found a quiet place to stay, but there's no peace and quiet for Jesus.  Last week the devil found him on his forty-day retreat in the wilderness.  Now a local Canaanite woman hears he's in the neighbourhood and tracks him down to the place where they were staying.  As Matthew remembers it, he writes that: A Canaanite woman from those parts came out and shouted, “Have pity on me, Lord, son of David!  My daughter is in a bad way…she's demon-possessed!”   Remembering what happened that day and how Jesus and how he and the other disciples responded to her, Matthew tells us that Jesus said nothing at all to her.  And for their part, the disciples prodded Jesus saying, Send her away!  She's shouting after us.   These are the same disciples that shooed away the little children when they approached Jesus, so their reaction doesn't seem very surprising or out of character.  After all, they were here to get away from all the people and here's this pagan, gentile woman shouting at them.  It probably does seem a little odd, however, that Jesus would ignore the woman.  But writing decades later about what happened that day, if we listen closely, we do get a sense of how the gospel had softened Matthew's heart.  Back then she was just an annoying gentile disturbing their day.  But looking back, Matthew describes her plight with compassion.  Her daughter was in a bad way, he says.  That's how he usually describes the hurting people who came to Jesus for mercy.  Her daughter, the woman cried out, was demon-possessed.  A terrible thing.  And yet the key to the story is in Matthew's detail that she was a Canaanite. That's the problem.  Think about how we often struggle to feel compassion for people who put themselves in bad situations or do dumb and irresponsible things and then suffer the consequence.  Play with fireworks and you might blow your fingers off.  Do drugs and you'll end up a junkie strung out on the street.  Sleep around and you'll end up with an STD.  Lie with the dogs and you'll get up with fleas.  We have various ways of describing this.  “Play stupid games; win stupid prizes” comes to mind.  The Bible has a saying too: You reap what you sow.  Most Jews would look at this Canaanite woman with a demon-possessed daughter with that kind of attitude.  If you worship false gods—remember that Paul says those false gods are just demons in disguise—if you worship false gods, it's your own fault if you or your children end up possessed by demons.  You reap what you sow. One of the patron gods of Sidon was Eshmun, a Phoenician god of healing.  He had a great temple in the city.  I expect that this woman had taken her daughter there many times to pray to the idol there and to offer it sacrifices in the hope that it would heal her daughter.  Little did she know that her worship of this demonic false god was just the sort of thing that brought demonic possession on her daughter.  No wonder she didn't get better.  But now she's heard about Jesus.  Even people in her pagan country were talking about him.  She heard her Jewish neighbours tell how he had delivered people from demons.  She also heard them say that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of David, that somehow, through him or in him or something like that, the God of Israel had come to visit and deliver his people.  She'd never prayed to the God of Israel before.  That would be dumb.  She was a Canaanite.  She wasn't his problem.  She had her own gods.  Plus, from her perspective, the God of Israel couldn't be any better than her gods.  His people hadn't heard him speak for hundreds of years.  And he allowed them to be oppressed by the Romans.  He didn't sound very powerful—or even very present.  Gentiles like her mocked the faith that the Jews put in him.  “Where's your God?” they jeered.  But as she listened to the stories about Jesus, it sounded like the God of Israel was finally waking up.  Through this “son of David”, through this “Messiah”, the promises he had made centuries before were starting to come true.  If her gods wouldn't help her, maybe she should go and find this Jesus.  Yahweh wasn't her god or even the god of her people, but maybe in Jesus he would show her mercy.  And so she went looking for Jesus and when she found him, there he was talking with his friends.  She decided it was best to be respectful.  Jews—especially rabbis—avoided contact with gentiles.  They thought people like her were unclean.  Plus she was a woman and it wasn't appropriate for a woman to be too forward with a man who wasn't family.  And so she called out from a distance.  Again, Matthew writes: Have pity on me, Lord, son of David!   And to her dismay—although I doubt she was surprised—Jesus ignored her.  But that wasn't going to stop her.  Maybe if she could annoy him enough, he'd just giver her what she wanted.  That's more or less how the pagans thought it worked with the gods.  Think of our Ash Wednesday gospel and Jesus' warning about heaping up words with long prayers.  That's what the gentiles do, he warns.  So she cries out some more at which point the disciples, who had been ignoring her so far, turn to Jesus and plead with him: Send her away!  She's shouting after us.  And finally Jesus responds—but to them, not to her.  Matthew says that Jesus answered, I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.   Ouch.  Where's all that “For God so loved the world that he sent his only-begotten son” stuff that Jesus says in John's Gospel?  Well, we'll come back to that.  But first, now that Jesus has acknowledged her presence if not actually spoken directly to her, the woman feels comfortable drawing nearer and speaking to Jesus.  Matthew says that she came and threw herself down at his feet.  “Lord, she said, “please help me.”  And Jesus answered, “It isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”   Wait.  Did Jesus just call her a dog?  But Jesus is just making a point.  He's reiterating what was the normal, common view that Jews had of gentiles.  They were “dogs”.  There were two types of people in the world: Jews.  And everyone else who wished they were a Jew.  At least that's sort of how the Jews saw things.  The Jews were God's people: chosen, called, especially loved.  They were the people who lived with the living God in their midst.  Or, at any rate, they used to be…and they were sure they would be once again.  That was the difference.  The gentiles, they were unchosen, unclean, and unloved.  They worshipped idols and they did evil things.  They were dogs.  And when they talked about dogs, the weren't talking about cute little lap dogs or friendly pets.  They were talking about feral dogs that roamed the streets at night eating garbage.  That's how Jews saw gentiles.  In contrast, they we're the Lord's beloved children. And the woman understands all of this.  She already knew she had no right to be there.  She had no claim on the God of Israel or his Messiah.  I know, Lord, she says to Jesus, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table.   I expect Jesus finally smiled when he heard that.  He wasn't really a jerk.  He said and did all of this for a reason.  It was another one of his acted prophecies that said more about his mission and his ministry than words ever could.  So having made his point, Jesus replied, “O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be as you wish.  And Matthew adds, And her daughter was healed from that moment.  Maybe Matthew just knew that this is what happened because this is what always happened, but I suspect that the report got back to Jesus and the disciples.  Maybe the woman brought her healed daughter to meet Jesus.  Who knows.  The point is that this woman saw the God of Israel at work in Jesus, she came in faith, and even though she had no claim on him, the God of Israel healed her daughter. But back the question: Why would Jesus treat this woman this way?  Why would he call her a dog?  What's with all this about not giving the children's bread to the dogs?  Didn't God so love the world that he sent his son?  He did.  But here's the thing: remember that Matthew wrote his Gospel for a Jewish audience and a big part of his agenda was to show them that Jesus really was their Messiah and that he'd come in fulfilment of their prophecies.  In doing that, Matthew reminds us that Jesus didn't jump into history to save humanity and the world at any old random time and place.  There's been a tendency in the Church to abstract Jesus' ministry, to separate theology and story, doctrine and history.  He is the Saviour of the world after all, and so we start thinking that if he'd wanted to he could have come at any time and any place and any people to do his saving work, but in doing that we forget that—no—he came and he had to come where and when and to whom he did because Jesus is part of a bigger story.  Jesus of Montréal couldn't have saved the word.  Jesus of Nazareth—because he was Jesus of Nazareth—could. This is why I say that this was sort of an acted-out prophecy.  I expect Jesus planned to help this woman from the start, but what he says and does here stresses a point that will be vital to his own people and that, ultimately, will be vital as the gospel goes out from Judea to the whole world.  And that point is that Jesus reveals the faithfulness of the God of Israel.  He does that by first ignoring this gentile woman, then he refuses her request and calls her a dog.  But maybe the most remarkable thing—and it highlights that he really was a prophet—is that his refusal of her request ends up prompting her to speak that vital truth when she says, “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table.”  Take note: The dogs don't eat until the master's children have eaten.  And, Brothers and Sisters, just so with the gospel.  The gentiles can't eat until the children of Israel have first been fed.  The Lord must fulfil his promises to his people before those gospel crumbs can fall to the gentiles.  The amazing thing—and what this Canaanite woman couldn't have realised at the time—was that those crumbs that fell under the table would, in time, become a great feast for the nations.  But what has drawn the nations to the table was seeing the faithfulness of the Lord to feed his own children, just as the household dogs only came to the table, because they saw the master feeding his beloved children and hoped to eat what was dropped. We too often forget this.  It's true that “God so loved the world”.  But we've forgotten the bigger story of which this is just one part: the story of the people of God that runs from Genesis to Revelation.  We tend to lift Jesus out of his historical and Jewish context, out of his First Century context, which means lifting him out of the story of Israel—which again means lifting him out of the Genesis to Revelation story.  And when we do that, we lose the very thing brought—that still brings—the nations to Jesus: the great theme of the faithfulness, the righteousness of God.  But  Matthew won't let us do that.  Today he shows us Jesus right in the middle of the big story. So it's true what Jesus says to the woman here: He did not come to the gentiles.  Jesus came to Israel.  Jesus is Israel's Messiah.  “But again,” we protest, “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son…”  Jesus said it.  Yes.  Jesus brings salvation for all, but we need to first understand that he does so as Israel's Messiah.  Jesus stresses it right here: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Jesus came to bring the kingdom that had been promised to Israel through Abraham and through David and he did it to fulfil the Lord's promises—to show his faithfulness.  There were aspects of that kingdom that were new and different, but Jesus' kingdom is built firmly and immovably on the covenant and the promises the Lord had made with Israel down through the ages from Abraham's time.  He had called Israel to be his people.  He had promised to be their God.  He had rescued Israel and set her apart so that he might show her his blessings and give her his word and he did it all so that the world, the nations, the gentiles would see God in the midst of his people and be moved to come and give him glory.  And that's exactly what Matthew wants us to see happening in our Gospel today. We don't know exactly what this Canaanite woman hard heard or what she knew.  There were enough Jews living in her part of the world that she might very well have known their stories and have heard about their prophets.  Knowing those things made it all the easier to mock the faith of the Jews.  They told these stories of past greatness.  They told stories about Abraham being led across the desert by their God.  They told stories about their deliverance from slavery in Egypt—about the plagues and the Red Sea—about the law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  They told stories about how the Lord had conquered the land of Canaan for them.  And the Canaanites laughed: “Where's your God now?”  Because the God of Israel wasn't in the temple anymore.  He hadn't spoken in centuries—if he had ever really spoken at all.  The stories were probably all made up anyway.  Consider that these pagans had their own stories about their own gods.  And, yes, the God of Israel was so much better in Israel's stories.  He was just and righteous and loving.  Their gods were fickle and capricious and subject to all their passions.  You couldn't trust them, which is why they heaped up long prayers.  But their gods didn't speak and, as far as they could tell, neither did the God of Israel. But then, he did speak and he did act.  The first gentiles to notice were the wise men from the East.  The God of Israel placed a star in the sky that guided them to his king, to his Messiah.  And as Jesus travelled around Galilee healing the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the demon possessed.  As Jesus preached good news and coming judgement, it got the attention of some of the gentiles.  There was that Roman centurion in Capernaum who went to Jesus to plead for the life of his son.  There was the demoniac in the Decapolis.  Jesus had cast his demons into a heard of pigs and now he was healed, sane, and proclaiming what the God of Israel had done.  And now this Canaanite woman.  She'd heard what the God of Israel was doing through Jesus.  In a world of idolatrous and demon-filled darkness, she had a glimpse of the light, and so she came to Jesus in faith—faith that this foreign God whom she'd once mocked, just might actually be for real and unlike any of the other gods her people had ever known.  And through Jesus the God of Israel healed her daughter, drove the darkness away, and sent her home with her faith confirmed. Brothers and Sisters, the Canaanite woman, responding to that little glimpse of God's light in the midst of the darkness, prefigures what God knew would happen with the gentiles once the light of his righteousness, his faithfulness began to blaze out from the cross and from the empty tomb.  This was his plan all along.  Because he loved the whole world, he sent his son take up the identity and mission of his people, Israel.  Through Jesus—and especially in his death and resurrection and through the judgement that Jesus brought to Judea—the God of Israel fulfilled the promises that he had made to his people.  And in those events, he made his glory known to the gentiles.  In Jesus, the gentiles saw a God unlike any god they had ever known: a God who speaks, a God who acts, a God who is present with his people, and most of all a God who is faithful and just.  And they abandoned their false gods, their demonic idols and through Jesus they bowed down, they submitted in faith, they gave their allegiance to the God of Israel.  And in that, God gathered the dogs and made them his children.  He took what was unclean, and washed it pure.  As Paul writes in our Epistle today: God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness.  By putting his glory on full display in Jesus, he has taken us away from our idols and our idolatry and made us holy.  Brothers and Sisters, the Canaanite woman is us—or the vast majority of us, at any rate.  An unclean, gentile dog now washed clean and made holy by Jesus, because we have seen the glory of God shining forth from him—from his cross, from his empty tomb, and from his ascension.  Our ancestors believed and we believe, because the good news about Jesus outshines every god, every demon, every philosophy, every ism, every idol.  And, Brothers and Sisters, my prayer is that—particularly during this season of Lenten fasting—that God by his word and by his Spirit would hold his glory before us and drive away all the distractions that we've let creep back into our view, that his glory would drive away every idol, whether that be worldly thinking, selfishness, politics, money, sex, entertainment—whatever our distractions might be and that we would fix our gaze and our grip solely on Jesus, the glory of his Father, and the life of his Spirit and that we would remember that he has delivered us from uncleanness and called us to holiness. Let's pray: Gracious Father, as you revealed your righteous glory to the Canaanite woman through Jesus, let your glory blaze forth as we recall the good news of Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension.  Keep the gospel ever before us so that as we see your great glory, everything else, every idol, every false source of hope and security pales in comparison.  Cause us to let go of everything that we might hold tightly to you and you alone.  Through Jesus we pray.  Amen.

(Please note that the 1st part is in English, and the 2nd part is in Malayalam starting at 14:44 mark)The entire humanity is the creation of God.  God loves everyone, and He desires everyone to know Him, love Him, obey His commandments, glorify Him and get salvation.  That is why Jesus said to His disciples, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.   He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned(Mark 16:15,16).  The end will not come until the gospel is preached in the whole world(Matthew 24:14).  God loves Jews and the Christians more for specific reasons.  The Jews are the chosen people of God.  God blessed Abraham and his descendants for his obedience.  God loves Christians as they believe in His only Son Jesus who came down for the redemption of the the entire humanity.  God is still disciplining the Jews and the Christians in many ways for not fulfilling God's expectations. God is not serious in disciplining the people belonging to other religions because they don't know God even though they believe in a God. Their disciplining will start only when they accept Jesus as Savior and get baptized. There are plenty of holy people among them. Once they accept Jesus, their salvation will be quick.My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com

This week Pastor Pace will teach about the God who gives life. Not just good life on earth but true life, stay tuned. Text: Acts 11:13-15"13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."Please hit follow and don't forget to give us a 5-star rating and leave a review. For more information or to receive your own personal Bible study with Pastor Pace, call us at 214-391-0017 or visit our website at gtacdallas.com If you would like to hear current broadcasts tune into 1040AM KGGR in Dallas, TX every Wednesday at 3:15pm CST.

Christians are in great danger because of the evil cosmic forces aligned against them. Temptations, i.e., enticements to sin, come against us from Satan, the world, and our own remaining corruption. Prayer is needed that we would not yield to the temptations to sin, but would resist them and flee from them. Why these trials? To mold our character more into Christ's likeness that God would be glorified. Evil surrounds us on every side - we must call upon God our Father in the name of his Son Jesus, for protection and deliverance!

Sunday, February 23rd 2025Romans 1:18-32Is winter over yet?  I really hope this past week was the last of the cold and the snow.  This winter has been hard on many people.  Not only have we had more snow and cold than the past few years but it seems there is more sickness goingaround as well.  What a blessing it would be if we all took a moment and checked on our family, friends and neighbors tosee how they are holding up.  This week we will continue our discussion of Paul's letter to the Romans.  What some people call the greatest explanation of the Gospel in all of the Bible.   This week Paul shares with us the truth of our disobedience.  God absolutely loves us.  So much that He gave His one and only Son Jesus to die in our place.  But God is also true to His Word. 

Today's witnesses are from Matthew West's website, popwe.org. If you don't know who Matthew West is, he is a singer, songwriter, and storyteller. This website is for the non-profit that he has with his father, a pastor. Matthew and his father encourage people to share their stories. They have various categories of stories. Today, I chose a few testimonies from the Addictions and Deliverance Category. Often, we can hear our own story in someone else's story. When we listen to others tell their story, it helps us see that we are not alone. When we hear how God worked in their situation, it gives us hope that He will work in ours, too! I pray that when you hear these testimonies, you get the faith and hope to believe that miracles can happen in your situation, also. I pray you know that God is there with you, and if you invite Him into your situation, He can help. I hope you enjoy these testimonies.Jim: The story I have is 100% God!!!  In the darkest days of my opiate addiction, I went to jail.  Then, I received a three-year sentence.  I had never been in trouble as a teenager or a young adult.At one point, I overdosed and if God had not put air in my lungs, I would have died.  Nobody was around and nobody would have been there for days.God knows our hearts and I went to Greater Cleveland Teen Challenge and completed that phase.  Then, I went on to Cape Girardeau Missouri where I completed an additional ten-month program.Jesus Christ set me free from the bondage of drugs and alcohol!Thank you, Lord, for your sovereignty and for calling me out of the darkness and into Your marvelous light!Thomas: For years I was struggling with what everyone else thought about me. I was also struggling with a bad pornography addiction. But then I moved to Florida and during the North Florida Youth Revival I got saved.But after that, for years I bounced between that line of doing what God wanted me to do, and I wanted to do. I realized that I needed to stay on the path of righteousness.Then God brought my amazing girlfriend into my life. With her help I was able to crush my addiction and live a happy life with her and God by my side.But I also want to share a message we all need to hear and that is, God's not dead.He is alive. Through God anything is possible.Now I know at times it's hard to see it. But trust me God will do everything He promised us in time. We just have to be patient. God will do everything through his Son Jesus.Jennifer: I wanted to share some of my testimony, since Matthew's music has been a crucial part of my story. I met his father 3 years ago in Dallas and told him how much Matthew's song “Strong Enough” had an impact on my life. In November 2013, I was facing my 3rd DWI and time in prison. I constantly had this song playing because I didn't know what God had in his plans for me, but I didn't think I could handle prison. I would cry, work out, and praise God while listening to this song. I shouldn't even be alive with all the abuse I put my body through. But here I am, praising God through it.My attorney told me I was looking at 6-9 months prison time, and I had my 2 year-old son at home. I finally submitted to the Lord. While driving home from the attorney's office, I told God that if his plan was prison, then “Ok.” I completely submitted for the first time ever. Within 10 minutes of being home, my attorney called me and told me that he's not sure how, but the district attorney called him and said, he'd give me drug court, which meant tons of counseling and self work, but no prison time!!! I know now, that was GOD stepping in!!!This was the start of me changing EVERYTHING! I was able to become a sober mom, a sober wife, and a beacon of light for others who feel that darkness is all they can see. I started a blog and a website to help others and I now am over 6 years sober, with two sons and a wonderful marriage!!So many of Matthew's songs touch my heart as they talk about forgiveness, grace, and our amazing God, who saves us no matter what. Even when we feel like we are lost, He doesn't feel that way.Matthew, this is only a very, very small portion of my story, but I wanted to share how much of an impact you and your songs have made in my life. Thank you for expressing my heart and my words in all of your music. Now I can share your songs with my sons and they can feel the Lord through them as well. Thank you for sharing your heart and God's spirit in all you do.Brandy: My God moment was over 17 years ago. It started with a bad drug addiction my husband had to cocaine. He was so hooked that when he would finally come home, it was with no money left from his paycheck, and with people he owed money to knocking on our door. He had bad asthma, so when doing the drugs, many times he would have an asthma attack, until one day it was much worse.We had no house phone or cell phone, so I would have to go across the road to my neighbor's house to use a phone. This particular time he was having trouble breathing. He tried using the breathing machine, but he noticed it wasn't working. He said “call 911.” We had 3 little kids asleep at the time, so I took our littlest one with me across the road, beating on our neighbor's door. When I got back to my house, I saw my husband lying on our kitchen floor with the breathing machine still hooked to his face. His bowels had moved, he had vomited on the floor, and his lips were blue. “Scared” is an understatement, but I knew I had to push through the tears and pray for the Lord to help him. God stepped in and saved his life.The drug problem wasn't gone. Once again we would face this same situation. When the ambulance got to our house, they told my husband “if it wasn't for your wife standing out on the porch flagging us down, you probably wouldn't have made it.” I take no credit. I've always told him, and will continue to say it was God and God only. I wish I could say that was enough to get his attention, but it didn't. He just got better at hiding it.Part of our story is adultery, leaving, coming back, then making the decision not to leave again. I decided to trust God, and to fight for my marriage and deliverance for my husband. I started praying over him, sometimes when he was sleeping. I wasn't going to give up on something I knew God could do. It didn't come easy, but little by little he was set free from all drugs. In the process, God not only delivered him from drugs, but he also healed our marriage.Fast forward – we are in church, serving the Lord. Over the years, God has used what brought so much hurt and pain to encourage and show others that if God can heal, restore, and deliver us, He can do it for them as well.Thank you all for sharing your stories. I am sure your story is going to help others know that they are not alone and that wherever they are right now, that doesn't have to be their ending. www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

February 19, 2025Today's Reading: John 6:41-59Daily Lectionary:Job 14:1-22; John 6:41-59“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:48–51)In the Name + of Jesus. AmenBread that brings life to the world. That's what Jesus is, the source of life and sustenance for people who hunger, for people in need. These days, with our suspicions about gluten and refined carbohydrates, it can be hard to see simple bread as something so important for life. But that is exactly who and what Jesus is: the foundation of life itself.Elijah ate bread brought by the angel and went forth in that strength for forty days. The Israelites lived on manna all throughout their wilderness wandering, bread also given by God.Even though this miraculous Old Testament bread fed and sustained them, it didn't last. The Israelites died, and Elijah eventually found food elsewhere. For us, though, that bread pointed to the importance of Jesus as the living bread from heaven. Our ears are already tuned to the sound of God's Gift of bread being given to feed us.And the fantastic thing about this bread is that it doesn't come in only one form. You don't only find it upon the altar in the Sacrament. Jesus gives us a bread that we eat with our mouths and with our ears. He doesn't restrict his life, your life, to one source only, but he gives it in many ways. Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Scripture, the preached Word, the Supper. Christ Jesus never wants you to go hungry, so he gives his bread, his life, his Gifts, in many ways so that you will never be hungry for a lack of it, and so that it is always available in your time of need.This bread is given to you in faith, the living faith created in you by the work of the Holy Spirit. You receive it in faith as well, knowing that the good and gracious Gifts of God, especially the Gift of his Son Jesus for you, will keep and strengthen you throughout all your days.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Praise the Father, who from heaven To His own this food has given, Who, to mend what we have done, Gave into death His only Son…Let this food your faith so nourish That its fruit of love may flourish And your neighbor learn from you How much God's wondrous love can do. (LSB 627:4, 10)-Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Bible Reading: 1 John 2:3-6"Look at how bright the stars are tonight!" Dawson's little brother, Parker, gaped at the sky from his spot on the lawn. "Yeah, and the moon is really bright too," said Dawson."Why is it so bright?" asked Parker. "Is it a great big ball of fire?"Dawson laughed and shook his head. "The sun is more like a ball of fire. The moon doesn't actually have any light at all. It reflects the light of the sun--that's why it looks bright. I learned about that in my science class.""Come on in, boys!" called Mom. "It's time to get to bed."The boys got up from the grass and headed for the house. Once they were inside, Parker ran over to the window and pointed to the moon. "Guess what, Mom! Dawson told me that the moon isn't really a big fireball--it just reflects the sun's light. Did you know that?"Mom smiled. "Yes, I did know that. Now scoot along to bed, or morning will come before you're ready for it."After church the following day, Dawson asked his parents a question that had been puzzling him. "My teacher says people are supposed to see Jesus in us. But we aren't Jesus, so how can they see Him? I don't get it.""Well," said Mom, "remember what you told Parker about the sun and the moon when you were outside last night?""Sure," said Dawson. "I said the moon reflects the light of the sun.""Right," said Mom. "The moon isn't the sun, but it reflects it. When people look at the moon, the light they see is really the light of the sun. And we're not Jesus, but because we belong to Him and have His Spirit in us, we can reflect His light. When people see what we do and how we treat others, they should be seeing Jesus's character shining through us.""That's right," said Dad. "When we trust the Holy Spirit to help us be kind, patient, truthful, and unselfish, we reflect Jesus and His great love for everyone. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, Christians are able to reflect the love of God's Son--Jesus." –Anna E. Baumeister How About You?If you're a Christian, do others see the love of Jesus reflected in your life? When you show others the same kind of love Jesus showed us by dying for our sins, others will see Him in you. But you can't do it on your own--Jesus gave you the Holy Spirit so you can shine His light to others. Trust the Spirit to help you and guide you as you reflect Jesus's love to those around you.Today's Key Verse:Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (NKJV) (1 Peter 2:21)Today's Key Thought:Let Jesus be seen in you

In this week's homily, meditate with us on God's words to His beloved Son Jesus: "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

No matter how far we wandered, we have never gotten out of our Father's back yard! When the time had come, God sent his Son Jesus into this cold, cruel world. He came to tell us that we have a Father who loves us and who wants us to come home.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Christmas Eve, the 24th of December, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. Now folks, it is probably the most important evening of the whole year! This is the night that we celebrate the birth of our beloved Saviour, dearest Friend, Jesus Christ. We go straight to the Gospel of Matthew 1:21: “And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son (Jesus), and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”I want us to have just a little bit of a cautious thought about things. I know it is very hectic, especially for mothers in the home, making sure that the food is all prepared; the decorations have been put up; the extra beds have been made because Aunty and Uncle are coming to spend Christmas Eve with you; and the Christmas presents for the children for tomorrow, are all being wrapped up. In the hectic attitude of this season, do not forget the baby! Do not forget that beloved baby - it makes me want to cry. You know, behind me in my prayer room, I have a beautiful picture of the nativity, of Joseph, of Mary and of that little Darling, from Heaven, Jesus Christ. In the busyness of our lives, let us never forget the main thing. The main thing is, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is so easy to get so busy that we forget the main reason for Christmas Eve.I want to tell you a little story. I was sitting right here in the same chair in my prayer room, and I heard little footsteps coming through the door of my prayer room, where nobody comes except my immediate family, and I looked around and there was my little granddaughter, she is only about five or six years old. She looked very shy because she knew I was busy, but praise God, she felt she could come and approach her grandfather, and she said, “Kulu”, with those big eyes. She was holding a tube, a bicycle tube in her hand, and I said, “What's wrong?” She said, “My bicycle has got a puncture, and my cousin (who lives over the road) is coming to see me and we are going to go for a ride but my bicycle is not working. Could you help me?” (I am getting emotional!) I said, “Of course.” I stopped everything. I went out, I fixed the puncture at the back but there was also a puncture at the front. I fixed that. Then she had no oil for her chain, so we put oil on the chain. Then the seat was just a little bit high because it used to belong to her big brother, so I adjusted the seat. Then her cousin arrived and that little thing, if I had bought her a Lear Jet, it would not have meant the same, and off they went cycling together. Please look after your children, especially the smallest ones. Do not neglect them at this time. Jesus loves the little children. Have a very precious Christmas Eve,God bless you and goodbye.

Jesus' Birth ForetoldIsaiah 9:6 “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”We received this scripture verse on Thursday during prayer group. I was researching how many years, before the birth of Jesus, this prophecy was given to Isaiah. While researching, I found this article that explains this verse very well. So, I thought I would read the article to you for today's episode. The article can be found on The Master's University Website. It does not say who wrote it. CLICK HERE for the article.The Christmas story in the Bible begins several hundred years before that night in Bethlehem. One Old Testament prophecy after another promised a coming Savior—the Messiah, the Anointed One—who would redeem the people of God. The centerpiece of all the Christmas prophecies, Isaiah 9:6, was written nearly six hundred years before Jesus' birth. Isaiah promised it would be a miraculous event unlike any the world had ever known, and the details Isaiah gave were fulfilled precisely by Jesus.For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6 is the most familiar of all the Old Testament prophecies about the birth of Christ. Handel included it as one of the great choruses of his Messiah oratorio. Chances are you either sing it or hear it several times every Christmas season.Consider the rich truths in this one short verse and the attributes given to this extraordinary child. To the Jewish nation, Isaiah's prophecy was news of a coming King. To the unsuspecting world, the prophecy promised a Savior, God incarnate, whose coming would dramatically and forever alter human history.Son of Man“A child will be born to us” is a statement about His humanity. He began life like any other human—as an infant. Isaiah doesn't say more about this here, but we know from the New Testament that Christ experienced every temptation common to humanity, but He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). As a man, He felt everything we feel, hurt like we hurt, wept like we weep, and in His death He even felt the weight of sin as He took ours upon Himself.Son of God“A son will be given to us” speaks of the Savior's preexistent deity. By saying “given,” not “born,” Isaiah suggests that Jesus existed before His birth. He was already God, the second Person of the Trinity, before He was given to us to be our Savior (Philippians 2:6-7). He came as the Son of God—God in a human body—to conquer sin and death forever. He is the perfect Son of God, the promise of the ages, the Holy One of Israel, the desire of nations, the light in darkness, the only hope for our lost world.King of Kings“The government will rest on His shoulders” looks beyond that first Christmas to a time still in the prophetic future when Christ shall reign over a literal, earthly, geopolitical kingdom that encompasses all the kingdoms and governments of the world (Zechariah 14:9; Daniel 2:44). In that day, the government of the whole world will rest on His shoulders, and He will reign as sovereign over a worldwide kingdom of righteousness and peace. In the meantime, His government operates in secret. His kingdom and sovereign rule are manifest within those who trust Him as their Lord (Luke 17:20-21).Wonderful CounselorMessiah's kingdom has the answer to the world's confusion. During His incarnation, Christ demonstrated His wisdom as a counselor. When people came to Him, He always knew what to say, when to reach out to a seeking heart, and when to rebuke an impetuous soul. The testimony of those who heard Him was, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks” (John 7:46). Christ is the source of all truth (John 14:6), and it is to Him that we must turn to make sense of life's confusion. Jesus is the Counselor who knows everything. He knows all about you; He knows the needs of your heart; He knows how to answer those needs. And He always gives wise counsel to those who will hear and obey Him.Mighty GodThe King is the Mighty God and His kingdom is free from all chaos. “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33), which means chaos is antithetical to who He is. Christ the King loves to step into a life of chaos and not only provide wonderful counsel, but also display His divine power by bringing order. He not only tells His subjects what to do as a wonderful Counselor, but He can energize them to do it—because He is the Mighty God. In Jesus we have a sovereign Master who can forgive sin, defeat Satan, liberate us from the power of evil, redeem us, answer our prayers, restore our broken souls, and reign over rebuilt lives, bringing order to chaos.Eternal FatherWe tend to cringe at the word “government,” picturing an administrative labyrinth. But our Messiah's kingdom is not like that. He requires no bureaucracy; He shoulders His government by Himself. He can do it because He is the eternal Father, or as the phrase in Isaiah 9:6 is literally translated, “the Father of Eternity.” Christ is Creator of heaven and earth. According to God the Father's own testimony, the Son—Jesus—was the Person of the Godhead who created time out of eternity and fashioned the universe from nothing (Hebrews 1:10-12). Nothing is too difficult for the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Infinity and all its intricacies are nothing to Him who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and the End—the Father of Eternity. He declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He is in complete and sovereign control, He sees the end of everything, and He guarantees that all things will work together for the ultimate good of all His kingdom's subjects (Romans 8:28).Prince of PeaceIn Messiah's kingdom there are no conflicts because He is the Prince of Peace. He offers “peace from God” (Romans 1:7) to all who receive His grace. He makes “peace with God” (Romans 5:1) for those who surrender to Him in faith. And He brings the “peace of God” (Philippians 4:7) to those who walk with Him. As we hear so often at Christmas, the beginning of His earthly life was heralded by angels who pronounced peace on earth (Luke 2:14). There never really has been peace on earth in the sense we think of it. Wars and rumors of wars have characterized the entire two millennia since that first Christmas, as well as all the time before it. The announcement of peace on earth was a two-pronged proclamation. First, it declared the arrival of the only One who ultimately can bring lasting peace on earth (which He will do when He returns to bring about the establishment of His earthly kingdom).But more importantly, it was a proclamation that God's peace was available to men and women. Read the words of Luke 2:14 carefully and note this emphasis: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” God is pleased with the people who yield their lives to Him. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 147:11 NKJV). When the angels proclaimed peace on earth, they were speaking primarily of a very personal, individual application of God's peace that grows out of a firsthand knowledge of the Prince of Peace.The prophetic message of Christmas is the good news of God's answer to all the confusion, chaos, complexities, and conflicts of life. It is the gift of the newborn infant, who is also the Father of all eternity. He is an innocent child, yet He is a wise Counselor and mighty King. He is God with us. Immanuel.This Christmas, consider the wonderful promise of Christ and how He has fulfilled these rich prophecies in your life through His saving, sanctifying, and sustaining work.Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for each and every person listening to this episode. Lord, I ask you to bless them and their families this holiday season. Lord, we thank you for sending Jesus to us and for saving us. We thank you for all the ways you are still saving us every day, not just from the world but from ourselves, too. Lord, we love you, and we are so grateful for you. You are amazing! We ask that you be with those who are all alone during this holiday season. We also pray in a special way for all those who are living on the streets during this holiday season. We pray all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I will not be posting a new episode tomorrow since it is Christmas. I will be back on Thursday though. I pray you have a blessed Christmas that is full of joy! I am so grateful I get to be part of your day. I love you all!Today's Word from the Lord was received in June 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “I've asked for the Spirit. We've all asked for the power of His Holy Spirit. We've all asked for His love. His love is there for us. He's not giving us false stones that look like bread to eat. He's going to give us the bread of life.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Thanks for checking out this weeks sermon as we walk through this season of advent together. Russ closes out the series focusing on God's act of love sending his Son Jesus into the world. Join us this Christmas season as we celebrate the miracle of Emmanuel - God with us! STAY CONNECTED // Sanctuary Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearesanctuary/ // Sanctuary Website - https://www.blackrock.org/sanctuary/   HONOR | MERCY | GENEROSITY Sanctuary is the young adult community of Black Rock Church built on living out the honor, mercy, and generosity found in the love and life of Jesus.

The Spirit Mark 2:1-13 Teacher: Jon Morales, Lead Pastor at Oak Pointe Church Have you ever been to a really good restaurant? You know the kind: you can smell its pleasing aroma as soon as you step out of the car into the parking lot. You walk in and every table has a tantalizing dish; you order an appetizer because you can't wait any longer. What does an appetizer do? It increases anticipation of the meal. The appetizer isn't the meal; it simply whets your appetite. It makes you wonder, “If the appetizer is this good, how much better is the entrée?” John the Baptist paved the way for the long-awaited Messiah. He wasn't the savior; he was simply the appetizer. When Jesus came and defeated sin and death, He fully satisfied our hunger for salvation. Tomorrow morning, we will continue to explore the depths of God's generous heart and what He gave to us through His only Son Jesus.

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION TO MARY “O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church!, who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection, hear the prayer that I address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer. Mother of Mercy, teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, I consecrate on this day all my being and all my love. I also consecrate to you my life, my work, my joys, my infirmities, and my sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our people; for I entrust to your care all that I have and all that I am, my Lady and Mother. I wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church. Hold me always with your loving hand. Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, I pray to you for all the bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole people of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God's mysteries. Grant to my home the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, protect my family, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of the children. Our hope, look upon me with compassion, teach me to go continually to Jesus and, if I fall, help me to rise again, to return to Him, by means of the confession of my faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul. I beg you to grant me a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth. Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in my conscience, with my heart free from evil and hatred, I will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to me from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION TO MARY “O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church!, who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection, hear the prayer that I address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer. Mother of Mercy, teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, I consecrate on this day all my being and all my love. I also consecrate to you my life, my work, my joys, my infirmities, and my sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our people; for I entrust to your care all that I have and all that I am, my Lady and Mother. I wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church. Hold me always with your loving hand. Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, I pray to you for all the bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole people of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God's mysteries. Grant to my home the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, protect my family, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of the children. Our hope, look upon me with compassion, teach me to go continually to Jesus and, if I fall, help me to rise again, to return to Him, by means of the confession of my faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul. I beg you to grant me a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth. Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in my conscience, with my heart free from evil and hatred, I will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to me from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”

Luke 1:26-38; “Mary's Story”  The Christmas story is familiar to most of us, but Pastor Dodge gives us a fresh view of this well know story over the next few weeks beginning today with the story of Mary, Jesus' mother. Mary's name means bitter.  She was born in an obscure village, raised in a difficult time when the children of Israel were in bondage to Roman master. BUT her Son would not only redeem Israel - He would redeem the world. Very little is know about Mary. What we know is that she was a virgin born in the town of Nazareth, a town not even mentioned in the Old Testament. However, God chose an obscure little town and an unknown young woman to be the carriers of His promised Savior. Though Mary's name means bitter, God changes things! He turns bitterness into joy! A unique birth, a unique mother and a unique child!   Today, Christmas is under attack. Yet perhaps it's more than that. The battle is larger than the attack on Christmas, it's a battle that goes back to the garden of Eden. It's not a war on Christmas, it's a war on God. The human race, since our fall, has been hostile to the things of God. But! The magnitude of God's love is that He breaks into our world even when we are His enemies. Let us pray that God would move in the lives of people to reveal His incredible goodness. This well-known story shows us many things:     ⁃    God breaks into the life of Mary and He still breaks into our lives today.     ⁃    Mary willingly listened to God's message to her through the angel Gabriel and His Word is still active and alive today!     ⁃    Gabriel tells her what to name her son. She is to name Him Jesus, meaning “God saves” and God continues to save His people today through faith in Christ Jesus.     ⁃    Mary asked “I am a virgin, how will this be?” Gabriel responded through the Holy Spirit and the angel goes on to say in Luke 1:37 “For no word from God will ever fail.” God's promises are assured. He does the impossible!  He does what no human being can accomplish - our redemption! Jesus alone redeems and saves.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit using the Virgin Mary to conceive and bear a Son - God's one and only Son - Jesus breaks into our world with His saving grace! Today's reading ends with Mary saying, “I am the Lord's servant, may your word to me be fulfilled” and then the angel left her. Such a powerful example of trust - she hears the word of God, receives it, believes it and rejoices in it. So much to learn from Mary. She's not just our Savior's mother, she is an amazing role model for any who desire to be servants of the Lord.  Things that stand out about Mary that we can apply in our own lives as well:     1.    Devout Faith - trusted God even when what Gabriel told her seemed impossible.  We too are called to devout faith in God today.     2.    Humility - humble individual who knew it wasn't about her, but about God. A truth for us to internalize too.     3.    Obedience - she listened, obeyed and followed God. Faith saves and when we have faith we will obey!  Faith shows itself in obedience.     4.    Worship - sing praises- thank God for what He has done. As we celebrate Christmas we're not simply looking back to what happened long ago at Jesus' first coming. We're also looking forward to His final coming when He returns - when He reigns and rules forevermore! Check out our website –   https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01 St. Luke's Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. The Gospel of Luke takes a look at the life of Jesus, beginning with the well-known Christmas stories. Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus' life. This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

From Genesis to Revelation we discover that God is generous. He delights in pouring out His generous grace upon people who come to Him in faith to follow Him. The greatest outpouring of God's grace happened when He sent His only Son Jesus to be our Savior from sin. Jesus set aside the riches and glories of heaven to become human and die in our place to set us free from sin.

https://youtu.be/0JpHpaZ24f0?si=m1MlM_P2mwEXrvyM Chill Christmas - 1 - How to Light Up Dark Times   Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano TX. My name is Chris Fluitt!   Merry Christmas!   Have you ever felt like the holiday season was more stressful than joyful?   Our traditions ought to serve us…But we may feel like our traditions have become a burden.   The tree… the good/the bad The gifts… The perfect day… The full schedule…   Christmas traditions stressing you?Make new traditions. DO NOT breathe life into traditions…Choose traditions that breathe life into you.   Inventory your Christmas traditions this season.   Chill Christmas Title   Our Message series is called…   Chill Christmas – Crafting your holiday vibes.   Series Outline Dec 8 - Navigating Holiday Chaos  Crazy time of the year – Need PEACE Dec 15 - Rediscover Simple Fun  NOT fun – Rediscover the Joy Dec 22 - How to make a moment Left with wrapping paper trash and  empty feelings? Better option. Filled with Love. Today – How to Light Up Dark Times     We live in dark times.   World stage - World War III US – Anxiety epidemic.20% experienced anxiety disorder this year.…Female more likely…younger more likely (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder) Anxiety Reasons?-Disconnection-Social pressure-Uncertainty-Financial stress -Poor habits (Sleep habits) Compare your Christmas Traditions to this list…Is it possible we are…-less connected to family, friends, and God?-Social pressure of the perfect… Decor, Instagram Pics-Social pressure of the busy… FULL CALENDAR-Less certain… new year… many are weighing divorce. (January #1 divorce month)-$$$ Stress – pressure to provide = debt   -Holidays kill diets.  Poor sleep       Review… This Christmas is…WW3 FearsAnxiety on steroids   Are we even enjoying the season?Is the season amplifying our struggle   Can you relate? The Ideal vs The Real What is ideal? Images of perfect familyLavish gifts (Car with bow, Jewelry) Non-stop celebration   What is reality? Crazy kids out of schoolPacked stores and bad trafficLoneliness – loss of loved one The gap between IDEAL & REAL leaves us feeling hopeless and lost in the dark. God wants us to know something…   The very first Christmas wasn't ideal. Anxiety Reasons? THE 1ST CHRISTMAS-Disconnection-Social pressure-Uncertainty-Financial stress -Poor habits (Sleep habits)   Not a mistake… but prophecy… Isaiah prophesied.Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.   We read and sing this verse often… Check out four verses earlier…Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.   Dark times do not ruin Christmas.It is because of Dark Times we need a Christmas!   (Christ Mass – a Jesus celebration)   People walking in darkness have seen what? A new iPad?A fancy tree?No! The people walking in darkness saw A GREAT LIGHT.ONLY ONE EVENT could fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.   Only the birth of God's Son Jesus… the light of the world could push back on the darkness. One of Jesus' disciples described Jesus like this…John 1:4-5 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness…   John refers to Jesus as a light in darkness.   Where did John get this description??From Jesus Himself!   John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."   Do you believe Jesus is the light that shines in dark times?   If so… then why wouldn't you focus on Jesus to light up your dark times?   Leave it to silly humans…We take a season about Jesus… and spend all our time and energy anxiously doing this…   Anxiety Reasons?-Disconnection-Social pressure-Uncertainty-Financial stress -Poor habits (Sleep habits)  

Send us a textGod has given his Son Jesus as the great Shepherd of his people. Christ in return has appointed undershepherds. Paul is a great example of such a pastor. He gives thanks to God for his grace at work in his people at Corinth and Philippi. These thanksgivings are found at the beginning of his letters to them.Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus? While the phrase “personal relationship with Jesus” isn't directly in the Bible, examples like Moses, Abraham, and David show that God desires connection with His people. In this message by Pastor Alex Klimchuk, he talks about what a relationship with God the Son(Jesus) looks like. Revelations 3:20 1 Corinthians 1:9 Romans 10:9 John 1:1-5 Philipians 3:8-10 John 15:4-7 1 John 2:3-6   Website: http://www.newlifechurchsf.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeSF/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/7Ig-qXgVAmE/ Pastor Alex Klimchuk New Life Church 500 S 1st Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104

All of us have an aversion to judgment. We don't like the thought of being judged by other people, so we typically don't go looking for it. In fact, we do everything that we can to avoid being judged by others. If we are that averse to judgment from classmates, co-workers, or family members, than how much more fear ought we have of Judgment Day, when God will judge the living and the dead? The Bible reveals to us a little bit about Judgment Day, enough that we can picture it - standing before Jesus, who has authority to judge. So, a worthwhile question to ask is: How does my Judge view me? Should I be terrified of this? On our own... Yes! Absolutely! But, you are not on your own. God sent his Son Jesus for this very purpose. Through faith in Jesus, you will be judged not on the basis of your own works, but on what Jesus has done FOR YOU! Knowing this allows us to say and mean, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" If you enjoy these sermons, please SUBSCRIBE! This causes others to have the opportunity to see this content. Thank you!

Tony Coulombe (Warrenton Location)Series: Fruit of the SpiritTopic: God demonstrated His goodness to us through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.Core Text: MultipleRecorded: 11/3/2024For more resources check out cconline.cc or our YouTube page

Episode 317 Encouragement In These Crucial Trying Times Part 2 Today I want to encourage and strengthen you all by sharing Psalm 91. We are living in trying times and we all need hope. Not just to hang onto but to stand firm in knowing who we have within us through the Holy Spirit. Knowing that Our Heavenly Father God sent His one and only Son Jesus to earth to save us and restore our chance to be closer to Him. I truly appreciate you all listening and watching my shows. I truly hope you are blessed and encouraged with what I share with you. Please do me a favor and if you enjoyed the message I hope you will consider sharing, subscribing and even leaving me a rating to help us grow. Thank you and Blessings to You All. Facebook: Stephen Lewis Relevance For Today rftministry@gmail.com Instagram: @relevancefortoday TikTok: @stephenlewisrft

"Active shooter in Colorado Springs." It was years ago but I got that news alert, and I turned to a news channel right away. I've got friends in that city. After a violent five-hour siege, the gunman surrendered. And the tragic count of dead and wounded began to become clear, but so did the heroism in the middle of that fear and violence. Like Garrett Swasey, one of the first officers on the scene rushing to save lives. He lost his. His courage and sacrifice were a bright light in the dark sky of that tragic afternoon. Selfless love when evil seemed so strong. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Hope is a Rescuer." Garrett Swasey was a real three-dimensional guy, a former ice dancing champion, a great husband and dad, a pastor, a dedicated police officer; a man who lived his last day like he lived every day. As a friend said, "always putting other people's lives before his own." That friend explained why. He said, "He believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That's what he lived for." Apparently, it's also what made him willing to die to save others. His friend said, "Here's a man who loves Christ, and he'd be willing to go in and lay down his life, because that's what Christ has done for us." You know, we've got a lot to learn from a true hero like this. First, ultimately, there are two categories that really matter. Don't we deal with most people as if they're a category: young, old, black, white, brown, rich, poor, Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, gay, straight, Christian, homeless, cop or whatever? Except God didn't make any categories. He only made people created in His image. That day during the shooting, Garrett Swasey saw only two categories: safe and endangered. That's what God sees, too. Spiritually safe described this way, "He who has the Son (Jesus) has life." And then spiritually endangered. The Bible says in that same verse, "He who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12). Those who have trusted the One who died for their sins as the Rescuer from their sins and those who have not. As one of those who chose to be rescued, I know what I must do. I have to see the spiritually endangered people around me and go in for the rescue so they can have the chance I had - to live forever. Secondly, I think we learn from the heroes of that day, forgiven people have no choice but to forgive. "Forgive as the Lord forgave you," the Bible says in Colossians 3:13. Garrett Swasey's friend said, "There's forgiveness in the cross of Christ. And that's what Garrett would want for us, to forgive this man." That's the man who shot him. That's what the loved ones of those Charleston church shooting victims did, amazing the nation. That's what Jesus did for the ones who crucified Him, "Father, forgive them." Third lesson here, our only hope is a rescuer. Actually, the Rescuer. In our word for today from the Word of God in Galatians 1:4, God's book reveals that "Jesus gave His life for our sins...to rescue us from this evil world we live in." I want to tell you, that's the sacrifice that blew my mind and captured my heart. I hope you will open up to that love today, because He went to that cross for you as much as He did for me; paying for the sins that have separated you from God, and will forever unless He forgives them. And He can do that based on what He did on the cross. I'd love to have you know for sure you belong to Him. So I'm going to invite you to our website because I think we can help you make sure you've begun your relationship with Him and are forgiven of your sins. It's ANewStory.com. Remember that. Please check it out. None of us has to die. The Rescuer has come.

Send us a textGrace is a word often used but seldom truly understood. We first hear of it in Genesis 6, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God declared his covenant name to Moses in Exodus 34:5-7 Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh's name. Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin;Paul uses the word frequently in his letters in the New Testament as demonstrated in Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;God's grace is associated directly with his goodness, his compassion, kindness and mercy. It is God in action to bestow a needed gift on one totally underserving by which he brings us in a relationship with himself based on the work of his beloved Son Jesus the Christ.Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Luke 16:1-13. Jesus warns that no one can serve two masters. Will you be devoted to God - or to "stuff?" This Parable of the Shrewd Manager is one of Jesus' most controversial parables and one of the most difficult parable to understand. Join us a Pastor Dodge digs deep into this parable and pulls out some amazing nuggets of the wisdom Jesus is sharing in the challenging parable. Luke 16:8, Jesus says, “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourself, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” What Jesus is saying? He's saying that many times unbelieving people are very shrewd in their daily dealings. They look out into the distance, rather than being preoccupied with the here and now and the immediate. This manager recognizes that he was soon to be out of a job and he had a limited window of time left. So he willingly sacrifices his own commission, in order to ingratiates himself with his masters debtors so that he makes sure that in the long run, in the future, blessings like employment would come. Jesus is saying, “God's people need to take that to heart.” Because you see so often we get so preoccupied with what is going on in the moment that we forget our eternal destiny. So often we become so overwhelmed by the events of daily life. Maybe you're going through something like that in your life today, where all sorts of things have piled up suddenly and that is all you can see. What Jesus is saying is remember your ultimate destiny. If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, if you trust in Him and He is your Savior and your Lord then you know that our ultimate destiny is not to rest 6 feet under. It is not simply to try to make it through the next years or decades of our lives. Our ultimate destiny is to be with the Lord forever. He has made us His managers. Do we understand this? Everything we have comes from God. We so often like to pat ourselves on the back and talk about our accomplishments, of what we've accumulated and what we've done. But the book of James tells us, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of the heavenly lights.” Nothing that you have or that I have is something that we earned or deserved. It is a gift. Our talents, our abilities, intelligence, riches, you name it, everything ultimately is from God Himself, and we are simply the managers of what He's given us. Jesus is encouraging us to manage wisely. Learn from this shrewd but disreputable character who had enough foresight to realize the future is more important than the immediate. Do not confuse the gift with the Giver. Understand God is the giver of everything. We are to use everything in a way that gives Him glory. Be generous. Put your faith in the living God into action by being generous toward others. It is what Jesus taught over and over again. In the gospel of Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What Jesus is telling us is that everything we have comes from Him. As individuals who realize how much God loves us, who are repentant before Him, realizing we don't bring anything to the heavenly party. God has done it all. He has given us everything including His only Son Jesus. God offers life forever, by faith in Jesus, and He promises that He will even reward me, sinner though I am, for following Him and trusting Him. He wants me to use everything He's given me, wisely. We so often hoard what we have, but we are called to keep in mind our futures and give with in a manner that shows where our eyes are, on the reward of a future with God forever, because the Father gives us every good gift, everything we have is from Him, so now we are simply His managers and as His managers were are to be: -- Generous in helping others -- Generous in sharing our faith -- Generous in calling people to a knowledge of the living God -- Trustworthy in the way we deal with others -- Trustworthy in the way we relate to God -- Trustworthy in the way we use the resources, abilities, skills, gifts, finances, time, opportunities we are given -- Devoted to the Living God -- Reflecting God's Love, Mercy, Purity, Goodness, Faithfulness - Not to earn anything, but instead because we've been given everything, including salvation! -- Be generous because God is generous. -- Be trustworthy because Gos is trustworthy. -- Be devoted to God because He's devoted to us! At the end of time, Stuff doesn't last, it doesn't remain, but GOD DOES AND PROMISES DO! He is calling us to repentance and to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, The One Who Is THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!! And this is the One we serve! https://www.awakeusnow.com The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus' parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world. This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

God deserves nothing but our absolute best. In this sermon Pastor Robbie Hilton delves into the life of Daniel to show us an example of someone giving God his best even in situations that weren't great. God sent his Son Jesus to save us from our sins so that we would have what He called "abundant life" regardless of our circumstances. Jesus' desire is for us to be exceptional and in order for us to take on that identity we must have exceptions in our life. We've all heard the phrase "The devil made me do it"... but did he really? In this series, Pastor Robbie Hilton describes the nature of who our true enemy is and how we can rest assured that we are victorious in Jesus. ------------- Welcome to Calvary Church of Johnson City, Tennessee's YouTube channel! Make sure you subscribe so you can get updates on the newest video releases and watch our live stream! FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS BELOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visitcalvary/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/visitcalvary/ LINK TO OUR WEBSITE https://www.visitcalvary.com ------------- Chapters | 0:00 Daniel 6 6:38 Being Exceptional 11:22 Be Present 14:02 Be Yourself 18:21 Care About the Details 24:58 Value Practice 31:38 Fix Your Attitude 36:20 Key to the Doors

Are you ready? WE START TOMORROW, 9/2! Tell a GoOD friend, and join us!  "You're in a season where all they can take from you, is notes." - @spiritualasylum  ___________________________________________ Guidelines for The Surrender Novena (9 consecutive days of prayer for special intentions)-- Start each day of the challenge by setting a clear intention. This could be a specific prayer request or a personal goal. Then, surrender even that to Jesus, asking Him to guide your prayers and intentions.  Find a place to pray consistently-- same time and place--every day.  Choose your prayer posture (seated, legs folded, kneeling, sitting, etc), and stick with it! I kneel!

When Jesus was falsely accused of sedition and blasphemy, Pontius Pilate asked him a question which has persistently confounded every thinker before and since: “What is truth?” Pinning down truth so that everyone can have access to reality has been notoriously difficult. One option is to hold that humans can figure out the truth based upon their own observations and experiences - but the human propensity to be mistaken often demonstrates this theory's weakness. Another option is to hold that there is no such thing as truth (or, at least, no one can know whether there is or not) - and yet we humans continue to live as though some things are true and worth giving assent to and others are not. The Christian solution is that no mere mortal can completely know and understand the truth, but that God has made the truth known in the person of his Son Jesus. In other words, any and all truth claims must be tested not against the standard of human experience or common sense, but against the person of the One who claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life. Hosts: Aaron Mueller and Chuck Rathert Subscribe to the show at https://cacg.saintjamesglencarbon.org. To comment on this episode, visit https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/cacg-ep99.

Bible Reading: John 8:31-36"Grandpa, look at that one!" exclaimed Easton as a burst of colorful sparks filled the air. He watched in awe as the twirling sparks wove patterns of color in the sky as they made their way down to the earth. "It's the best one yet." The fireworks display was spectacular. Amid ohs and ahs from the crowd, a variety of reds, greens, yellows, blues, and blazing whites lit up the sky.After the grand finale, Grandpa and Easton stood and stretched. "Do you know why we celebrate the Fourth of July?" asked Grandpa."Sure," replied Easton as they walked back to the car. "It's a special day that's set aside to celebrate our freedom and liberty."Grandpa nodded. "We live in a country where we can choose what kind of work we want to do, travel where we want, say what we think, vote for those we want to be elected, and meet for public worship of God. Not everyone has those privileges.""I know, Grandpa," said Easton. "I'm glad we can do those things here.""I am too," said Grandpa. After a moment, he added, "But did you know, Easton, that the greatest freedom anyone can have is available to people in every country of the world?""It is?" asked Easton.Grandpa nodded. "Unfortunately, many people don't know about that freedom," he said. "I'm talking about the freedom that Jesus Christ gives to everyone who trusts in Him. When we trust Him to forgive us for all the wrong things we've done and be our Savior, He makes us His children and frees us from the power and the punishment of sin. That's the most spectacular freedom anyone will ever have.""Then we should celebrate that too," said Easton with a grin. "Can we have fireworks again tomorrow?"Grandpa laughed. "That might not be a bad idea. We should certainly let the world know about this freedom and tell people that they can enjoy it too. All right. We'll have to think about a good way to celebrate our freedom in Christ, and then let's do it!" –Linda E. KnightHow About You?Do you celebrate the freedom from sin that Jesus gives? If you know Him as your Savior, you are truly free--you're no longer ruled by sin and you're free from its punishment. That's a reason to celebrate! Be as outspoken about your freedom in Christ as you are about the other freedoms you enjoy. Let others know they can have this freedom too!Today's Key Verse:If the Son [Jesus] sets you free, you are truly free. (NLT) (John 8:36)Today's Key Thought:Celebrate freedom in Christ