POPULARITY
GRACE Share real hope with your family, friends, and community! - Hope 103.2 (hope1032.com.au) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 TIMOTHY 1:7–10 From the New International Version Send the Real Hope team a messageListen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us your feedback — we're listeningHebrews 13:3 — Faith Under Fire: Prayer for the Persecuted, the Underground Church, and Believers Standing in Secret Places From London to Beijing, from Lagos to Karachi, from Cairo to Bogotá — a global 9 A.M. prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Devotional Cycle. Scripture (NIV) Hebrews 13:3 — “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” 2 Timothy 1:7 — “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Intro Global searches for persecuted believers rise sharply each December as Christians worldwide look for strength, courage, and solidarity. This scripture remains one of the most-searched passages for hidden faith, endurance, and believers suffering in silence. Prayer Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift the Persecuted Church, the Underground Church, the Whispering Church, and the Secret Church. Today we pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Strengthen those meeting in silence, whispering prayers in hidden rooms, and living under constant threat. Surround those imprisoned for Your name with courage and supernatural peace. Protect pastors, families, and children whose faith places them in danger. Provide food, shelter, safe passage, and holy boldness. Let the gospel burn brightly in dark places and let miracles arise where oppression is strongest. Father, remind persecuted believers that they are not forgotten. Cover them with Your power, love, and unshakeable presence. Prayer prayer for courage, prayer for protection, prayer for hidden believers, prayer for imprisoned Christians, prayer for underground churches, prayer for endurance, prayer for hope, prayer for safety, prayer for boldness, prayer for provision Life Application Pray Hebrews 13:3 today and hold one persecuted nation before God, asking Him to strengthen believers who suffer for the name of Jesus. Declaration I declare that persecuted believers are protected, strengthened, and upheld by the power of God today. Call to Action Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources.24-Hour Arc ConnectorPrevious: 5 A.M. — Healing for Stress SymptomsThis Episode: 9 A.M. — Faith Under FireNext: 12 P.M. — Healing for Seasonal IllnessSupport this listener-funded miSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.
In this episode I speak with Wife, Mother, Recording Artist, and Former X Factor Contestant Juliet Dawn on Answered Prayer. Listen to Juliet's vulnerability in sharing her powerful story of heaviness, turbulation, trial, and trauma to witnessing our Savior; the ultimate miracle worker. She encourages listeners to understand that it is through your circumstances that you grow and are refined, through your weakness God's strength is made perfect, and that you can share God's heart by sharing your story. When you feel that the Lord is far away, be encouraged that prayer is answered in miraculous ways. Find Juliet : the website Scripture: Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Mark 9:23-24 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Additional Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, James 2:17, Proverbs 3:5-6 REGISTER @ CFLEX Academy Arts Enrichment Listen to our sister podcast: Abundantly Rooted Other Resourses: Grab your Artza Subscription Box and bring home a bit of Israel. use promo code: ARTZAKRISTINARISINGER for 25% off Check out our Linktree Get the Books: Life After Losing A Loved One: How to Turn Grief Into Hope Strength and Purpose Adventures of LiLy and Izzy Bee: The Imagination Journey
Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.
Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 1:7 — Faith Under Fire: Strength for the Persecuted Church “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”Recorded live here in London, England with Reverend Ben CooperAt 9 a.m., we stand with the persecuted, the hidden and the unheard. From China to Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan, believers gather in silence, whispering prayers behind locked doors. Yet 2 Timothy 1:7 declares that the Holy Spirit fills them with power, love and self-discipline—strength that no government, prison wall or threat can silence. Today we lift the underground church, trusting that Christ Himself covers, protects and empowers them.Context Persecution aims to intimidate, but the Spirit of God produces courage. In regions where Bibles are restricted and churches meet in secret, God sustains His people with supernatural endurance. Their faith flourishes not in comfort but in fire.Reflection The persecuted church teaches us that boldness begins in the Spirit. When fear surrounds them, love rises. When threats increase, discipline deepens. Their faith is not built on freedom but on Christ alone. As we pray, our own courage grows, knowing the same Spirit strengthens us.Intercession & Vision Lord, strengthen believers across China, Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan. Protect house-church leaders, encourage prisoners of faith and cover families living under pressure. Let the underground church flourish. May the gospel advance in places where darkness tries to rule.Prayer Points Pray for protection over the underground church. Ask God to strengthen prisoners of faith. Pray for courage for believers facing threats. Intercede for safe meeting places for secret churches. Declare that the gospel will advance in restricted nations. Pray for endurance for pastors under surveillance. Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort families separated by persecution. Pray for access to Bibles and teaching. Lift up new believers who face immediate danger. Thank God that His Spirit empowers His church in every nation.Life Application When you feel intimidated or discouraged, speak 2 Timothy 1:7. The same Spirit strengthening persecuted believers strengthens you.Declaration I declare that God's Spirit gives power, love and self-discipline. No fear can rule my lSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.
Paul’s final letter to Timothy was filled with encouragement for the young preacher. It begins with a reminder that we haven’t been given to fear, but have power, love, and self-control through the spirit which God has given to us. Speaker: Justin P. Sivley
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Today on the Everyday Joy Podcast, Steph is back — and we go deep into the wrestle every believer knows all too well: your thoughts, the ones that spiral, overwhelm, and convince you you’re not enough. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and incredibly practical. Steph opens up about her long battle with body image, the way her thoughts used to run wild, and how learning to “take every thought captive” didn’t come naturally… it came through discipline, counselling, Scripture, and choosing the harder path — the one that actually heals. We also look at the context of 2 Timothy 1:7 — written by Paul while in prison, literally facing death — and the boldness he calls Timothy into. Not a cute, soft encouragement… but a command to live with power, love, and self-control in the middle of fear. In this episode we talk about: Why your first thoughts aren’t always the true ones How God gives power and practical tools to take thoughts captive Why self-control is a spiritual gift, not a personality trait Building new mental “pathways” when old thoughts feel like highways Why calling on God’s strength isn’t optional — it’s necessary The long-term impact of choosing the harder-but-healthier option How God meets you in fear, anxiety, overwhelm, and self-doubt This one is full of honesty, hope, and real transformation.If your mind feels loud lately — this episode will breathe so much freedom into you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sword of the Spirit and Prayer Series: Suited Up - The Armor of God (Week 7 of 7 - SERIES FINALE) Scripture: Ephesians 6:17b-18 Summary After six weeks of studying defensive armor, we conclude the "Suited Up" series with our offensive weapons—the sword of the Spirit and prayer. Everything before this has been about protection. But now Paul arms us for attack. In Roman warfare, every piece of equipment was defensive except the sword—it enabled soldiers not only to defend themselves but to defeat the enemy. Paul identifies the sword as "the word of God" and immediately adds prayer, showing these two offensive weapons work together to attack enemy strongholds and advance God's kingdom. Key Points: 1. The Sword of the Spirit Is God's Word—Your Offensive Weapon The sword is not defensive—it's offensive. All other armor protects you. But the sword enables you to attack. When Paul says the sword is "the word of God," he uses the Greek word rhema—specific words from Scripture applied to specific situations. You don't swing the whole Bible at the enemy; you wield specific truths that cut through specific lies. Jesus modeled this in Matthew 4. When Satan tempted Him, Jesus responded with precision: "It is written..." Three temptations. Three specific Scripture responses. Three victories. Three essentials for wielding the sword: You must know the Word to wield it. You can't use a weapon you don't have. Hebrews 4:12 says God's Word is "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." But you can only wield what you know. When temptation comes, you need 1 Corinthians 10:13. When fear attacks, you need 2 Timothy 1:7. When the enemy accuses, you need Romans 8:1. You must use the Word skillfully. 2 Timothy 2:15 commands us to be "rightly dividing the word of truth"—handling Scripture accurately, using it correctly, applying it properly. Don't quote verses out of context. Don't twist Scripture to justify sin. Don't use God's Word as a weapon against people—it's a weapon against the enemy's lies. The Word attacks enemy strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 speaks of "pulling down strongholds"—patterns of thinking or beliefs entrenched in our lives that are contrary to God's truth. Examples: believing you're worthless, thinking you can't overcome sin, being controlled by fear or bitterness. When a lie is deeply entrenched, you attack it repeatedly with biblical truth until the stronghold crumbles. 2. Prayer Is Your Strategic Weapon for Advancing God's Kingdom The sword is powerful, but it doesn't work alone. Immediately after describing the sword, Paul shifts to prayer: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Paul emphasizes: "Praying always" (constant), "all prayer and supplication" (every kind), "in the Spirit" (empowered by the Holy Spirit), "with all perseverance" (persistent), "for all the saints" (not just yourself). This isn't casual prayer—it's strategic, persistent, Spirit-led warfare prayer. What makes prayer an offensive weapon: Prayer invades enemy territory. When you pray, you're advancing God's kingdom into enemy-occupied territory. Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Every time you pray that, you're declaring war on the kingdom of darkness. Prayer isn't passive—it's active spiritual warfare. Prayer releases God's power. James 5:16 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Prayer accomplishes things—it's powerful and effective. When you pray in faith, standing on God's promises, spiritual blindness is removed, hearts are changed, circumstances shift, the enemy's schemes are thwarted, God's purposes advance. This is why the enemy fights to keep believers from praying. Prayerless Christians are powerless Christians. But praying Christians are dangerous to his kingdom. Prayer requires persistence. Paul emphasizes "perseverance"—continuing even when you don't see immediate results. Jesus taught this in Luke 18:1-8. Why does God require persistence? Because it tests and strengthens faith, aligns our will with His, teaches dependence, and prepares us to receive what we're asking for. Spiritual warfare prayer isn't one quick request—it's sustained, persistent, believing prayer that continues until breakthrough comes. 3. Wielding the Sword and Prayer Together Defeats the Enemy Scripture without prayer is knowledge without power. Prayer without Scripture is emotion without direction. But when you combine them—when you wield both weapons together—you become incredibly effective in spiritual warfare. How they work together: Scripture informs your prayers. The best prayers are saturated with Scripture. When you pray God's Word back to Him, you're praying according to His will. Instead of vaguely praying "God, help me not to worry," you pray: "Father, Your Word says in Philippians 4:6-7 to be anxious for nothing. I bring this situation to You now, trusting that Your peace will guard my heart and mind." Prayer applies Scripture to specific battles. Example: You're battling temptation. The enemy whispers, "You can't resist this." Wield the sword: "God is faithful, who will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Then pray: "Father, You promise a way of escape. Show me that way now. Give me strength to take it." Scripture and prayer pull down strongholds. When attacking a deeply entrenched lie, combine Scripture and prayer persistently. Example: You've struggled for years believing you're worthless. Wield the sword daily: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). "I am a new creation in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Pray persistently: "Father, Your Word says I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. I choose to believe that truth. Tear down this stronghold of worthlessness. Help me see myself as You see me." Day after day, you attack that stronghold until it crumbles. The four-step process: (1) Find Scripture that speaks truth to the situation, (2) Speak that Scripture out loud, (3) Pray that Scripture back to God, (4) Persist until breakthrough comes. The Closing Illustration: A WWII soldier was wounded in battle and taken to a field hospital. A chaplain noticed his uniform was torn and bloodstained, but he had no serious injuries. The soldier pulled out a small Bible from his pocket with a bullet lodged halfway through it, stopped at Psalm 91: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you." The chaplain said, "Son, that Bible saved your life." The soldier replied, "No sir. The Bible didn't save my life. What saved my life was that I read it, believed it, and carried it with me every day." That soldier understood something many Christians miss: Having God's Word isn't enough. You must read it, believe it, and carry it with you into battle. The Bottom Line: Over seven weeks we've been given the complete armor—truth, righteousness, gospel peace, faith, salvation, the sword, and prayer. But the question remains: Are you actually putting on the armor? You're in a battle right now. The enemy is real. His attacks are constant. But God has equipped you completely. You have everything you need to stand firm and advance. The question is: Will you use what God has given you? You are suited up. You are equipped. You are ready. Now go fight—not in your own strength, but in the power of His might. Series Complete: "Suited Up - The Armor of God" Thank you for joining us on this seven-week journey through Ephesians 6:10-18. PERSONAL FACEBOOK POST Option 1: The Illustration + Series Wrap (Recommended) We just concluded our 7-week "Suited Up" series, and the closing illustration has been echoing in my mind: A WWII soldier survived a direct hit—a bullet lodged in his Bible, stopped at Psalm 91. When a chaplain said, "That Bible saved your life," the soldier replied: "No sir. What saved my life was that I read it, believed it, and carried it with me every day." That's the challenge after seven weeks studying the armor of God. We've covered: • The belt of truth • The breastplate of righteousness • The shoes of the gospel of peace • The shield of faith • The helmet of salvation • The sword of the Spirit • Prayer But here's the question: Am I actually putting on the armor? Today's message focused on our offensive weapons—God's Word and prayer. Not just for defense, but for attack. Scripture without prayer is knowledge without power. Prayer without Scripture is emotion without direction. But together? They pull down strongholds, defeat the enemy's lies, and advance God's kingdom. The soldier understood what many of us miss: having the Bible isn't enough. You have to read it, believe it, and carry it into battle. Seven weeks of teaching means nothing if I don't use what God has given me. So here's my commitment going forward: Put on the armor daily. Wield the sword. Pray persistently. Stand firm in the victory Christ has already won. You are suited up. You are equipped. You are ready. Audio: [LINK] Option 2: Personal Challenge Focus Seven weeks. Seven pieces of armor. One critical question: Am I actually putting on the armor, or just learning about it? Today we finished "Suited Up: The Armor of God" with our offensive weapons—the sword of the Spirit (God's Word) and prayer. Here's what's convicting me: I can know everything about the armor and still lose battles if I don't actually wear it. So let me ask myself (and you) directly: Am I girding myself with truth—or living in compromise? Am I wearing righteousness—or letting sin create vulnerability? Am I standing on gospel peace—or losing my footing in trials? Am I lifting the shield of faith—or fighting in my own strength? Am I wearing the helmet of salvation—or letting my mind stay under attack? Am I wielding the sword and prayer—or trying to win unarmed? The closing illustration hit hard: A WWII soldier survived because a bullet stopped in his Bible at Psalm 91. But his response was profound: "The Bible didn't save my life. What saved me was that I read it, believed it, and carried it every day." Knowledge without application is worthless. God has equipped me completely. The question is: Will I use what He's given me? Listen: [LINK] Option 3: Series Gratitude + Action What a journey. Seven weeks through Ephesians 6. Seven pieces of armor. And today, the finale: the sword of the Spirit and prayer. I'm grateful for what this series has taught me about spiritual warfare—that it's real, that I'm equipped, and that victory is certain in Christ. But today's message ended with a challenge I can't ignore: Having the armor isn't enough. You have to use it. The illustration that closed the series: A soldier survived a bullet that lodged in his Bible. But he said, "What saved my life wasn't having the Bible—it was reading it, believing it, and carrying it every day." That's the shift I need to make. From knowledge to action. From learning about armor to actually putting it on. Here's what wielding the sword and prayer looks like practically: Find Scripture that speaks to the battle Speak it out loud Pray it back to God Persist until breakthrough comes Scripture + prayer = strongholds pulled down, lies defeated, God's kingdom advancing. I'm suited up. I'm equipped. Now it's time to fight—not in my strength, but in His. Audio: [LINK] Recommended: Option 1 - The WWII illustration is memorable and powerful, creates emotional connection, and the series review shows the journey while focusing on application
Who/what is God? I have had people say to me, I believe in God’s existance but I don’t need to study the Bible to know Him! But belief in His existence is not enough! Even satan and his demons believe in God’s existence! It is only through the Bible we can study God and His relationship with the universe. All we can know about God is not contained in the Bible, but the Bible contains all we can know about God during our earthly life! That is because God is infinite and beyond our limitations of space and time! Yet the God we as Christian disciples follow and worship, is knowable through the Bible. This means that God is a personal God and not a remote being. That is a key to studying Him! He wants to be known and has given us the Bible in order for us to do so. How can we know about God? In the Bible, what we know of God are the fundamental qualities or powers of His being. The Bible elucidates statements about God, by God, through which we try and understand God, using our finite minds. The Bible reveals God to us! God is spirit, yet a personal and infinite being (John 4:24). He is one in substance, nature and being and incapable of division (Deuteronomy 6v4). Yet He is three coequal people, or the Trinity! It is through the Bible we discover what pleases, angers, offends, or gives joy Him! The words revealed in the Bible describe His attributes! The fact we are able to take hold and understand this about an infinite God is evidence that God desires to be known by humans! So what are some of the attributes of God? There are two different kinds of attributes: natural and moral. 1. Natural Attributes a. Transcendent - God's self-existence apart from and independent of creation. This reflects God’s majesty and greatness. Romans 11:33; 1Chronicles 29:11; 1Kings 8:27 b. Immanent/Omnipresent - God is wholly present everywhere. God fills the universe in all it's parts without division Psalm 139:7-12; Jerermiah 23:23-24 c. Omnipotent - God has power to do all things that are the object of power. With God all things are possible Luke 1:37. He is El Shaddai or God Almighty. Jerermiah 32:17-18 Nothing is too hard for you. d. Omniscient - God has perfect knowledge of all things - actual, past, present, future and possible. 1 John 3:20 God knows all things; Psalm 47:5 Infinite understanding. e. Infinite - God has no limits. He has an internal and a qualitative absence of limitation. Boundless activity - Romans 11:33; 1Timothy1:16; Psalm 147:5 f. Immutable - God is unchangeable. Malachi 3:6 - I AM God and I change not; Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. g. Eternal - God is without beginning or end. He is the alpha and omega. God is outside of time - time is in God, and He is free from the succession of time. God lives in the eternal present - past, present and future, are NOW for God - He is the I AM YAHWEH Exodus 3:14. From everlasting to everlasting you are God. 1 Timothy1:17; Psalm 102:7 h. Spirit God is a free personal Spirit · God is not material. He is invisible and indestructible. John 4:24; 1Timothy1:17; 1Timothy6:15-16 · God is Life Jn 14:6. Energy & activity! · God has Personality. Self-consciousness & communicative! 2. Moral Attributes a. Goodness - absolute perfection. Seeking creations' welfare. Love - God is love 1 John 4:8-10. God communicates and gives of Himself. Grace - God gives us what we do not deserve. God's riches at Christ’s expense Ephesians 2:7; The unmerited goodness of God John 1:16. Mercy - God does not give us what we deserve. The goodness of God to those in distress - tenderness & compassion (Ephesians 2:3-5) Long-suffering - God is slow to anger. God longs to forgive (Exodus 34:6-7) Truth - John 14:6 The revelation source and foundation of all truth is God/Jesus b. Holiness - moral excellence and perfection of God. Separation from sin. What God is!! Heb 7:26 "Be holy, for I am Holy". c. Righteousness - Holiness in action. God's actions conform to His Holiness. Justice deals with the absence of righteousness. Sin must be dealt with – (Genesis 18:25 & Psalm 89:14) Why do we study this God? There are at least 4 reasons! a) Avoids confusion! As we study God, we come to know truths about Him and are able to discern what are true and false facts about Him! "Truth combats error" Satan distorts scripture to put people off the truth. b) Truth develops character 2 Peter 1:3-9 - The strongest Christian disciples are those with a good growing knowledge of biblical truth. Since study increases our knowledge of God, it increases the possibilities of love, growth and service of the Christian disciple. We study it to put it into practice! What we believe about God, affects our behaviour! James 1:22 says "We must be doers of the Word not just hearers of this is to be effective." c) We are commanded to grow in our knowledge of God - 2 Timothy 4:2-4 d) This God is to be worshipped and part of our service and submission to this God, is that worship is given to Him alone (Deuteronomy 5v6-9). As humans we are created in His image, and as Christian disciples we were bought at a price when Jesus died on the cross and we accepted Him as our Lord and saviour. He is due our worship and reverence! It is on worship that I hope to discuss next time! One of the best books regarding getting to know God is the appropriately titled “Knowing God” by JI Packer - it’s a thoroughly modern and readable classic! For more to think about, please do read for yourself 2 Peter 1:3-9. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. Q1. From my knowledge of God, what do I find comforting? Q2. From my knowledge of God, what do I find disturbing? Q3. How has my knowledge of God grown and affected my behaviour since I became a Christian disciple? Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this Podcast as a MP3 file
On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Deadly UPS plane crash rocks Louisville; Democrats win big in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. FOCUS STORY: Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, opens up about faith, courage, and where true safety comes from. MAIN THING: Viral gym confrontation sparks debate on women's safety and biological boundaries — Billy and Tré weigh in. LAST THING: 2 Timothy 1:7 — “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” PRAY WITH US! Faithwire.substack.com SHOW LINKS Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454 Navigating Trump 2.0: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-trump-2-0/id1691121630
Pastor Jack continues our The Unseen Battle series with "Inevitable Tensions". Freedom: Rescue from the slavery to sin and the disordered desires of our flesh. The Spirit: God's empowering presence. The transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The beginning of life in Jesus is death to self (flesh). The journey of apprenticeship to Jesus is walking in relationship with Jesus. We actively learn and live the ways of Jesus. —— If you want to support what God is doing through Cityline, click here: https://www.citylineonline.churchcenter.com/giving Want to learn more about Cityline and how to get involved? Click here: https://citylineonline.org Are you in need of prayer or someone to talk with? Click here: https://citylineonline.org/prayer —— Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citylineonline/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citylineonline/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCumM40GFhmHumITXmh8MV0g Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cityline-church/id1308579363?mt=2 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0pHyJ5pxtry1tIMlD9ZBPd?si=e01fc4636d5543e1
*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Episode Summary In “A Living Relationship: From Doctrine to Experience,” the family talks about how truth must become real through experience. Knowledge alone can't transform lives; only revelation born of relationship can. They reflect on examples like Charlie Kirk, whose life expressed the reality of God's Word. The conversation contrasts religious activity with Spirit-led action, reminding us that God looks at the heart, not performance. In this day of the Spirit, He is raising up living epistles—men and women who reveal Christ not just through words, but through His life flowing from within them. Show Notes • Moving from head knowledge to experiential relationship with God • The difference between man's word and God's Word—it's life • Religion versus revelation: why the world longs for something real • Living epistles—people who embody the Word • Dead works versus living works: the motivation of the heart • The day of the Spirit: God working through His people • Charlie Kirk's life as an example of revelation made real • Becoming God's temple—His hands, His voice, His expression in the earth Quotes • “We can quote the greatest doctrines in the world, but it doesn't change us—it has to be an experience.” – Ron • “People are looking for something that's real, not phony. When someone speaks from their heart, it reaches their spirit.” – Debbie • “A true living epistle is a person who's had an experience with the Lord—His Word spoken through them becomes an impartation.” – Ron • “If it doesn't come out of a relationship with the Lord, you might as well be picking up sticks and throwing them at people.” – Debbie • “We become His temple—His hands, His feet, His voice in the earth.” – Ken
Romans 8:12-17 presents us with one of Christianity's most profound mysteries: the reality of God's Spirit actually living within us. This isn't just poetic language or metaphor—it's the defining characteristic that separates Christianity from every other religion. No follower of Buddha claims to have Buddha living inside them; no adherent of any other faith makes such a claim. Yet we who believe in Christ have received something extraordinary: somebody living in our somebody. This passage challenges us to ask a critical question: if the Holy Spirit lives in us, does He actually have us? We're presented with two masters—our old sin nature that leads to death, or the Spirit who leads to life. The sermon uses vivid imagery to illustrate this choice: we're like elephants who were chained as babies and now remain captive even though we have the strength to break free. The Spirit gives us that strength, that immune system against spiritual death. When we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit, we're not just following better rules—we're following a better Leader who transforms us from the inside out. The practical application is clear: what we feed grows, and what we starve dies. Through the sword of the Spirit—God's Word—we have the power to put to death the misdeeds of the body and truly live.
Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 1 : 7 — God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear | A Prayer for Healing from Fear, Anxiety, and WorryScripture (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1 : 7 (NIV)Recorded live here in London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope.Show NotesWelcome to the Daily Christian Prayer Podcast with myself, Reverend Ben Cooper, recorded live here in London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope.Prayer for Healing from Fear, Prayer for Anxiety Relief, Prayer for Peace of Mind, Prayer for Courage, Prayer for Mental Strength, Prayer for Calm in Chaos — these are the cries of countless hearts across the globe tonight. The Word of God speaks loud and clear: God has not given us a spirit of fear!Fear might whisper, but faith roars louder. Anxiety might grip your heart, but the Holy Spirit fills you with power, love, and a sound mind. The chains of worry are breaking. The fire of faith is rising. The peace of God is silencing panic and confusion.Wherever you are right now — walking, working, driving, resting — the presence of God surrounds you. His Spirit is stronger than your storm. Fear doesn't have the final say; faith does. You are not defined by anxiety; you are anchored by divine peace.So lift your head. Breathe in the breath of heaven. Fear has no home here. The Spirit of power, love, and self-control is alive in you through Jesus Christ.10 Global Prayer PointsPrayer for freedom from fear, anxiety, and panic attacksPrayer for healing from stress, worry, and mental exhaustionPrayer for peace and calm through the Holy SpiritPrayer for faith to overcome fearful thoughts and doubtPrayer for divine protection against fear of the unknownPrayer for God's presence to replace anxiety with peacePrayer for healing from sleepless nights and inner turmoilPrayer for renewal of courage and confidence in God's planPrayer for spiritual stability and strength in uncertain timesPrayer of thanksgiving for the Spirit of power, love, and self-disciplineLife ApplicationWhen fear rises, speak faith — your peace is stronger thanSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.
A new MP3 sermon from Alpha and Omega Ministries is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Word and Spirit, God Chooses the Weak Things, and Back to David Allen's Really Bad Bo Subtitle: The Dividing Line 2025 Speaker: Dr. James White Broadcaster: Alpha and Omega Ministries Event: Podcast Date: 10/21/2025 Length: 74 min.
Spent quite some time responding to some pretty triumphalistic comments from Roman Catholics, pointing out that there are clear dividing lines between biblical Christianity and Rome's modern state. Then we transitioned to looking again at David Allen's really bad book, and finished off with some ministry related announcements and requests. An hour and 15 today!
Send us your feedback — we're listening2 Timothy 1 : 7 (NIV) — For God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear | Global Prayer Against Fear, Anxiety and Spiritual Attack | Reverend Ben Cooper | RB Christian Radio London | DailyPrayer.uk PodcastScripture (NIV):“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1 : 7 (NIV)Tagline: Recorded live in London, England — a global prayer to break fear and anxiety through the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ.Show NotesAcross the world, searches rise for “prayer against fear,” “overcoming anxiety,” and “deliver me from worry.” 2 Timothy 1 : 7 speaks straight into this generation's battle with fear. In this daily devotional episode, Reverend Ben Cooper declares that the spirit of fear is not from God. Jesus Christ has given every believer power, love, and a sound mind. From London to Lagos, from Accra to Auckland, this global prayer brings freedom to hearts tormented by fear and anxiety.Fear is a thief that steals peace, but faith is the shield that stops its arrows. The Holy Spirit does not create panic; He produces power. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of bold authority, compassion, and clarity of mind. This episode calls the Church to stand firm against fear's lies and speak truth over the mind. You are not a slave to worry; you are a child of God. Reverend Ben leads listeners in a prayer of deliverance and renewal, declaring freedom from spiritual attack and the anxieties of this age. Perfect love casts out fear — and that love is Jesus.10 Global Prayer Points (Long-Tail Keywords)Prayer to overcome fear and anxiety through Christ.Prayer for peace of mind and mental stability.Prayer to break the spirit of fear in Jesus' name.Prayer for courage and bold faith in God's Word.Prayer for deliverance from panic and torment.Prayer for power, love and a sound mind.Prayer for victory over spiritual attack and darkness.Prayer for freedom from fear of the future.Prayer to walk in divine confidence and peace.Prayer to trust the Holy Spirit over every fear.Life ApplicationSpeak 2 Timothy 1 : 7 daily — “God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.” Pray in the Spirit until peace replaces panic. Let Christ's love driveSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.
Are mystical experiences from drugs the same as Spirit-led visions? In this episode of the Seers See Podcast, Doug and Emily tackle the sensitive and timely topic of drugs, spiritual perception, and the Kingdom of God. Together we explore:Personal stories of spiritual curiosity, sobriety and naïveté about drugs.The modern drug landscape: marijuana legalization, ayahuasca retreats, “toking the Holy Ghost,” neo-pagan revivals, and why today's culture is drawn to altered states.Ancient Near Eastern practicesEvidence of mind-altering drug use in The Hebrew Bible?New Testament clarityTheological Reflection: Substances = manipulation, counterfeit, deception. Spirit = God's initiative, trustworthy, transformative.Hope for today: If you've experimented with drugs for spiritual reasons, there's freedom in Christ.Authentic intimacy with God replaces counterfeit highs.Key takeaway: The Bible acknowledges that substances can alter perception — but warns against them as counterfeit pathways. True revelation and mystical vision come only from the Spirit of God.
*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This conversation explores the shift from a primarily “soulish” Christian experience — driven by feelings, fear, and physical evidence — into a mature, Spirit-led life. The speakers celebrate a growing readiness to hear, see, and move in the Spirit, urge believers to pursue wholeness (body, soul, and spirit), and call for spiritual preparation and warfare through the Word (symbolized by “selling the cloak and buying the sword”). The overall tone is hopeful and expectant: deliverance and fuller spiritual living are already purchased and available; now is the time to receive and stand in what Christ accomplished. Show Notes Introduction: framing the “Day of Spirit” and the transition from a soulish age to a Spirit age. Readiness to receive: Jesus' promise of “many more things” and the sense that the body of Christ is becoming ready to receive deeper revelation. (John 16:12) Practical wholeness: the need for body and soul to support the spirit—seeking physical, mental, and emotional health as part of spiritual growth. Spiritual conflict and preparation: “Sell your cloak and buy a sword” as a call to exchange old defenses for the Word of God and spiritual maturity. (Luke 22:36; Hebrews 4:12) Deliverance and preservation: contending for preservation of body, soul, and spirit and living in the freedom purchased by Christ's blood. (1 Thess. 5:23; 1 Peter 1:18–19) Anecdote/metaphor: “Two little fishes” parable illustrating how those anchored in the Spirit perceive the world differently. Final exhortation: stand, move forward, expect deliverance now — the finished work is enough and available. Quotes “This is a Day of Spirit… God is doing things by His Spirit, and I believe that is what we're going to experience as we walk into this new day.” “We're walking on in the Spirit to do and become more and more capable of ministering in the spirit and receiving things from God in the spirit.” “Sell your cloak and buy a sword… the sword: the Word of the living God, the sharp two-edged sword.” “
Zechariah's visions have a New Testament application for our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit. The imagery of the candlestick shows how God's Spirit illuminates what we are to do in our human responsibility, while He supplies the power that keeps flowing to let us take that light out into a darkened world. God refuses the earthly methods of human might and power for deliverance and instead provides His Spirit to clear the obstacles that come in the way of any work for God. VF-2111 Zechariah 4:1-7 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
What is hindering you from having God-confidence? Being confident in yourself is very risky because pretty soon that self will let you down. But being confident in God—who he is and how he sees you—is a firm foundation that holds up no matter what. What is keeping you from having this God-confidence? Could it be a sin you haven't confessed and forsaken? Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1). Do you give up too easily and too quickly? Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:12). Is your past imprisoning you? Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Are you afraid to fail? For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Has the enemy of your soul succeeded in making you feel unworthy, or keeping you burdened with sins which God forgave? I want to encourage you today to claim your right—your inheritance—as God's son or daughter. You have God's Spirit, and His Spirit makes it possible for you to be God-confident. His confidence is powerful, loving, and self-disciplined. Are you “taking advantage” of what is yours through God's Spirit? Are you aware of the Spirit's presence and the power you have as a result?
Mamas, today's world can feel overwhelming—but you were born for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)!
Worship // Week 3 // In Our LivingPastors JF and Ashley WilkersonDiscipleshipMatthew 16:24-25 NIV24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 28:16-20 NIV16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Discipleship Requires… Devotion Acts 2:42-47 NIV 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.Acts 2:46b-47a NIV46…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people... Acts 2:47b NIV47…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.Devotion is the quiet friction that polishes something from ordinary to sacred. It's not the grand act of giving everything at once, but the daily, gentle rub of attention and care.Discipleship Requires…Devotion…and Devotion Involves…Discipline2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.sōphronismos - sound mind, balance, self-discipline2 Timothy 1:7 NASB 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.2 Timothy 1:7-9a NIV 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9a He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace… Galatians 5:13-17; 22-26 NIV 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.Galatians 5:22-23a NIV22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.DiscipleshipRequires…Devotion…and Devotion Involves…Discipline1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NIV23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
There is motion in the Atmosphere! There is motion in your family.There is motion in your community.There is motion in the nations.There is motion, and the Spirit God is moving, and always is Moving, we must continue to move forward! Listen as we pray and move in this with God!
In this message from Ephesians 6:17, David Platt urges us to take up the sword of the Spirit—God's Word—in our warfare with Satan.Explore more content from Radical.
In a world where boycotts trend by the hour and social media justice can render someone “canceled” overnight, Christian parents are left wondering—how should we respond? In this insightful and deeply relevant episode, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose step into the emotionally charged topic of Cancel Culture with clarity, nuance, and a Biblical lens. Rather than being driven by reactionary outrage, Christians are called to be rooted in grace, truth, and discernment. The conversation explores the dangers of modern Cancel Culture—doxing, boycotting, and outrage cycles—and contrasts them with the radical love and reconciliation found in Christ. Rachael and Natalie ask: What does it look like to live out a Grace Culture in a canceling world? And how do we teach our daughters to pursue peace, seek justice, and reflect the heart of Jesus in the face of public pressure? Listeners will appreciate the honesty of personal stories, Biblical insights, and encouragements to step away from knee-jerk reactions and instead stand firmly on their identity in Christ. With wisdom from the Raising Godly Girls Minute by American Heritage Girls Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay, this episode reminds us that we are uncanceled by God—and that truth has massive implications for how we love others. Scripture References: Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Ephesians 2:4–5 – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…” Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Whether you're trying to navigate social media, lead your family in integrity, or disciple your daughter through cultural confusion, this episode offers an anchored, grace-filled vision for Christian living in divisive times. Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com. To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.
Support the show
In this episode, I speak with APRN, Seasoned Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and proud Owner of West Nassau. Wellness Nicole Neidhart on Taking A Leap of Faith. Listen as Nicole sharers on how God opens doors to things that you may have not considered possible. She explains how He is faithful to provide support, wise council, and confirmation when you might not have total clarity. Please join Nicole as she takes you through he personal Leap of Faith. Find Nicole : the website Email: nicole@westnassauwellness.com Scripture: Ester 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Ecclesiastes 11:4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Exodus 3:3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” Ecclesiastes 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. Additional Scripture: James 1:5, Proverbs 19:20 CFLEX Academy Arts Enrichment REGISTER for CFLEX ACADEMY ONLINE Classes Listen to our sister podcast: Abundantly Rooted Other Resourses: Grab your Artza Subscription Box and bring home a bit of Israel. use promo code: ARTZAKRISTINARISINGER for 25% off Check out our Linktree Get the Books: Life After Losing A Loved One: How to Turn Grief Into Hope Strength and Purpose Adventures of LiLy and Izzy Bee: The Imagination Journey
Are you being shaped more by the world's algorithm—or by the Spirit's?In this message, “The Algorithm of the Spirit” Pastor Jason unpacks how the Holy Spirit reprograms our lives with truth, power, and mission. Just like social media feeds you content based on your clicks, the Spirit guides believers into God's best—filtering out lies, strengthening identity, producing fruit, and leading us on Kingdom mission.
In the final message of the Spiritual Ops series, Pastor Adam Haugen teaches from Ephesians 6 on how to fight life's daily spiritual battles. We're reminded to protect our minds with the helmet of salvation, wield the sword of the Spirit—God's Word—and stay grounded through constant prayer.Real transformation starts in the mind. When we take our thoughts captive and renew them with truth, we live in victory.#SpiritualOps #GladTidings #ArmorOfGod #PastorAdamHaugen #MindsetMatters #RenewYourMind #FaithOverFear
Today’s Bible Verse – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Struggling with fear or insecurity? 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear—but one of power, love, and self-discipline. This verse offers truth and encouragement for anyone facing anxiety, self-doubt, or spiritual hesitation. In Christ, you are divinely equipped for courage, clarity, and peace.
"Judgment, Restoration, and the Reign to Come”
In this episode, I speak with Prayful Woman, Proud Wife, Devoted Mother of two, Keynote Speaker, Founder of the Pray Lead Empower Movement, and Author Kelley Tyan on Walking In Courage. Kelley discusses ways to realize our courage in the Lord. Listen as she shares on how it is possible to sit in your "stinking thinking" for a moment, and then move purposefully forward in your circumstance. Find Kelley : the website Scripture: Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Additional Scripture: Romans 8:26, Philippians 4:6, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 27:14, John 14:27 Listen to our sister podcast: Abundantly Rooted Other Resourses: Grab your Artza Subscription Box and bring home a bit of Israel. use promo code: ARTZAKRISTINARISINGER for 25% off Check out our Linktree Get the Books: Life After Losing A Loved One: How to Turn Grief Into Hope Strength and Purpose Adventures of LiLy and Izzy Bee: The Imagination Journey
On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Chip and Joanna Gaines face backlash for including a same-sex couple in their new show FOCUS: Ex-LGBTQ activist and Christian Matthew Grech faces trial in Malta over so-called “conversion therapy” MAIN THING: DOJ sues to stop girls from being forced to compete against biological males in high school sports 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” SHOW LINKS Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454 Navigating Trump 2.0: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-trump-2-0/id1691121630
God Still Speaks: The Gift of Prophecy In this powerful message, Pastor Ants unpacks the biblical gift of prophecy — a reminder that God still speaks today, and He wants to speak through you. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 14, we explore what prophecy is (and isn't), how it functions in the life of the Church, and why it's a gift that every believer should eagerly desire. You'll learn the difference between the spirit of prophecy, the gift of prophecy, and the office of a prophet, and how each plays a role in building up the Body of Christ. You'll also get practical steps for growing in the gift:
When fear takes control, God just crushes it.None of us are immune from feeling unsettled at times. Circumstances have a way of knocking us off balance. How we respond not only affects our lives, but those who are watching us.In the film “The Patriot,” a Colonial militia leader sees the British kidnap his son. Taking the two younger sons with him, they wait in ambush in the forest. One of the sons is rattled and crying, so the father puts his hands on the boy's shoulders, looks him in the eyes, and says, “Steady.” Fear drains from the boy's face.In that moment of terror for the whole family, the father's example won the day, and their day ended well.In 2 Timothy 1:7, we learn the source of calm. It says this: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and a sound mind.”God has given you a spirit of power, love, and a good mind. So don't let fear, the enemy, or the world intimidate you when it comes to sharing your faith. Speak God's truth with boldness, and love. Your moment will come one day, and by keeping in mind the truth of God's word, courage will overcome fear.Notice the qualities mentioned in Second Timothy. God has actually given us courage, but also power, and a sound mind—also phrased as self-discipline. And discipline will help keep you steady in a crisis. That spirit of power actually does our fighting for us, and it is the enemy who is afraid.Let's pray.Father, you are good to us. Just as Jesus modeled for us how to handle fear when he prayed in the garden, we know that you have our back, and we can be courageous. Thank you for a sound mind and a calm heart in times of trouble. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
On Trinity Sunday, the Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon detailing how the Father (God above us), the Son (God for us), and the Spirit (God with us) work together to accomplish the salvation of sinners: God creates, redeems, and sustains us.
Paul describes the "mystery of God:" God revealed His mystery at the right time, not before God gave the mystery to humans through the Spirit God didn't reveal the mystery to the angels the same way Angels attend church for a specific reason Hey! Don't leave before looking at other P40 stuff: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-6493869 Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle Support babies and get quality coffee with Seven Weeks Coffee https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40 This ministry is only made possible due to your generous support https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries
Think you need more motivation to stay consistent? The truth is — you don't need more motivation. You need habits built on self-discipline. In today's episode, I'll show you how small acts of discipline lead to freedom in your health, mindset, and walk with God. If you've ever struggled to stick with habits, or thought “I'm just not disciplined enough,” this episode will give you hope, tools, and truth.
A Sermon for Rogation Sunday St. James 1:22-27 by William Klock I was out on my gravel bike this week, riding the trails through Merville and Black Creek and down to Williams Beach. At one point I had to stop to take a picture. I was riding down this narrow corridor with walls of little yellow flowers on both sides. It was really beautiful. But just a short way down the trail I ran into a big group of people cutting it all down. I had a stop and wait for a minute so they could get their cart off the trail. One of the women asked how my ride was going. I said I was having a great ride. It was a beautiful day. I pulled out my phone and showed her the picture I'd just taken of the trail. I thought it was beautiful, but she scowled at it. “We'll get there tomorrow morning,” she said, “Ugh! Vile stuff, but we'll get it!” (And, sure enough, when I rode through again a few days later the walls of scotch broom were gone.) I was kind of disappointed, but I'm sure the “broom busters” were happy, because they really, really, really hate scotch broom. The funny thing is—I notice this most places they cut it down—is that when they're done, there's usually still scotch broom as far as the eye can see—on the other side of a fence. It's like that where I was riding my bike. They cut it all down on Regional District property, but they can't touch the private property on the other side of the fence. And later in the summer, I'll be riding my bike down the trail and in the heat of the day I'll hear the seed pods popping open and scattering their seed on both sides of the fence. And next year the scotch broom will be back. To me the whole thing seems pointless, but these folks envision an island scoured clean of scotch broom and so they come back year after year after year to cut it down wherever they can get to it. Even though that island scoured clean of broom will never be. As I rode later in the week and saw the trailsides devoid of broom, but acres and acres of yellow flowers on the other side of the fence it got me thinking about the theme of our Eastertide scripture readings. (I know, you think I'm just out there riding my bike, but I'm out there praying and meditating on scripture and putting sermons together in my head.) We began Easter with the theme of hope. Jesus' resurrection meant something to the disciples. It wasn't just a miracle. It was the evidence, the proof that God's new creation had begun and that Jesus is king. That's what lit a fire under them to go out and announce the good news to Jerusalem, to Judaea, Samaria, and to the whole world—even though it eventually got them all killed. This theme of resurrection life carries all through Eastertide and we meet it here again today. We could run with either the Gospel or the Epistle, but I'm going to go with the Epistle—this lesson from St. James that begins with those familiar words: Be people who do the word, not merely people who heart it and deceive themselves. Brothers and Sisters, the good news of Jesus' resurrection from the dead ought to give us a vision of the world set to rights—of sin and death defeated and cast forever into hell, of no more trials and no more tears, and of new life with nothing to separate us from the presence of God. When we look at the mess and the darkness around us that hope might sound crazy—like an island scoured clean of scotch broom—but the fact is that God has done the hard part already. He gave his son to take up our flesh, to die, and to rise to life again. The rest is just his people—us—going out to preach and to do that good news and to let his word and his Spirit spread and grow his new creation. So don't just hear the word. Go out and do it. Don't just long for God's kingdom, go out and be it. It also helps to understand that for the Jews, speaking Hebrew, to hear and to obey were inextricably linked together. The Hebrew word for “hear” is a call not just to the ears, but to the heart, and to hear is to respond, whether it's for the Lord to hear the cries of his people in their bondage and to come to their deliverance or for Israel to hear the word of the Lord and to take it to heart and do it. When Moses and the Prophets announced, “Hear the word of the Lord!” it wasn't just a call to listen, but to obey—to do. We have a word in English that we don't use anymore that is very similar: hearken. Don't just hear, but take note, take what you hear to heart. Do it. Brothers and Sisters, words are important—and the word of God especially so. As I've said so many times, God's word brings life. By his word he created life in the beginning and when we were mired in sin and in slavery to death, he heard our cries for deliverance and sent his word again, this time in human flesh, in Jesus, to die and to rise from death so that we might know life again. This is at the core of Easter and so, these last two Sundays of Eastertide we read from St. James' epistle about the power of God's word to bring us life and to transform us. But first he contrasts God's word with our words, which are so often spoken in anger or spoken, not to heal or to give life, but to hurt. This is in the first chapter of James. Our Epistle begins at verse 22, but I want to back up a bit into last week's Epistle, to verse 19. Here's what James writes: So, my dear brothers [and sisters], get this straight. Every person should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Human anger, you see, doesn't produce God's justice. (James 1:19-20) “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” How many times would that have saved you a world of hurt if you'd only heard and obeyed? Now, there can be a place for anger. So often we get angry because the world isn't what we know it should be. Sometimes—a lot of the time—that's just our pride being hurt or our selfishness being tweaked, but when we see real wrongs being done, when we see real injustice in the world, there is a place for just and righteous anger. Godly anger over sin and injustice is often precisely what we need to get us up and out into the world to help the needy or the hurt, to stand up for the defenceless, or otherwise to speak out and to work for wrongs to be righted. St. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry” but then there's an “and”, a big “and”: “and do not sin.” Deal with what needs dealing with and “do not let the sun go down on your anger,” because that “gives opportunity to the devil”. If you're angry because your pride has been hurt, put a stop to it right there. Swallow your pride and move on. If you're angry because something is truly wrong, use that anger productively to set things right, but do not sin in the process. Two wrongs won't make things right. And righteous or not, don't let your anger fester. Deal with it one way or another, because simmering anger is fodder for the devil and for all sorts of sin. We all know that from experience. Let your anger simmer and before too long you're thinking about payback and revenge and neither of those things have any place in the Christian life. That was our lesson two Sunday's ago: As he has vindicated Jesus, so the Father will one day vindicate us. We don't need to vindicate ourselves. In short, James says, “Human anger doesn't produce God's justice.” In other words, your anger is not what will set this broken world to rights. I know it always seems like it will at the time, but it won't. Just consider: You think your anger will set things right so you lash out at that other person. And now what are they thinking? They're thinking the same thing: All the situation needs is a little bit of their anger to fix it so they lash out at you. And all it all does is make everything worse. Brother and Sisters, James reminds us to instead be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. God is the one who will bring justice to the world and right the wrongs. If we have been wronged, God will vindicate us. The best thing we can do is to respond with the gospel and the Spirit. Where the world is broken, where relationships are broken, we should be asking ourselves how we can bring to bear the things that God's Spirit gives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our anger won't help God make things right. And so James warns: So put away everything that is sordid, all that overflowing malice, and humbly receive the word which has been planted within you and which has the power to save your lives. Do you see what he did there? More often than not, when we get angry, it's because our pride has been hurt and that kind of anger tempts us to lash out—it tempts us to respond to a hurt or a wrong with some kind of sin. Insults, brawling, that sort of thing. In contrast, James says that when our pride is threatening to take control of us, we need instead to meekly receive—to hearken to—the word that God has implanted in us. If this were St. Paul, he'd be reminding us to put off the old man and to put on the new. The pride and anger are the old man talking, but in Jesus and the Spirit God has made us new. James puts it in terms of the word by which God has forgiven us and made us a new creation. I think James had Isaiah 55:10-11 in mind when he was writing this. That's where the Lord, through the Prophet, says: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. This is one of my favourite passages in all of Scripture. When I get frustrated with my own sin and my own shortcomings and my own failures to be faithful to God, I remember what he says about his word here. And as a pastor, when I'm discouraged with ministry and when it seems like nothing is happening or people aren't maturing or when I see sin and shortcomings and failures to be faithful in the church, again, I come back to what the Lord says about his word here and I go back to the word, because God's word is the source of life. Nothing I can do will bring the life of God to myself or to other people—only his word can do that—and he promises through Isaiah that his word always accomplishes what he purposes and it always succeeds in that for which he sends it forth. So I preach his word to myself and I preach his word to you and trust him to cause it to bear fruit in me and in you, because he says that that is what he will do. God's word is life. So, Brothers and Sisters, don't let God's word go in one ear and out the other. James writes, “Be people who do the word, not merely people who hear it and deceive themselves.” Don't just listen to the word. Don't just read it. Hear it, Brothers and Sisters. Hearken to it. Do it. If it helps, read your Bible with your finger in your ear to remind you not to let it go in one ear and out the other. These are God's words and they are life! Too often we come to church and hear the word or we sit down at home and read the word, but we don't actually hear it, we don't let it sink in, we don't let it take root like a seed, and so we don't become doers of the word, letting it make a difference and transform us. If we just let the word go in one ear and out the other we're in danger of deceiving ourselves. We think, “I've read the Bible or I've listened to it in church and I've done my duty,” but Friends, if the word doesn't take root in our hearts and minds, if it doesn't make a difference, we miss out on the life of God. He promises that his word will accomplish what he purposes—that it will make a difference, that it will bring new life—but first we have to hear it, not just listen, but hear it, take it in, obey it, and let it change us. James uses an illustration here. Look at verses 23-25: Someone who hears the word but does not do it, you see, is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror. He notices himself, but then he goes away and quickly forgets what he looked like. But the person who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and goes on with it, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer who does the deed—such a person is blessed in their doing. You walk past a mirror, have a look, then walk away and forget. In one ear and out the other. That's not how we should approach God's word. And how do we know if we're really letting God's word take root and grow in us? We know it's growing in us when we go from being mere hearers to being actual doers of that word. When we don't just know in our heads that truth is important, but when we stop telling lies, when we stop misrepresenting people, and speak the truth. When “love your enemies and do good to them” goes from being something in your head to something you actually live out. When love your wife or submit to your husband translates into loving your wife or submitting to your husband in real and practical ways. When the Lord's Supper goes from being something you eat to something you live out in your interactions with your brothers and sisters in the Lord, showing love and living in the unity Jesus has given us. When we confront the injustices of the world, not with anger, but with the gospel and the life of the Spirit. And notice how James makes this point. He takes us back to his own roots. He was a Jew. He was circumcised into the Lord's covenant people when he was eight days old. He grew up living torah, because he was one of the covenant people and that's what covenant people did. That's how they were faithful to the Lord in return for his faithfulness to them. And they learned the torah, the law, by reading and studying God's word. And as much as Jesus changed everything, he didn't change the fact that the Lord continues to live in covenant with his people. Jesus established a new covenant, but it's still a covenant. And the Spirit has given a new law, but it's still a law. God's people are still called to be different from the world. As he marked out the Jews with circumcision and called them to live according to the torah, so he marks out the people of Jesus with baptism and calls us to live the law of the Spirit—what James calls the “perfect law, the law of liberty”. Faithful Jews were doers—keeping the sabbath, eating clean foods and not eating unclean foods, all of that. Some people think that Jesus has freed us from all of the doing, but it's really just the opposite. Jesus calls us to even more and better doing, the difference is that instead of pointing to a list of laws written on stone and saying “Do that”, he fills us with God's own Spirit, gives us his own example of love at the cross, rises from the dead and gives us a foretaste of his new creation and says “Do that in the power of the Spirit”. And this new law, instead of burdening us, actually ends up freeing us from all those things that used to weigh us down: anger and filthiness and wickedness and replaces it all with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as the Spirit and the word work in us to redirect the affections of our hearts from sin and from self to love for God and love for each other. And so James sums it up in verses 26 and 27, writing: If anyone supposes that he is devout, and does not control his tongue, but rather deceives his heart—such a person's religion is futile. As far as God the Father is concerned, pure, unsullied religion works like this: you should visit orphans and widows in their sorrow, and prevent the world leaving its dirty smudge on you. God's word and God's Spirit will transform us. It doesn't happen in an instant, so we have to be careful here. Our expectations for a new Christian aren't the same as they are for a mature Christian, but still, a Christian will show the transforming work of God's life-giving word in his life. And so James says that if you think you're religious—note that “religion” isn't the bad word some people make it out to be today. Religion is our service to God. There's good religion and there's bad religion as we'll see in a bit. So if you think you're serving God but you don't have a bridle on your tongue—that's not the only thing that might show this, but since James has been talking about anger and sinful words, this is the example he uses here—if you speak hateful and hurtful and untrue things, you've deceived yourself. You've been letting God's word go in one ear and out the other. You haven't actually heard it and so it hasn't taken root and it's not growing in your heart. It calls into question your profession of faith and your place in the covenant. We enter the covenant through faith in Jesus. And we show our membership in the covenant by doing the word, by living the law of the Spirit. And if you aren't living the law of the Spirit, well, it begs the question: Are you really a member of the covenant? Is your faith in Jesus real? Because a Christian without the fruit of the Spirit, a Christian who is worldly and doesn't bridle his tongue, well he's like a Jew who isn't circumcised and who labours on the sabbath. He's a contradiction. In contrast, true religion, real service to God looks like this: visiting orphans and widows and keeping yourself unstained by the filthiness of the world. James could have listed any number of things here, but he's certainly practical and these are things that stood out in the First Century and made people take note of Christians and the Church. It was a dog-eat-dog world, but the Christians took care of each other and they took care of the poor and vulnerable, because that's what love in action looks like and because that's what new creation looks like. And in a world of filth, where culture was crude and vulgar and religion often involved ritual drug use and prostitution, God's people stood apart—much as the Jews of the old covenant had stood apart. Jesus' people, transformed by word and Spirit, should stand as beacons of his new creation, by our lives and by our proclamation, lifting the veil on what God has in store for this broken world. So Brother and Sisters, be Easter people. If you have believed that Jesus died and rose from the dead to forgive our sins and to make us part of his new creation, prove it. Really be Easter people. Immerse yourselves in God's word and hear what he has to say. Don't let it go in one ear and out the other. Let it sink in and take root and grow. And then be the new creation that God's word will make us if we give it the chance. As he promised, he will make us the firstfruits of his new creation—and that, Brothers and Sisters, is how he is setting the wrongs of this world to right. Not by our anger, but by his word and by his Spirit. Let's pray: O Lord, from whom all good things come: Grant to us, your humble servants, that by your holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by your merciful guidance put them into practice; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Roland Krumm is the Pastor of City Chapel in Stuttgart, Germany. In this episode, Roland shares his journey from a legalistic evangelical upbringing to a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit at age 17, which sparked his vibrant faith and ministry. He discusses planting City Chapel, navigating historical divides between conservative and charismatic Christians in Germany, and the innovative Ostergarten outreach, which brings the gospel to thousands. Roland also shares his heart for revival, reaching the younger generation, and supporting Israel and the Jewish people as a German pastor.We explore how Roland fostered unity among Stuttgart's churches through the “Together for Stuttgart” network, offering insights for churches seeking collaboration while maintaining their distinct callings.Register for the CGN International Ministry Conference (June 22-25, 2025 in Temecula, California) at conference.calvarychapel.comNew episodes are released every two weeks on Wednesday mornings. Subscribe to have new episodes delivered directly to you upon release.
John 19:30 NIVWhen he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.2 Timothy 1:6-10 NIVFor this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Are you battle-ready?
What is it like to raise children in the middle of a war? In this special episode, Karen sits down with Kimmie Saado, an American mom raising her five kids in Israel, to hear about the realities of life during conflict. From sirens and safe rooms to worshiping through fear, Kimmie shares how faith has anchored her family in uncertain times. Listen in as she encourages moms to raise up the next generation of Daniels—children who stand firm in faith, no matter the circumstances.Episode Recap:1:26- Kimmie is an American mom raising five kids in Israel3:03- How Kimmie and Sahar met and challenges of cross-cultural dating/engagement7:50- What it's like to lead a Bible tour company in Israel13:20- Karen and Kimmie's favorite places in Israel15:45- what has it been like to raise children in a conflict zone?19:39- how Kimmie's son led their family in worship during moments of fear.22:30- how faith-filled habits help equip our kids and others to stand firm in faith.24:31- what does it mean to be a “Daniel”?28:15- what Kimmie and Sahar are doing in the States this year30:00- how Americans can pray and support the Jewish people right now37:30- we have made God so small and our problems so bigScripture for Reflection: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”Questions for Discussion:Kimmie shared a vivid story about responding to a bombing by shouting a Bible verse and also, how her son responded to bombing sirens with worship. How do you model turning to your faith in scary times? Do your kids get to witness that? What does it mean to raise a "Daniel" in today's world? How can we instill resilience and faith in our children?Kimmie and her husband took intentional steps to prepare for challenges before those challenges arrived. How can we spiritually equip our families before trials come?Kimmie spoke about finding peace in God's presence, even in uncertainty. What are some practical ways we can cultivate that kind of faith in our own lives?Resources:Last chance to register for the Soar Conference! Don't procrastinate another day: https://subsplash.com/birdsonawire-ga/lb/ev/+j2j9wpqCheck out Kimmie and Sahar's company: Israel Bible Tours: https://www.israelbibletours.com/
Sometimes, when our lives feel hard and the news is bad, we can struggle to understand God's sovereignty alongside man's free will to choose good or evil. In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Cameron and Anna examine why God's sovereignty strengthens us as we raise our children in an uncertain world. Knowing he is in control of all things will not be much comfort if we do not believe that God is good- but knowing his goodness and love for us led Jesus to the Cross to die for us gives us confidence even when we cannot understand the operation of his sovereign will.Resources:Romans 8:26- 30God's Sovereignty and Your Family's Suffering by Davis Lacey Follow us on Instagram @rootedministry!
Examining Romans 8:9-11, Cameron and Anna describe the ways that the indwelling Holy Spirit helps a parent who is lonely, exhausted, and in need of wisdom. Relying on the power of the Spirit and nurturing our union with Christ gives us the strength we need to persevere in the hard times of rising kids.Resources:Romans 8:9-112 Tim 2:1Breathe in, Breathe Out: How the Holy Spirit Revives and Refreshes the Weary Parent by Dawson CooperRooted 2017: Scott Sauls on the Holy Spirit Within: Our Hope for ChangeOne Dad and Three Kids in a Minivan: Evidence of the Indwelling Spirit by Joey TurnerFrom Rumination to Repentance: Parenting With Our Minds Set on the Spirit by Anna Meade Harris Follow us @rootedministry!
Visit donate.accessmore.com to give to help fund more episodes and shows like this. Today's conversation on Back Porch Theology is going to be a huge helping of gratitude. Whether or not you practice the traditional American holiday called “Thanksgiving” which takes place this week – it's always celebrated on the last Thursday in November - I believe image bearers the world over can benefit from a generous serving of gratitude on a regular basis. In fact, there are multiple secular, scientific studies proving that gratitude – that is when we are intentionally thankful for something or someone – has physiological benefits like improved sleep, digestion, and cardiovascular wellness, as well as psychological benefits like decreased stress and an increased sense of overall well-being. Case in point, my road manager, Sharon, and I have come up with a simple game when we're traveling and one of us notices that the other one is being especially grumpy or negative. We call it the “Stop and Give Me Ten” game - and I assure you that in spite of the title, it has nothing to do with push-ups. Frankly, if I attempted ten push-ups in a row right now it's quite possible I'd break my nose after collapsing to the floor. The “ten” in the title of our game refers to all the fingers on two hands worth of things we're grateful for. Recently, after a long day of delayed flights we got to our destination airport only to discover that the car rental company had given away the SUV we'd confirmed and they only had compact cars left. So, after breaking a nail trying to cram all our luggage and several boxes of books into a two-door designed for petite people, I climbed into the passenger's seat with a huff. Then I began to complain about all the inconveniences we'd endured thus far that day - the unappetizing yet overpriced airport food, how particularly rude our gate agent had been, how both men I'd sat next to on our flights were armrest hogs.After listening to my whiney chorus for a few minutes, Sharon turned to face me and said: STOP AND GIVE ME TEN! I stopped - partly because she was driving in Dallas traffic and I was afraid she was going to rear-end the car in front of us - but then Holy Spirit poked my fault-finding heart into a real pause and after a moment I held up both hands and counted off all ten fingers in quick succession:• I'm thankful our flights were only delayed instead of cancelled• I'm thankful we're in a car instead of on foot• I'm thankful I make enough money on the road to pay my mortgage• I'm thankful I get to see women launch themselves into the arms of Jesus for the first time almost every weekend• I'm thankful I got to make it home in time to be with Dad before he passed away• I'm thankful for Missy's physical health• I'm thankful I have family and friends who've experienced my plethora of shortcomings and yet still love me• I'm thankful our God's faithfulness doesn't wane when I'm being such a weenie baby• I'm thankful I wore stretchy pants today instead of stiff jeans• I'm thankful we're staying at a decent hotel tonightAnd it's amazing how just 36 seconds of practicing gratitude totally changed my mood. I went from Eeyore to Tigger in less than a minute!I know it's a much more serious thing to practice gratitude when your husband walks away, your loved one dies, your cancer returns, or your company's downsized. But I promise – more importantly – God promises in His Word that extending past the trouble of life to reach for the truth of His abiding peace, unconditional love, and transformative joy is worth the stretch. Thanksgiving is a facet of the Fruit of the Spirit God that I like to imagine like...