Podcasts about spirit may

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Today Charlee talks with us about what life in the Spirit looks like.All music streamed, performed or played and video clips are covered under our license agreements. Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), Church Video License (CVLI) 20672963 and Streaming License 20672990

Peter Lineham discusses the place of state-integrated religious schools within New Zealand's schooling system and the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that prevents Catholic from recieving subsidaries. 

Copyright 2025 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Welcome to Refuge, happy Sunday! Today we'll be hearing from Pastor Tim Kleiner, we believe this message will encourage and challenge you! At Refuge we believe all people matter to God, to find out more about us and who we are, visit our website at WeAreRefuge.net

Cooperating with the Spirit – May 18, 2025 Cooperating with the Spirit may seem unreasonable and inconvenient, yet doing so, can produce results beyond what one can imagine or think of. The post Cooperating with the Spirit – May 18, 2025 first appeared on Christian Assembly Church. The post Cooperating with the Spirit – May 18, 2025 appeared first on Christian Assembly Church.

Copyright 2025 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Pastor Neal Davidson continues our Proverbs series "Wisdom That Always Works" with "A Listening Spirit".

This week Peter Lineham phones in to chat about the topic on everyone's mind (in theological and liturgical circles) - the new pope!

Tune in for the last session of our inaugural ResOak Conference. Pastor Russ Whitfield, from Grace Mosaic Church in Washington, DC preaches on the life of freedom we find in the Holy Spirit.

Scripture and The Spirit May 4, 2025 Looking for community? Try our Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/midwayonline Need more info? Check out our website: https://www.midwaychurch.com/ Did you make a decision to follow Christ, get baptized, or join Midway Church? Click here:  https://midway.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/578/responses/new

Peter Lineham phones to chat with Crawley about the Jains, the sixth-largest religion in India. 

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In this exciting episode of Come, Follow Church History with Doctor Lynne Hilton Wilson, Church historian and researcher Mark Staker joins Lynne for a deep dive into the world of spiritual gifts. Using historical context, personal experiences and scriptural references, Lynne and Mark help viewers understand what spiritual gifts are and how they are used. Find out if Joseph Smith just copied the religious practices of his colleagues or were his revelations different and unique? Does section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants just copy 1st Corinthians 12? And why are the gifts of the spirit so mysterious? And upon what principles do they operate?

Today's sermon, by Rev. Joyce Shin, was offered on Sunday, January 26, 2025. The scripture passages for this day were 1 Corinthians 12:1-31a. To view the full Lord's Day service, visit our YouTube channel by searching "Swarthmore Presbyterian Church."

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef discusses what it means to quench the Spirit of God.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon End Times Schizophrenia, Part 8: LISTEN NOWWhat awaits the believer after this life? And how does our eternal future impact our lives today? In his new book Heaven Awaits, Dr. Michael Youssef dispels misconceptions about the believer's eternal home and articulates the blessings, majesty, and reality of heaven as displayed in Scripture. As you dig into God's promises for your future in Christ, you'll be lifted up and empowered to persevere today with joy in your hope that will never disappoint. Request your copy today for your gift of any amount!*Offer valid in US, UK, and Canada through May 31, 2024.

In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that relying on the Holy Spirit to transform us will increase our joy in God's presence.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon The Secret of the Presence of God: WATCH NOWWhat awaits the believer after this life? And how does our eternal future impact our lives today? In his new book Heaven Awaits, Dr. Michael Youssef dispels misconceptions about the believer's eternal home and articulates the blessings, majesty, and reality of heaven as displayed in Scripture. As you dig into God's promises for your future in Christ, you'll be lifted up and empowered to persevere today with joy in your hope that will never disappoint. Request your copy today for your gift of any amount!*Offer valid in US, UK, and Canada through May 31, 2024.

What an inheritance we have received and will continue to receive.  We are heirs of God and heirs with Christ.  We are promised an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading.  It's kept in heaven for us.  Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.   Isaiah 6:1-8 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

You can't miss them as you drive through the heartland of America...

You can't miss them as you drive through the heartland of America...

This final message in Pastor Doug Lecheler's ongoing study in the book of Acts was delivered on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 at Bible Center Church in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. For more information, you can find us online at www.biblectr.org or connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/biblectr

This show continues the discussion of the “legacy of learning” bequeathed by Nurse Catherine Pine in her Last Will & Testament (discussion of 4/21/24).  In that show, we were joined by British historian Elizabeth Crawford, who discussed her research on  the Last Will and Testament of Nurse Catherine Pine (1864-1941), and in particular, on the gift of the “suffragette medal” which Pine bequeathed to the British College of Nurses.  In this show, we focus on the other "suffrage memorabilia provision" of Nurse Pine's Will which bequeathed “books and photographs” to the “Women's Social and Political Club”.  As we discuss, the “Women's Social and Political Club” was the “Suffragette Fellowship Club," and it is the early history of the Suffragette Fellowship Club on which we focus.

This show continues the discussion of the “legacy of learning” bequeathed by Nurse Catherine Pine in her Last Will & Testament (discussion of 4/21/24).  In that show, we were joined by British historian Elizabeth Crawford, who discussed her research on  the Last Will and Testament of Nurse Catherine Pine (1864-1941), and in particular, on the gift of the “suffragette medal” which Pine bequeathed to the British College of Nurses.  In this show, we focus on the other "suffrage memorabilia provision" of Nurse Pine's Will which bequeathed “books and photographs” to the “Women's Social and Political Club”.  As we discuss, the “Women's Social and Political Club” was the “Suffragette Fellowship Club," and it is the early history of the Suffragette Fellowship Club on which we focus.

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Message by Devin Burton, "Waiting on the Spirit" as part of our "Witnesses" series. Message from May 12, 2024. Centralia Community Church, Centralia, WA. The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful part of the Story, but it's not the end. Just like the early church, we are called to be a witness. We have been given the Holy Spirit…what would it look like if we tapped into this incredible gift? The Spirit allows us to take the Story further than we could on our own and when the Spirit moves, we move too; we become witnesses.

Luther Seminary Professors Rolf Jacobson, Joy J. Moore, and Kristofer Phan Coffman look at Narrative Lectionary reading NL246 for May 19, 2024 (Gifts of the Spirit). Commentary on Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 by Crystal Hall: https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/gifts-of-the-spirit-2/commentary-on-acts-21-4-1-corinthians-121-13-2 Our Spring Campaign is underway! Don't miss out on exclusive Working Preacher content for making a gift to the spring campaign between May 1-31! At the end of the campaign, we will send donors an ebook titled “Sustaining the Preaching Life.” It includes articles, commentaries, and Festival of Homiletics presentations, all curated by the Working Preacher team to help preachers care for themselves and support the preaching life. Donate now at https://workingpreacher.org/donate Connect with Working Preacher Website: https://www.workingpreacher.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingpreacher Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingpreacher/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/WorkingPreacher Watch the Full Episode Here: 

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The Holy Spirit falls on a household of unbaptized gentiles at Cornelius' house. This week, we reflect on what to make of the surprising Spirit, and the ever-enlarging sense the early Church was beginning to understand around who could be included in God's story. 

The Holy Spirit falls on a household of unbaptized gentiles at Cornelius' house. This week, we reflect on what to make of the surprising Spirit, and the ever-enlarging sense the early Church was beginning to understand around who could be included in God's story. 

We can spend a lot of time waiting for God to do something about the brokenness of our world and the challenges of life. The Book of Acts, however, says that it is not our impatient waiting on the Spirit to act that is the problem. The Spirit has preceded us and plowed the ground already. The Spirit impatiently anoints even as we argue about who is worthy to be in the church. When we wonder what God wants us to do, is it possible we already know the answer? Has the Spirit already spoken and our preconceptions and biases, our resentments and self-justification, are just in the way of God's grace and love in our lives?

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Copyright 2024 A1R Psychic Radio All rights reserved.

Scripture: Romans 8:5-11

1 Corinthians | 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 | Chipper Flaniken

1 Corinthians | 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 | Chipper Flaniken

Here is the sermon for Sunday, May 28, 2023. The theme for the sermon is: “A Glimpse of God – The Work of God the Spirit” The Scripture readings for today are: First Lesson: Acts 2: 1 – 21 Second Lesson: John 16: 5 – 11 Sermon Text: John 16: 5 – 11 Thank you for joining us in worship!   You may donate by going to this link: https://tinyurl.com/uod28xy

By wielding the sword of the Spirit, believers are encouraged to study, understand, and apply God's Word in their lives. It serves as a source of guidance, truth, discernment, and spiritual strength. Just as a physical sword is used in battle, the metaphorical sword of the Spirit enables Christians to defend themselves against spiritual attacks and engage in the spiritual battle they may face. This sword, the Word of God, is a powerful weapon that brings light into the darkness, and it will protect you, when the devil gets close, if you choose to use it.

This one goes out to Nate, Happy 50th (in Spirit) May 11, 2023, to my dinosaur brother and bird friend through time and space!Evvin Marin is an interdisciplinary artist based in Massachusetts. Evvin and Eliza discuss witches in history versus their archetypal status, chronic illness, the creative process, perception, intuition, Tarot spreads, and the power of finding one's voice… and one's people. Find everything Evvin at: evviemarin.comOriginal interviews recorded on April 12th & 14th, 2022MockingbirdMy curtain swings in sleeve, a gondola unswayed, remonitored. At this digression's consent, congealed in shadow, I wipe the meringue from the sill.Modified in frame, the masses graze in suspension, one string's descent upon the herd, the valley forges unto my eyes one image.From this lofted perch I sit, I move across my mesa. Each member in rally a full makeover....... achieved. A new sector's incision, finding the place beneath ones neighbored. I do not contend.The worn, inbound lanes in sight, I find my place within: I seek outbound. The brush relays the density as it bears no trails yet made. With a step, I travel in a Mockingbird.-Poem by Nate CookCardamom CloveTread the footfalls.Fall down breathless.Scatter petals,Pink and restless.Would you wanderWhere the light fades?Ultraviolet,Sweet on new shades…If you would sin like cinnamon, Cardamom, clove,Get a mouthful of sugar,Tiptoe over the ghosts,You would get rich like criminalsBut gentle as lovers.All creatures of sun,Come on and turn the day over.Dicentra spectabilis,Lantern of hearts.Not all who fade Go traveling.Not all who glowAs phosphorus Are lost.Lyrics by Evvin MarinOriginal artwork and musical composition for this episode courtesy Evvie/Evvin Marin 'Echo with Ink' and 'Cardamom Clove' by Mocking Cricket mockingcricket.bandcamp.com/album/phosphorus-lost8th House Healers Podcast is:Eliza Harris: Owner, Host & Content Creator and Sarah Cole-McCarthy: Owner, Host & Executive Producer/EditorAll rights reserved Find us on Facebook and Instagram and purchase Eliza's Tarot on her Etsy shop. We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions, comments & suggestions to us at: 8thhousehealers@gmail.comPodcast cover photography, ‘The Lovers', by Esmerlize (esmerlize.com)Original podcast theme music, ‘Languid Stars', by Dylan McCarthy (dylanmccarthymusic.com)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/8th-house-healers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is a series about the Fruit of the Spirit important? Because we need it—we all need it. Also, our city needs it. In this passage, we see three metaphors things about the beautiful life when lived by the Spirit: it is a battle, it is a tree, and it is a dance.

1 John 4:1-6Rev. Erik Veerman2/19/2023The Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of the AgePreambleThe Scripture reading for our sermon is from 1 John 4. We'll be looking at verses 1-6. You can find that on page 1212 in the Bibles.One difference between the first half of 1 John and the second half of 1 John is its focus. In the first couple of chapters, John gave us foundational truths about Jesus and what true faith looks like. A big part of that was testing our own lives and beliefs.Well, the second half has been about applying those truths in our lives and the church. That's what our verses this morning do. And they intersect two themes already covered: (1) our beliefs about Jesus and (2) the influence from the world. The difference is, rather than asking us to test our own beliefs and lives, the apostle John reveals how to test what's being taught in the church. Is the teaching from the Holy Spirit and true, or is the teaching from the world and false? We're talking about core matters of faith.Now, you may remember. At the end of chapter 2 when we looked at the doctrine test, I made you a promise. I said when we get to these verses in chapter 4, I would get specific on worldly philosophies that are infiltrating the church today. We'll consider those in the second half of today's sermon.Let's now come to God's Word.Please stand as you are able. Several of you have been memorizing this chapter, so let's read it together. Feel free to look on or try saying it by memory.As a reminder, this is God's inspired and authoritative Word given to us.1 John 4:1-6 - togetherPrayerBrushing your teeth is bad for your health. Think about it. Every time you brush, you are wearing down the enamel that protects your teeth and nerves. Furthermore, toothpaste is toxic to your teeth. Fluoride is a corrosive chemical. Not only are you subjecting it to your teeth, but you are introducing it into your body. Brushing your teeth is merely a marketing scheme by big pharma.In 1961, Dr. William McGuire conducted a study on persuasion. His topic was brushing your teeth. His goal was to see how easily we are deceived and how to prevent it. One of his study groups had no warning. Someone came in and began to argue against brushing your teeth. By the end, people felt sheltered by their families and duped by society. This group couldn't believe they used to think brushing your teeth was good.Another group of people were prepared beforehand. They were given positives for brushing your teeth and they were told of possible arguments against brushing your teeth. Later when someone argued against brushing, this group was able to discern truth from error.That's what the apostle John is doing here. He's teaching his church how to know what's true and how to know what's false. Yes, he's addressing false teaching that had already infiltrated the church, but he also wants them to be prepared for the future. That's my goal for this morning. To give you principles from this text to discern core matters of truth from error. And to analyze our current cultural moment and some worldly philosophies that have infiltrated the church.Before we get there, we have to understand what John is saying and why he is saying it.As I read, you probably noticed that word “spirit.” It's used 8 times in these 6 verses. Two of the times it's referring to the Holy Spirit. Capital “S” spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one whom God the Father gives us, through Christ, who testifies to the truth and brings comfort and conviction. He's called in Scripture the Spirit of Truth. That's what he's called here along with the Spirit of God. He's called elsewhere the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, and the Comforter.In contrast, in these verses, is the spirit of error. Lowercase “s.” It's not referring to any specific person. Rather, it's referring to teaching that claims to be from God. The sense we get is that false teachers were going around claiming to have a word from the spirit. But in reality, they were teaching falsehood. Now, put yourselves in the shoes of John's audience. They had heard contradictory teaching. Both sides claiming to be from the Holy Spirit. How were they to know what was true and what was false? That is why John is using the language “testing the spirits.” Testing to see whether the teaching is from the Holy Spirit or whether the teaching is from the spirit of error. It's not from God, but rather it's from the “world.” That's another word that is used multiple times in these verses. The word “world.” Six times in these 6 verses, especially in verses 4 and 5.In fact, the word “world” is one of the apostle John's favorite words. But he uses it in different ways! Let me give you a couple of examples. In the Gospel of John chapter 1:10, John writes “He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” There are two uses right there. Jesus was in the world, meaning earth. The world was made through him, very similar - world meaning all of God creation. But then it says, yet the “world” did not know him. There, he's referring to the people in the world.Or as a contrast, take John 3:16 and 17. A very well-known passage. It begins, “for God so loved the world that he gave his only son.” In that context, John is using the word “world” to mean the people in the world whom God loves. Verse 17 confirms that. It continues “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” There, John is talking about people who would believe in Jesus. In other verses, it's quite the opposite. He talks about judging the world and the rulers of the world who will be cast out. In those cases, it's the world's systems and beliefs, which are opposed to God in Christ. So, you see, the word “world” is a utility word for John.Here in these verses, the word “world” is that last definition. It's the things which are contrary to God. Idols, beliefs, systems, desires, philosophies. Look at verse 5 for example: “They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.” Let me rephrase verse 5 into, “they are from the world's corrupt systems and ideologies. Therefore they speak from those worldly philosophies and beliefs, and the people in the world who do not know God, listen to them.”So, to summarize: There's truth from the Spirit of truth versus error from the spirit of the age – the world. And John tells them, here's how you discern which is which.Now, I know, all the parents here want me to say “Brushing your teeth is healthy.” It is! And flossing too, by the way. I just made up some ridiculous arguments against it. But, did some of you wonder for a moment? We are, after all, a susceptible people.Kids, throughout your life you will have to discern what people are saying and teaching. And we're not talking about secondary matters. It's not about brushing your teeth. No, John is talking about core matters of faith and life. You will need to be like the Bereans. In Acts 17, it says they received what the apostles were teaching, but it says they did so “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” You will need to do that throughout your life, and these verses give you some guidance.Ok. What was the issue at hand? What was John dealing with? Well, we're told. Right there in verses 2 and 3. “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.”The problem was, there were people in the church who denied Jesus' humanity. Saying that he did not come in the flesh. Or maybe that Jesus was not the Christ – not the promised one. Again, we're talking people in the church in John's day.And we've already talked about where some of those false beliefs came from. Remember, in John's day, Gnosticism was on the rise. This worldly philosophy separated the spiritual realm from the material real. Proponents believed their goal was to achieve a heightened spirituality and enlightenment – kind of like an out of body experience. Everything material, including our flesh was corrupted and evil. This worldly thinking was the new kid on the block at the turn of the first century. And it was cool to think about and believe in these things. As you can imagine, that worldly philosophy began to infiltrate the church. And think of the consequences. For those that bought in to this gnostic belief, if matter was corrupted and evil, then they couldn't imagine that Jesus came in the flesh. If he did, he would have been corrupted (again, according to them)! Do you see that connection? How this false worldly philosophy had crept in and struck at the essential doctrine of the incarnation?(God becoming flesh) As a result, they denied Jesus humanity or that Christ had even come.And John says, “no! this belief is not from the Spirit. It is a lie. The Holy Spirit only testifies to the truth of what we, the apostles, taught. And the foundation is that Jesus Christ has come, and he's come in the flesh.” Matter and the flesh is, in fact, not evil.We live in a very different context. In John's day, the canon of the New Testament was yet to be established. The creeds on the Trinity that unified the church were yet to be written. For us, broadly speaking in the church, there is unity surrounding the person of Jesus – his humanity and divinity.No, in our day, in the church, the winds of secular philosophy blow in different way into the church. But they do the same thing. They strike at the core principles of faith – maybe not Jesus' humanity or divinity, but they oppose Christ and salvation in other ways. Look down at verse 3. Notice what John says there, “every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.” Opposed to Christ. John is saying, we test beliefs and teaching in the church by evaluating whether they are antichrist. The teaching is against Christ if it distorts or denies (1) the person of Jesus (again, that's what John was dealing with), (2) sin and the need for salvation in him alone, (3) God's nature and character, or (4) the life we are called to live. John has written about each of those. Again, if any teaching in the church distorts or denies any of those, it fails John's test. That is how you will know the Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of the Age.So then, what worldly philosophies today have crept into the church and are seeking to strike at the vitals of the Christian faith?Here we go. Now, You may feel uneasy with some of the things I am going to say. We can talk more later.Let me start with an easy one.About 100 years ago the church was dealing with the winds of modernism. The ideas coming from the Enlightenment that centered on man - that man is the measure of all things. And furthermore, that there's nothing outside of the universe - it's all a matter of chance. It took a while for that worldly philosophy to infiltrate the church, but when it did some teaching in the church began to question the physical resurrection of Jesus, question the virgin birth, and question miracles in general. Really, it questioned the supernatural within the natural world. This denial of God's supernatural work contradicts Scripture and strikes at the vitals of salvation and Christ. It is the spirit of error.Now, modernism hasn't gone away, but it's current impact on the church has waned.Ok, let's take another one – a little closer to home.In post World War 2, there has been a boom of consumerism. Our culture has an almost insatiable appetite for things and entertainment. We live in a world where we click a button and stuff shows up on our doorstep the next day. Security is found in money. Identity is found in what you own. The right doctor can heal almost anything. Broadly as a culture, we long for money, things, and comfort. This philosophy has affected the church by distorting the hope of the Gospel. What Christ has done for us is to reconcile us to God and to give us hope beyond the grave – eternal life. But in certain circles of the visible church, that hope is focused on this life. Some teachers will say, “God wants you to materially prosper in this life.” They say the confirmation of a Godly life is your heath and the ways in which you prosper now. Brothers and sisters, that distorts the Gospel. It minimizes the suffering of Christ and our comfort in him when we suffer. There's often very little eternal hope spoken of in this social or prosperity gospel. It also minimizes sin. It is not the Gospel.To be sure, I'm not advocating minimalism nor a rejection of medicine. But this teaching has turned good things into ultimate things. It is a spirit of error.Ok, let me take the next two together.Recently I read an article titled: “What Would Francis Schaeffer Say to Today's Evangelical Church?” Shaeffer was a Christian philosopher and Presbyterian pastor in the middle of last century. He was masterful at analyzing the culture and the culture's impact on the church. I've referred to Schaeffer before. Now, it's risky to surmise what someone would say after they're gone, but I thought the article was well done. It was written by a Schaeffer scholar. The author had worked at the L'Abri study center with the Schaeffers who started it. And this author had started a new L'Abri in England. So he was very qualified.In Schaeffer's day, postmodernism was the cool kid on the block. Postmodernism questions truth itself. It pushes an agenda that says your truth is your truth, but it's not my truth. In response, Schaeffer hammered home the church's the need to stand for the objective truth of God's Word and the objective guilt of every man before our holy God. That message still needs to be trumpeted today. There's still a postmodern relativistic mindset in the world. It has watered down the Scriptures and is a spirit of error.So, that's one thing, postmodernism. But today, the bigger ideological impact on the church is experientialism. Relativity has moved from the realm of truth in the mind to our experiences and feelings. And we see that all around us. Our culture says, “if it feels good, do it” or “follow your heart” or “be true to yourself.” The problem is, this expressive individualism denies sin. However, it, in fact, is sin – it's the sin of pride and self-idolatry. It rejects the very thing that it is - sin. When the winds of this cultural ideology bleed into the church, God's law is relativized and sin is minimalized. It strips away the core of and need for salvation. It is the spirit of the antichrist.So, then, what would Francis Schaeffer say today? I think the author is right that Schaeffer “would,” he says, “call [us] to stand for the Truth of Scripture, to not compromise with the current thought of the day, and to proclaim Christ alone as the way, the truth and the life... [and] that everything is not relative, that God's laws are good and life-giving.”So, modernism, consumerism, postmodernism, and experiential or expressive individualism – any of these worldly philosophies will compromise the Gospel message of hope in Christ alone. They therefore fail 1 John 4's test.I have two more philosophies to highlight.In our nation, we live with the sins and scars of racism. The pain of our history of slavery and segregation continues today, and racism certainly continues. I'm using that word racism to mean partiality and prejudice against someone else based on the color of their skin, or their cultural, ethnic, or national heritage. The answer to that sin is ultimately the Gospel. Ephesians 2 speaks of true reconciliation in Christ. It says, “For he himself [Jesus] is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two.”The ultimate hope of reconciliation and peace is found in Christ alone. And the pattern in Scripture is love for God and love for our neighbor which includes repentance and forgiveness.The answer to the sin of racism is not found in the secular ideology of critical theory, or to use the popular term, critical race theory. The reason I bring it up is because there continues to be a movement in the church to adopt some of its tenants. However, it replaces sin with sin, oppression with oppression, and racism with racism. It has no concept of forgiveness or reconciliation, no understanding of guilt or redemption. None of its solutions to racism remotely resemble the Gospel or hope in Christ, but rather perpetuate sin. This is the spirit of error.I'm not saying the path is easy to work through the sorrow and suffering of the sins in our nation (now and in the past), but the answer needs to conform to the pattern in Scripture. And ultimately focus on a true understanding of sin and redemption in Christ.And finally, one more message of the world that I fear is infiltrating the church. Politics. Let me tell you what I mean and tell you what I don't mean. Our country is so polarized these days. That alone has raised the prominence of partisan politics. Along with that has come a disproportional hope in political solutions.When that intersects with the church and either parallels the Gospel in importance or displaces the Gospel as the answer to sin and salvation, it's then that it becomes a message of the world and is a spirit of error.I am not saying that you should avoid politics. There are important matters, and the Bible speaks to some of the matters that come before our state and federal systems. But even on a personal level, we should not trust in chariots and horses (as Psalm 20 puts it) but rather we should trust in the name of the Lord. It's a matter of priority and hope.Well, there you have it.Let me recap so far and then conclude.1. You should brush your teeth.2. The apostle John is calling us to test the spirits… test the teaching in the church. Why? He says there are many false prophets that have gone out into the world. There is the Spirit of God who is the Spirit of Truth and there are spirits of error, or spirits of the age which come from the philosophies of the world.3. The test is whether they confess the truth of Christ in his person… and I believe, by implication, in his work – the Gospel. Any worldly ideology that denies a core principle of Jesus or salvation is a spirit of error, just like the Gnosticism of the second century.4. There are many false philosophies in the world that try to subvert the Gospel. And there will be more tomorrow. We're called to be discerning by testing them with the Word of God, such as 1 John 4:1-6.In conclusion, when we focus on Christ in all his fullness and glory and in his Gospel of peace, we are assured that we have the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, in us. When it seems like the world and the devil are encroaching in on the truth and the church, we hope and rest in what verse 4 says.“Little children,” beloved of God, “you are from God and have overcome them,” now listen… “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” God has given you his Holy Spirit in you. He is infinitely greater than he who is in the world. Through him, God's Spirit May we believe the truth of Christ, may we reject the world's philosophies, and may we rest in his work in us. Amen?

Sensitivity to Sin and Desires for Holiness: The Inside Work of the Spirit (May 15, 2022) by CBCOhio

The letter of Romans was written to a people the author, the Apostle Paul, had never met. This may explain why it resonates with us today. It reads like a lantern for those searching for theological clarity in this often dark cavernous world. This letter trains, equips, empowers, and reveals the heart of what it means to follow Jesus and have a relationship with God. As we step into Romans 8 we explore what a life led by the Holy Spirit looks like and produces. Speaker: Mike Kuckel Text: Romans 8:1-17 ESV