Podcasts about spirit paul

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2024

A Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity Romans 8:12-17 & St. Matthew 7:15-21 by William Klock Jesus sat on the mountainside with a great crowd of people spread out all around. They hung on his every word as he announced the coming of God's kingdom. This is what Israel had been waiting for years—for centuries. Here was the prophet like Moses, promised all the way back in Deuteronomy. Here he was, like Moses, on the mountain. But this time, instead of stone tablets with God's law written on them, Jesus was describing a kingdom in which God's law of love is inscribed on the hearts of its people—transforming them, setting them right from the inside out. Just as the law given by Moses described the things that separated the people of God from everyone else—who was in and who was out—Jesus described what the people of God's new kingdom were to be like—this new people, filled with the very Spirit of God. But then, knowing how people are and knowing how Israel had fallen so many times in the past, Jesus ended his “Sermon on the Mount” with a series of warnings. First he warned against going with the flow. Repentance is hard and really changing is even harder. Jesus was at odds with the leaders of the Jews—most of all because of the things he said about the temple. Its days were coming to an end. God would build a new one—but this one would be made, not of stone, but of people—men and women indwelt by God himself. Jesus knew it would be easy for people to just stick with the old way of doing things and so he warned: “Go in by the narrow gate. It's a tight squeeze and not many will find their way through, but that's the way to life.” And then—this where today's Gospel picks up—Jesus warns, “Watch out for false prophets!” Oh, they knew all about that. Everybody knew how, back in the days leading up the Exile, the real prophets had declared the word of the Lord and called Israel and her leaders to repentance, but that the kings and the priests, and most everybody else instead listened to the false prophets who assured them that, in fact, everything was fine just as it was and that they had nothing to worry about. The false prophets led the people straight into judgement. Nobody wanted a repeat of that! But, of course, the problem with false prophets is that no one ever thinks their favourite prophet could possibly be false. Jesus knew that in the coming years, spokesmen for the status quo—for the wide and easy way—would arise from amongst the scribes and the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the Zealots and the Essenes and they would preach passionately that their way was the real way, the true way—God's way. Missiologist Ed Stetzer likes to say, “If you want people to like you, don't become a pastor; sell ice cream.” There's an even better way: Assure people that God's cool with them just the way they are and with the things they're already doing. People will love you to death. That's precisely what Jesus was warning the people about that day. Let's look again at our Gospel, beginning with Matthew 7:15. Jesus said, Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves! You'll be able to tell them by the fruit they bear: you don't find grapes growing on thorn bushes, do you, or figs on thistles? Well, in the same way, good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. Good trees can't produce bad fruit, nor can bad ones produce good fruit! Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So, you must recognise them by their fruits. And then, in verse 21, Jesus gets even sharper with his warning: Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven; only people who do the will of my Father in heaven. [That's the fruit we should be looking for.] On that day lots of people will say to me, “Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, didn't we? We cast out demons in your name! We performed lots of powerful deeds in your name!” Then I will say to them, “I never knew you! You're a bunch of evildoers. Go away from me!” Judgement was coming to Israel. We have a bad tendency to pull Jesus' words and especially his warnings out of context, to pull them out of history, and to push them into some point far in the future and when we do that, we strip out the urgency. One day there will be a judgement that comes to the whole earth, but Jesus' horizon was the judgement that would come on Judah and on Jerusalem and the temple in about forty years—a judgement that would put an end to all the things and ways of the past and that would vindicate him and his people and this whole “new covenant”. It would bring an end to the first act in the story and draw back the curtains on the second. In light of that, I think it's good to recap the story. God's creation was a disaster and it all went wrong because human beings rebelled against him. Even wiping out the entire human race and starting over with the one, last righteous man and his family didn't solve the problem. So in that dark world the Lord called Abraham out of the nations. He made himself known to Abraham and most of all he showed Abraham his goodness and his faithfulness so that Abraham could be a witness to that goodness and faithfulness. And the Lord made Abraham into a people, a nation, and he did the same with them. Over and over he showed them his goodness and his faithfulness. He made them promises and then he did what he said. When they were slaves in Egypt, he rescued them, he cared for them in the wilderness, and he led them into the promised land and gave them wells they hadn't dug and cities they hadn't built. He gave them his law, he gave them a king, and most importantly he lived in their midst. The other nations had temples and in those temples were idols of wood or gold or stone that were blind, deaf, dumb, and powerless. But in the midst of Israel was the tabernacle where the glory of the Lord rested on the ark of the covenant. A real, living God who was good and who was faithful and proved it to his own people before the watching eyes of the world. Again, Israel was to be a witness to the nations. The nations were supposed to see the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord reflected in the corporate life of his people. As they lived in his presence and as they trusted in him and were obedient to his law. They were also supposed to be the righteous benchmark by which the Lord would one day judge the nations when he came to put an end to their wickedness and to set his world to rights. But over and over Israel failed to be that witness and to be that benchmark. The Lord sent prophets to call his people to repentance, but they rejected his prophets. Sometimes they even killed them. Instead, they listened to false prophets who told them everything was fine. The Lord even sent his people into exile. The promised land was his. It was holy. And if they weren't going to be holy too, then they could not live in his land or in his presence. First the northern tribes were conquered and scattered by the Assyrians and then the southern tribes were conquered by the Babylonians. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the people were taken off in captivity to live in a foreign, pagan land. The Lord was faithful to his promises when he disciplined his people, and, again, he was faithful to his promises when he returned them to the land. But the people were still fickle. They still served him with divided loyalties. And so, after a long string of prophets whom the people rejected, the Lord finally sent his own son. He sent his son to proclaim his soon-to-come judgement on Israel and to call his people to repentance. But he also sent his son to be the faithful Israelite, the Israelite who would single-mindedly serve him, the Israelite who would obey the law, the Israelite who would be that holy and righteous benchmark, the Israelite who would ultimately die the death that his sinful people deserved and become a sacrifice for their sins. The key point here with regard to today's Gospel is that Jesus came to announce that the Lord was about to judge his people and to call them to repentance. Those who refused to repent—those who listened to the false prophets, who carried on down the easy, wide way, would face death and destruction in a generation. And with that announcement came a call to repentance. There was a narrow way that would lead through that judgement to life. It wasn't an easy way. Just as Jesus was mocked and rejected and eventually put to death, so those who repented and followed him would walk a similar path. At the beginning of this same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had said to them, “Blessed are you when people slander you and persecute you, and say all kinds of wicked things about you falsely because of me. Celebrate and rejoice: there's a great reward for you in heaven. That's how they persecuted the prophets who went before you.” On the other side of that rejection was life—life in a new people of God who would be filled with his own Spirit and who, because of that, would have a righteousness greater than the Pharisees. They would finally be the people who would be faithful to the Lord and, most of all, in whom the nations would see the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord, so that they, in turn, would come in faith to bring him glory. The nations would see reflected in this new Israel the glory of a god unlike any of the gods they had ever known and so God's glory would spread and his new creation would grow. And all those who found themselves in Jesus the Messiah would find this gift of the Spirit a foretaste, a down-payment on that day when the gospel has done its work, when the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea, and when death itself is finally defeated. On that day God will raise them all to new life, just as he has raised Jesus, and they will live forever in his presence in a world set to rights once and for all. But that narrow way in the meantime was going to be hard. If it wasn't slander and persecution, false prophets would try to lure them down the easy way—to go with the flow—straight into judgement. And so Jesus warned them: Look for good fruit. It's not their zeal or even the miracles they might perform; pay attention to their fruit. Do you see God's new creation unveiled in them? Do they show the life of the Spirit? Or are they still invested in the ways and things that are passing away? Are they still focused on a law written on stone or have their hearts been transformed by Jesus and the Spirit? The prophets reflected the state of the nation. In a few short years judgement would fall on Jerusalem and people would be crying out to the Lord for deliverance. But the Lord knows his own by their fruit and these had borne none, because they'd rejected Jesus and instead listened to fruitless prophets. In contrast, Jesus says, “Those who do the will of my Father in heaven”—those who have found their identity in me and have been filled with my Spirit—they're the ones who will fulfil the law and, because of that, because of the fruit the Spirit causes them to bear, they'll be known by the Father. Now, to change gears just a little bit, this is where Paul picks up in our Epistle from Romans 8. Jesus knew that his people would face rejection and opposition and persecution—even martyrdom—for the sake of following him. He knew they would be confronted by false prophets who would tell them that everything was fine and that they were foolish for following Jesus. And Paul was shepherding people in very similar situations. He saw fellow Jewish believers, even out in the gentile world, being hassled and harassed by their fellow Jews for the sake of their faith in Jesus. Sometimes their fellow Jews would even be so angry with them that they'd rat them out to the Roman authorities for being disloyal citizens of the empire. But, too, the people in these churches in places like Rome or Asia Minor faced harassment from their pagan neighbours and even from the civil and religious authorities. At the time Paul wrote this in the 50s, there wasn't any official persecution of Christians by the Romans, but Paul could see that it was eventually going to come. People don't like it when you expose their sin and warn of coming judgement. The Jews didn't like it when Jesus did it. And Paul, seeing it on a small scale already, knew that the gentiles wouldn't like it when it was their turn. Caesar definitely wouldn't like it, because of course, to proclaim that Jesus is Lord is, at the same time, to proclaim that Caesar is not. When persecution came, it would be easy for believers to turn away from Jesus because of their fear. And there would be false prophets proclaiming to the churches that everything was fine, that compromise was okay—like the Judaisers in Galatians or the Nicolaitans in Revelation. So Paul exhorts the Christians in Rome to stand firm. The Lord has called them and made them his witnesses and they have no reason to fear. Look again at Romans 8:12-21: So then, brothers, debtors we are, but not to human flesh, to live our life in that way. If you live in accordance with the flesh, you will die; but if, by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God, you see, are God's children. You didn't receive a spirit of slavery, did you, to go back again into a state of fear? But you received the spirit of sonship, in whom we call out “Abba, Father!” When that happens, it is the Spirit himself giving supporting witness to what our own spirit is saying: that we are God's children. And if we are children, we are also heirs: heirs of God, and fellow heirs with the Messiah, as long as we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. “Look,” Paul is saying, “Israel was captive to the flesh. They had God's good law to live by, but it was written on tablets of stone and their hearts were full of the same poison as the hearts of the rest of the human race. The Lord poured out his love on them and they should have loved him wholeheartedly in return, but their hearts were broken, set on sin and on self—and so they could never return the Lord's love. Not truly. They had—and their descendants still have –reason to fear. The Lord will judge their unfaithfulness.” But, says Paul, “You are different. Not only have you been forgiven through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, but God has poured his own Spirit into you and that makes all the difference. The Spirit renews your minds and regenerates your heart. The law that was once written on stone—the law that we sum up in those words about loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbour as yourself—the Spirit writes that law on our hearts. If we are in Jesus the Messiah, the law is no longer a stone tablet we look at and say, ‘I wish I could do that.' Now it's written on our hearts. It's our desire. It's what we value, because of the Spirit.” Paul says that we still have to put to death our old ways, but it's this gift of God's own Spirit that makes it possible. And it's always good to remember that the Lord does not give his gifts in vain. Brothers and Sisters, it's good at this point to pause and let this sink in. I think we often forget that there's a bigger purpose behind all of this. We know that sin is wrong. We know that through Jesus our sins are forgiven. We know that the Spirit turns our hearts away from sin to righteousness. We know that we're supposed to put away the old man and put on the new and live in the Spirit. But I think we sometimes forget that forgiveness and righteousness aren't ends in themselves. Again, remember the story. Remember why God created a people for himself in the first place. Think of Abraham in the midst of that big, dark world lost in sin and with no knowledge of the Lord. Abraham and his family were to be witnesses to the Lord—to make him known, to be light in the darkness, to show that the Lord is good and faithful, different from the gods of the pagans, and worthy of the worship of the nations. And this people, too, was to be the benchmark by which the nations were one day to be judged. The old Israel failed and so God gave Jesus and the Spirit to create a new Israel—a new people to be both a light to the nations and the righteous benchmark by which they will one day be judged. God's people have always had this dual ministry to the world—to be both a priestly and prophetic people. As priests we mediate the presence and knowledge of God to the nations and as prophets we stand as—or we should stand—as God's benchmark of righteousness, calling the nations to repentance and showing forth his standard—showing the world what humanity was created to be. If that seems like a lot. If it seems like an impossibly high calling, Paul goes on saying that we were once slaves to sin, but through Jesus and the Spirit we have been set free and adopted as sons of God. Brothers and Sisters, by the Spirit we are incorporated into the story of Jesus the Messiah. Because we have the Spirit, we belong to him. We are, as Paul so often likes to say, “in the Messiah”. And if we go back a few verses, Paul tells us that the God who “raised Jesus the Messiah from the dead will also give life to [our] mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in [us].” I think this part of Romans is usually read as if Paul is talking about conversion, but it's really much deeper than that. Paul is talking about how believers are taken up into the story of Jesus and participate in his suffering and resurrection. To be filled with the Spirit is to be absolutely and completely assured that one day the Lord will raise our mortal (and in some cases martyred) bodies from the dead, just as he raised Jesus from the dead. This is the root of faith. This is what those Christians in Rome needed to remember and believe with all their hearts when persecution and tribulation came. And if they'll do that—in the power of the Spirit—Paul says they will become “sons of God”. It's about participation in the story and life in Jesus as adopted sons of God—it's especially powerful when we let Paul's words stand without changing it to sons and daughters or to children of God. He writes “sons of God” for a reason, just as he writes about crying out “Abba, Father” for a reason. Both make it clear he's talking about our being incorporated into Jesus the Messiah and into his story. Think back to Jesus crying out to his Father in Gethsemane the night before he was crucified. Jesus' people cry with him, “Abba, Father”. The Lord is no distant god. Brothers and Sisters, because we are in his Son by faith, we too are his sons and daughters and have the privilege to cry out to him as Father just as Jesus did. And Paul recalls that prayer in the garden for a reason. That was Jesus' prayer to his Father, his prayer as he was about to face his own death, it was his prayer that his Father would take that horrible cup from him. But it was also a prayer of faith as he submitted himself to his Father's plan. We know that Paul is saying to the Romans that when that same cup of persecution and maybe even martyrdom comes to them, they can cry out to their Father with the same confidence that Jesus did, they can submit in faith to his plan the same way Jesus did, and they can know that the Father holds them in his hands the same way he held Jesus. And, I think most important, they can expect that the Father will vindicate them the same way he vindicated Jesus. They can know that one day the Father will raise them from the dead to share in the life of his new creation. If they will let themselves be taken up in the story of Jesus the Messiah—something they can't do on their own power, but they can in the power of the Spirit—if they suffer with the Messiah and walk his narrow and difficult path, they will be heirs with him—and his inheritance, his glory will be theirs. Brothers and Sisters, those first Christians, whether they were in Jerusalem and facing the wrath of their fellow Jews or whether they were in Rome facing the wrath of the pagans—in a few years facing the wrath of the Emperor Nero who would throw them to lions or burn them alive—Paul reminds them who they are in Jesus and the Spirit. They are the people of God, a people washed clean by the blood of Jesus and a people made righteous by the Spirit, a people called to be prophets and priests. Their calling was to stand before the tsunami of the world's wrath calling sinful men and women to repentance, while mediating the loving grace of God—proclaiming the good news that Jesus has died, that he is risen, and that life, that participation in God's new creation can be known through him. Brothers and Sisters, judgement fell on Jerusalem and the Lord proved himself faithful to his promises as he delivered the church there from destruction. And the gospel went out to the Greeks and Romans and the Lord showed himself faithful again. Through the gospel and through the faithful witness of his people, an entire empire believed. With the biblical witness itself and with that history behind us, we have every reason to trust Jesus and the Spirit ourselves. We now live on the other side of Christendom. We don't know what will happen. The gospel marches on in other parts of the world, but in ours, darkness is creeping back in. I doubt that we will know martyrdom the way Paul and so many of those First Century believers did, but we will know in some way the wrath of the world as we stand as prophets and priests, confronting a rebellious world. Stand firm. Do not listen to the false prophets who call for compromise and for the easy way. Do not fear the wrath of the world, for we are in Jesus the Messiah and bear the life of God's Spirit. We are sons and daughters of the Father and no matter how bad things get, we can cry out with Jesus, “Abba, Father!” and know that he hears us. He gave his Son for our sake, why would we think he would abandon us now? And because we are united with the risen Jesus, because we are sons and daughters of God, we know that on the other side of all our troubles and sorrows lies our inheritance—as we confess in the Creed, the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Let's pray: Father, through the redeeming death and resurrection of your Son and through the regenerating work of your Spirit, you have made us your people. You have given us the task to stand as both prophets and priests, confronting this rebellious world and mediating your grace. Strengthen us, we pray, that we might stand firm in this calling no matter what trials and tribulations we may face. Make us new by your Spirit, fill us with your grace, and remind us that we share in the inheritance of your Son, who has been raised from the dead, that we might confront temptation and fear with a faith confident in your faithfulness. Through Jesus we pray. Amen

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Romans 8:18-23 by William Klock The world is not as it should be. We know it in our bones. Around us we see glimpses of what the world should be like: when we see the beauty of flower or the sunset or the majesty of a waterfall, when we see a newborn baby or the love shared between husband and wife or parent and child, when someone goes out of their way to do some good deed for no other reason than that it needs to be done. But the world is also filled with pain and suffering and tears. We hurt each other terribly. We lie, cheat, steal, and kill. We act selfishly. And then we all eventually die and it can seem so pointless. Everyone sees it. The gospel is God's answer: God humbling himself in Jesus, taking on the flesh of his broken people and suffering the death that they deserved for their rebellion against him. Allowing sin and death to do their worst and rising triumphant over them. Suffering birthed God's new world in the midst of the old. That's God's solution. But as our culture has gradually forgotten the gospel, we've come to address this problem by becoming increasingly obsessed with the therapeutic. In the midst of a broken world, everything has become about feeling good. Buy this and you'll feel better. Do this—and this usually involves spending money on something—and you'll feel better. We created a whole “therapy” industry to make ourselves feel better in general and better about ourselves. It shouldn't be any wonder that the great modern heresy is the so-called Prosperity Gospel, which promises that the Christian life is all about health and wealth—feeling good. But even otherwise orthodox churches have often embraced the therapeutic, whether it's in our preaching or our worship. Everything is increasingly focused on “me” and on me feeling good. It's the very opposite of God's solution to a world and a people broken by sin and death. And yet, when we go back to the New Testament, particularly if we listen to Jesus, there's a lot—a lot—of talk about suffering. Jesus even promises that his people will suffering. “If they hate me, they will hate you—because a servant isn't greater than his master.” “Blessed are you when people slander and persecute you and say wicked things about you on account of me. Celebrate and rejoice, because there's a reward for you in God's kingdom. That's how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus promised his people suffering, whether it was in the gospels or in his vision to John that we have in Revelation. You can't go out into the world to declare that Jesus is Lord without making people angry. You can't go out into the world to tell people and to show people that God's new creation is breaking into and transforming the old, without upsetting the way things are. The people invested in the old age will get angry. But it's not just persecution. Even as Jesus calls us to lift the veil on God's new creation, to show in the present what God has in store for the future, we suffer. Because the world still is not as it should be. Jesus' people suffer from poverty from hunger from sickness. We suffer the effects of sin in the world just like everyone else. We're all—you and I—getting older year by year and feeling it. And one day we'll die. Because instead of stepping into history in judgement and wiping every last vestige of sin from his creation so that it could all be set to rights, Jesus first stepped into the middle of history to offer us redemption, so that we won't have to face his wrath on that day when he finally comes—so that we, poor sinners, can instead have a share in his new creation. Brothers and Sisters, we desperately need this gospel perspective. And this is what Paul's getting at in our Epistle form Romans 8. He writes in verse 18: This is how I work it out. The sufferings we go through in the present time are not worth putting in the scale alongside the glory that is going to be unveiled for us. “This is how I work it out…” That doesn't mean this is Paul's opinion. “This is how I work it out” means that Paul, knowing the Scriptures, knowing the story of Israel and Israel's God, knowing Jesus, working under the Spirit's inspiration, this is the only conclusion he can reach. He's been building this argument for eight chapters in Romans and here he reaches the inevitable conclusion: those who will be glorified will first face suffering, but that this suffering can't begin to compare with the glory to be revealed. Think about what a powerful statement that was when Paul wrote this. When he writes that word “suffering” most of us probably read into that whatever our own trials and tribulations are. That's fine. But what did Paul have in mind? Later in the chapter, in verses 35-36 he writes that nothing will separate us from the love of the Messiah—nothing—and then he goes on to detail the sorts of suffering that he and other Christians were facing—things people might think mean that God doesn't love them, things they might think show a lack of faith, things that might separate them from Jesus. Here's his list: hardship or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril or sword. And he quotes from Psalm 44: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted sheep to be slaughtered.” These things are far worse than the sorts of suffering any of us are likely to face. And as horrible as this suffering was, none of it could compare with the glory to be revealed—no amount of suffering could make the glory not worth it. But what is the glory Paul's writing about? I like the translation that this glory is “going to be unveiled for us”, but we have to be careful. That can make it sound like we're going to be spectators, when the sense of what Paul's saying in Greek is that this glory will be revealed towards us or into us. It's a sense of this glory being bestowed on us as a gift. You and I will participate in glory. And this makes perfect sense when we consider that just before this Paul said that if we are in the Messiah, then we will share in his inheritance—we will participate in his inheritance. And what's the inheritance? Well, who is Jesus? He is Lord. His glory is revealed or it's unveiled in his glorious and sovereign rule of Creation and Paul is saying here that the glory we wait for with eager longing, the glory that is the basis for our hope as Christians is not glory in the sense many people often think. We often think of “glory” as a place or a state of being. When a Christian dies we often hear people say that he or she has gone on or been promoted to “glory”. Brothers and Sisters, “glory” isn't going to heaven when you die. As Jesus' glory is his sovereign rule over Creation, so the glory to be revealed in us is our participation, our sharing in the sovereign and saving rule of Jesus—being restored to original vocation and taking part in God's creation set to rights. And this is why he says what he does in verse 19: Yes: creation itself is on tiptoe with expectation, eagerly awaiting the moment when God's children will be revealed. If our hope, if our glory—as it is so often wrongly portrayed—was for the destruction of this world and an eternity of disembodied existence in heaven with God, then the Creation would have no reason to eagerly long for that glory to be revealed. What Paul describes here is the opposite: God's Creation is waiting with eager expectation for the great day when its true rulers are revealed, the sons and daughters of God, and when it will be delivered from corruption. Look at verses 20-22: Creation, you see, was subjected to pointless futility, not of its own volition, but because of the one who placed it in this subjection, in the hope that creation itself would be freed from its slavery to decay, to enjoy the freedom that comes when God's children are glorified. Let me explain. We know that the entire creation is groaning together, and going through labor pains together, up until the present time. This is where we need to stand back and look at the big picture. Everything Paul's saying here is dependent on that. It's the big picture the Bible gives of us of God's Creation, from beginning to end. We read in Genesis that God created and that everything was good. We even read there that when he created human beings he looked at his handiwork and declared us not just “good”, but “very good”. But we look around us now and have to wonder what happened. War is always raging somewhere, there's violence everywhere, there's greed and corruption everywhere. Justice is in short supply and so are the basic things that people need to survive—maybe not in our part of the world, but for billions of others. And yet even if we don't pay attention to the big evils that play out on the international scene—or even on the local scene, for that matter—we only have to look at the struggles that we have ourselves and that we share with our family and friends to keep away from sin and to do good. Hate is easy; love is hard. Paul knew it. The Roman Christians knew it. We know it. Paul tells the story of Creation in the book of Romans, but he tells it as Israel's story. We don't have time to run through the whole book this morning obviously, but Paul's point is that the whole Creation is enslaved in the same sort of way that Israel was in Egypt. And right there we get a glimmer of hope. Remember, when Israel went down to Egypt—remember the story of Jospeh being sold into slavery by his brothers and winding up in prison in Egypt?—it was all according to the Lord's plan. The Lord arranged for Joseph to become a slave in Egypt so that through him he could rescue his people. Egypt started out good for Israel. When things turned around under a new king who enslaved Israel, it wasn't because the Lord had ceased to be good and it wasn't because the Lord was no longer in control. Instead, we learn later that the Lord allowed the Israelites to become slaves in Egypt so that he could then manifest his glorious sovereignty to everyone—to Israel in rescuing her and to the Egyptians by showing his power over her false gods and over her mighty horses and chariots. In the Exodus, the Lord marked Israel forever as the people he had freed from slavery, people to whom he had given a new life. That became their national identity, celebrated every year in the Passover. In all of that Paul is working up to his point here. As the Lord allowed Israel to fall into bondage to Egypt, so he has allowed his good Creation to be subjected to death and decay. We may look around and wonder if things are hopeless. Every time one war ends and we see peace break out another war begins somewhere else. We work hard to lift this group out of poverty, but then that group over there falls into it. We cure one disease only to have two new ones crop up. Isaiah wrote about a day when the lion would lie down with the lamb and we look around us and wonder if that's ever going to happen. And Paul assures us: Yes, it's for real. This is God's promise. No matter how bad things are, this is still his good Creation and he has promised to put everything to rights. Even as he cast Adam and Eve from the garden he was promising them that he would one day overcome sin and restore everything to the way it should be. Genesis shows things going from bad to worse. It shows us humanity losing even the very knowledge of God and sinking into paganism and idolatry. But then it tells us how God came to Abraham and established a covenant with him. The Lord promised that through Abraham and his family he would restore not only humanity, but all of Creation and here Paul reminds us what that means, what it looks like and why the Creation itself would long for it to happen. Again, we need the big picture—we need to remember where things started. In Genesis we read that the Lord created human beings to be his image bearers. Theologians have argued for two thousand years over what exactly that means, but in the last century, as we've been able to read the Old Testament in light of other Jewish and Ancient Near Eastern literature we've realised that the language of Genesis is temple language. Israel's pagan neighbours built great stone temples and then placed images of their gods in them. Those images represented their gods' rule or sovereignty over the land and people. And Genesis uses the same language and imagery, except that in Genesis it's the Lord himself who builds his own temple—the cosmos—and instead of placing an image of himself carved in stone or gold in it, he creates human beings, to live in his presence in the temple, but also to rule his creation justly and wisely—to have dominion and to subdue Creation in the Lord's name. That's what it meant for humanity to bear God's image: to be his stewards, the priests of his temple. But then we chose to rebel. As Paul writes in Romans 1, we chose to worship the Creation instead of the Creator. We subjected the Lord's good creation to corruption. Now, in light of that, it should make sense that Creation is longing for the day when our inheritance is revealed. That's the day when Creation will be set free from the corruption we brought on it. That's the day when we, Creation's stewards will be restored and renewed and put back in charge, reigning with Jesus. Again, think back to Israel. He chose and called her, he rescued her, he made her his people, he made her a model for the nations to bring healing and restoration. But she rebelled and she rejected her mission. And yet the Lord didn't give up and he didn't change his plan to redeem his Creation through Israel. He simply sent a faithful Israelite—he sent Jesus. And Jesus not only redeemed Israel by dying in her place, he established a new Israel in his own person, a new people to be a light to the nations—this time equipped by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is getting at in verse 23. It's not just the Creation that groans in eager longing: Not only so: we too, we who have the first fruits of the Spirit's life within us, are groaning within ourselves, as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our body. The Lord hasn't given up on his Creation any more than he gave up on Israel. Creation is eagerly waiting for its rightful stewards to be set right. On that great day the Lord will make all things new and restore his redeemed people to their rightful place as good, wise, and just rulers of Creation—as the faithful priests of his temple. This is what it means for our glory to be revealed. The big picture, the story of redemption, reminds us that this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning. And so we groan and we wait eagerly too. We live in the mess we've made here in the world. We live with sin and with sickness and with death, and yet we live in hope, knowing that what God has begun in Jesus he will one day complete. And we can hope because our God has given us the firstfruits of his new creation. He's given a down payment on what he has promised. The present age and its rulers have been decisively defeated by Jesus at the cross and the empty tomb and God's new age has been inaugurated. Jesus is Lord. He truly is God's King. He's given us his Spirit—Paul describes the Spirit here as the firstfruits—and that's because we live in the overlap between these two ages, these two kingdoms. The Jews brought the firstfruits of the harvest—usually sheaves of grain harvested at the very beginning of the season—as offerings to God. They offered them in good years and even in bad years in faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest. And so the Spirit is the sign of hope for us. The life he gives to us here and now is a reminder that encourages our faith and hope in the resurrection and the new creation to come. We groan and we sigh, we wait longingly in eager expectation, but our hope is certain because God is faithful and keeps his promises. The prophet Habakkuk wrote that one day the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Brothers and Sisters, when that seems impossible, we only need remember the cross of Jesus, his empty tomb, and his gift of the Holy Spirit. God has already done the hard part. He is the God who is faithful. He will not abandon either his promises or his investment. We can be sure that he'll finish what he's started. But in the meantime our faith is not a complacent faith. We haven't been redeemed by Jesus and given the gift of the Spirit so that we can retreat into a sort of personal holiness or private piety while we wait for Jesus to return. Not at all. Jesus has inaugurated this new age in his resurrection and somehow someday the making new that began in his resurrection will encompass all of Creation and you and I are called, in the power of the Spirit, to embody that renewing work here and now. How is Habakkuk's prophecy going to be fulfilled? How does the knowledge of the glory of the Lord spread to cover the earth? Brothers and Sisters, that's our mission. We're called to proclaim to the world the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom is here and now. Our mission is to call the world to repentance and faith. But don't forget: We are also called to live out repentance and faith in our lives in such a way that we lift the veil on the kingdom and that we give a glimpse to the world of what heaven on earth looks like. So far as we are able to do so today, we are called to exercise the good dominion that was given to Adam—we are called to be stewards of God's temple, of his Creation. Jesus has led the way for us here, the second Adam. In his earthly ministry he made his Father's new creation known in practical ways to the people around him and so should we. In a word full of sin we should be visible in seeking after holiness. In a world full of war and injustice, we should be visible and at the forefront working for peace and justice. In a world full of hurting and sickness, we should be seeking to make the healing ministry of Jesus known. In a world full of anger and hate, we should be working for forgiveness and reconciliation. If you're like me you might get discouraged thinking about the mission Jesus has given us. When I think of these things I think of things that we as Christians can do to bring Jesus and his glory to the world in “big” ways. I think of Christians working on the big international scene or I think of missionaries going to far off countries. And then I get discouraged. That's far away. It's bigger than me. But Friends, never forget that for every St. Paul or St. Peter, there were thousands of ordinary saints manifesting Jesus in their ordinary lives, proclaiming the good news, and building the kingdom right where they were. We fulfil Jesus' calling to us as we raise covenant children to walk with him in faith and to live the values of his kingdom. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we work for peace and reconciliation with our neighbours, in our workplaces, and in our schools. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we forgive as we have been forgiven. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we love the hard-to-love people around us, knowing that we ourselves are hard-to-love too, but that Jesus loved us enough to die for us. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we sacrifice ourselves, our rights, our prerogatives, our time, and our treasure in order to make Jesus and his love known. In everything we do, we should be seeking to give the world signs and foretastes of God's new creation. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we asked earlier in the collect we ask again for grace that to pass through the trials of this life without losing the things of eternal importance. Remind us that the suffering we experience cannot begin to compare with the glory to be revealed to us. Remind us always of the suffering that Jesus endured for our sake that in love and gratitude we might suffer too for the sake of making him known. And as we think of Jesus' death and resurrection and as we live the life given by your Spirit, fill us with hope and faith, knowing that the glory inaugurated in us today will one day be fully accomplished in our own resurrection and the restoration of all your Creation. Amen.

Johns Encounter in The Spirit - Paul Nichols - 06-09-24

encounter johns spirit paul paul nichols

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 43:38

Johns Encounter in The Spirit - Paul Nichols - 06-09-24 by Border City Church

Walking In Step With The Spirit || Paul Zanardo

Melbourne Lights Church

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 37:47

24th March 2024

walking spirit paul

A Gentle Spirit | Paul Nyamuda

Go Church Sa

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2024 21:28

Gentleness is of great worth to God. There are virtues that God values greatly. Gentleness is one of them. We have a choice. What will we make of great value to ourselves? How much time do we spend working on our outward selves compared to the inner self. It is essentially a spirit. Why is a gentle and quiet spirit worth a lot to God? I believe that when we don't walk in gentleness, we short circuit the anointing. Often God can only use us when we are in this state of a gentle and quiet spirit. Gentleness is enhanced by other attributes.

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The Word and the Spirit – Paul M. Williams

god power bible spirit brothers holy spirit hebrews sisters james harden preaching holy ghost lit thess thessalonica paul m spirit paul

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 68:39

Hebrews 4:12 Once upon a time the preacher hastened fearlessly to climb the stairs of the pulpit, burdened with a message from heaven, armed in hand with a open Bible. Book, chapter and verse was his modus operandi and for the unction of God He pleaded!! Brothers and Sisters, it is the last part of this statement that has become my soul's burden over the last number of years — O for the unction of God upon the Word!!! It is simply not enough to have the letter of the Word, we need the Word and the Spirit. The preaching of God's Word in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Paul understood this and saw the mighty effects of it in Thessalonica. What does he say? “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power (Lit. force), and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thess. 1:5). This sermon is a plea to surrender! A call to yield! “Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts”

Top 5 Ways to Get Into the Holiday Spirit | Guest: Paul Campbell

Christmas Countdown

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 99:02

In this gigantically jolly episode, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eric⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Danny⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ each share 5 ways to get your heart and mind into the holiday spirit. The guys chat about why they picked each activity, then share a story about each of their picks, from 5 down to 1. The guys also welcome in Hallmark Channel star, Paul Campbell who gets in on the countdown fun! Plus, the guys chat about the latest Christmas news, open some fan mail, and share what's been going on lately in their respective lives. Do you want to have access to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠even more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ massively merry exclusive ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bonus episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ just like this one, be a part of a private group of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christmas obsessed peeps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ just like YOU, and chat directly with Eric and Danny? It's super simple! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Patreon Family! You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Apple to get exclusive episodes delivered directly to your feed every week. Check out our merch shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Patreon supporters get 20% off all purchases, so ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a fantastically festive discount code. Follow us on the socials ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@christmascountdownshow⁠

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The Fourth Sunday after Trinity: Suffering and Glory Romans 8:17-23 by William Klock On Monday I rode by gravel bike up Horne Lake Forest Service Road, up from the lake towards Port Alberni. It's a big loop through the forests and mountains—basically the middle of nowhere. Before I left I created route using an app on my phone and then I made sure the map was loaded. And by the time I got to Horne Lake there was no cell service, somehow the map “unloaded” itself, and all I had was a blank map with a blurry red line for the road and my little blue GPS dot telling me where I was on it. None of the sideroads or trails were showing, none of the topographical lines were showing. I didn't know how far I was from the top or where to turn, all I could do after every junction was to check to make sure the little blue dot was still on the blurry red line and if, it wasn't, turn around and go the other way and check again. And then on my way down cell service returned, the map loaded, and right when I needed my GPS the most, it stopped working. The map showed the road crossing Nile Creek, but when I got there I found a ravine about sixty feet deep and the bridge missing. I couldn't tell if I was on the right road or how far off course I might end up when I went bushwhacking down a deer trail to see if I could find a place to cross. The whole time I was thinking how much more reliable it was in the old days with a topographic map and a compass. Having that little “You are here” dot isn't much good if you don't have a map for reference. And having a map isn't very helpful if you don't know where you are on it. That—and some conversations I've had the last few weeks with other pastors—got me thinking about how we read the Bible and do theology and all of that. It reminded me why I like what's called narrative theology and why I think it's important to always be telling the big biblical story. The biblical story is the map. Narrative theology shows us where we are on the map. Both keep us firmly grounded in the story of God and his people. We need that. We grow up learning all the stories, but the Bible story book we read as kids—or read to our kids—often leave us with the stories disconnected. We end up knowing Adam and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, but we struggle to know how their stories are related and part of the bigger story. And that often continues on as adults. And we struggle to know where we fit in to it. I say this because our Epistle from Romans 8 this morning is one those wonderful, short passages that puts a map in front of us. It shows us the big picture of the good news, of God's redemption and renewal of humanity and of his entire Creation. And it says, “You are here”. Our Epistle this morning is St. Paul leading us right to the climax of his letter to the Romans and here he shows us the map: where we've come from, where we're going, how it all fits together. In the first half of Romans, Paul works his way through the story of Israel and all her ups and downs—and for Israel things were mostly “down”. And now in Chapter 8 he begins talking about life in the flesh versus life in the Spirit and the law of sin and death versus the law of the Spirit. This is where, in verse 11, he famously writes that if the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies—if we are in Jesus the Messiah we live in hope of the same resurrection he has experienced. But even more than that, Paul goes on to write, through our union with Jesus we are children and heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ—that means sharing in Jesus' inheritance. But what is that? Paul writes in verse 17 that it means to suffer with him so that we can be glorified with him. The Christian life—life with Jesus—for Paul means two things: suffering and glory. Suffering is a given as we long for glory. Most Christians living through the last two thousand years have understood that suffering is part of our calling as we follow Jesus. Jesus promised it. The New Testament writers talk about it often—and most of them faced it themselves and were martyred for proclaiming the lordship of Jesus. Many of our brothers and sisters today are persecuted for their faith in various parts of the world. And yet in the West—probably in part because we haven't faced persecution for such a long time—many Christians have no place for suffering in their theology. Some even go so far as to say that if you're experiencing suffering—sickness, poverty, rejection or anything else negative—it's due to a lack of faith. But that's just the opposite of what Jesus taught and it's just the opposite of what Paul teaches here. The inheritance we share with Jesus is one of suffering that leads to glory. What this means is at the centre of our Epistle and Paul goes on in verse 18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Are you suffering? Paul shows the little blue you-are-here GPS dot on the map. This is us. Here's where we're at in the big picture, the big story. And Paul says, “For I consider…” That doesn't mean this is his opinion. He's put his compass on the map and lined everything up and here's where it points to and here's where we are. Knowing the Scriptures, knowing Jesus, working under the Spirit's inspiration, this is the only conclusion he can reach. He's been building this argument for eight chapters in Romans and here he reaches the inevitable conclusion: those who will be glorified will first face suffering, but that this suffering can't begin to compare with the glory to be revealed. Think about what a powerful statement this was when Paul wrote it. When he writes that word “suffering” most of us probably read into it whatever our own trials and tribulations are. That's fine. But what did Paul have in mind? Later in the chapter, in verses 35-36 he writes that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ—nothing—and then he goes on to detail the sorts of suffering that he and other Christians were facing—things people might think mean that God doesn't love them, things they might think show a lack of faith, things that might separate them from Jesus. Here's his list: hardship or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril or sword. And he quotes from Psalm 44: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted sheep to be slaughtered.” These things are far worse than the sorts of suffering most of us are likely to face. And as horrible as this suffering was, none of it could compare with the glory to be revealed—no amount of suffering could make the glory not worth it. But what is the glory Paul's writing about? Our translation says that this glory is to be revealed “to us”. By that he doesn't mean that it's God's show-and-tell, that we'll be spectators to this glory. It means that we have a share in it. Think of this glory as a gift given to us by God. Remember what Paul said before: that if we are in Christ, then we will share in his inheritance—we will participate in his inheritance. And what's the inheritance? Well, who is Jesus? He is Lord. His glory is revealed or it's unveiled in his glorious and sovereign rule of Creation and Paul is saying here that the glory we wait for with eager longing, the glory that is the basis for our hope as Christians is not glory in the sense many people often think. We often think of “glory” as a place or a state of being. When a Christian dies we often hear people say that he or she has gone on or been promoted to “glory”. Brothers and Sisters, “glory” is more than just going to heaven when you die. As Jesus' glory is his sovereign rule over Creation, so the glory to be revealed in us is our participation, our sharing in the sovereign and saving rule of Jesus. Glory is about the resurrection of the dead and all of creation one day set to rights. And this is why he says what he does in verse 19: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. Brothers and Sisters, God's Creation is waiting for the great day when its true rulers will be revealed, the sons of God, and when it will be delivered from corruption. Look at verses 20-22: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. This is where we need to stand back and look at the big picture. Everything Paul's saying here is dependent on that. It's the big picture the Bible gives of us of God's Creation, from beginning to end. We read in Genesis that God created and that everything was good. We even read there that when he created human beings he looked at his handiwork and declared us not just “good”, but “very good”. But we look around us now and have to wonder what happened. War is always raging somewhere, there's violence everywhere, there's greed and corruption everywhere. Justice is in short supply and so are the basic things that people need to survive. And yet even if we don't pay attention to the big evils that play out on the international scene—or even on the local scene, for that matter—we only have to look at the struggles that we have ourselves and that we share with our family and friends to keep away from sin and to do good. Hate is easy; love is hard. Paul knew it. The Roman Christians knew it. We know it. Paul tells the story of Creation in the book of Romans, but he tells it as Israel's story. We don't have time to run through the whole book this morning, but Paul's point is that the whole Creation is enslaved in the same sort of way that Israel was in Egypt. And right there we get a glimmer of hope. Because God was involved in that Egyptian exile from beginning to end. He had a purpose. Remember, when Israel went down to Egypt—we read about that in the story of Jacob and Joseph—the Lord arranged for Joseph to become a slave in Egypt so that through him he could rescue his people. Egypt started out good for Israel. When things turned around under a new king who enslaved Israel, it wasn't because the Lord had ceased to be good and it wasn't because the Lord was no longer in control. No. We learn later that the Lord allowed the Israelites to become slaves in Egypt so that he could then manifest his glorious sovereignty to everyone—to Israel in rescuing her and to the Egyptians by showing his power over her false gods and over her mighty horses and chariots. In the Exodus, the Lord marked Israel forever as the people he had freed from slavery, people to whom he had given a new life. That became their national identity, celebrated every year in the Passover. In all of that Paul is working up to his point here. As the Lord allowed Israel to fall into bondage to Egypt, so he has allowed his good Creation to be subjected to death and decay. We may look around and wonder if things are hopeless. Every time one war ends and we see peace break out another war begins somewhere else. We work hard to lift this group out of poverty, but then that group over there falls into it. We cure one disease only to have two new ones crop up. Isaiah wrote about a day when the lion will lie down with the lamb and we look around us and wonder if that's ever going to happen. And Paul assures us: Yes, it's for real. This is God's promise. No matter how bad things are, this is still his good Creation and he has promised to put everything to rights. Even as he cast Adam and Eve from the garden he was promising them that he would one day overcome sin and restore everything to the way it should be. Genesis shows things going from bad to worse. It shows us humanity losing even the very knowledge of God and sinking into paganism and idolatry. But then it tells us how God came to Abraham and established a covenant with him. The Lord promised that through Abraham and his family he would restore not only humanity, but all of Creation and here Paul reminds us what that means, what it looks like and why the Creation itself would long for it to happen. Again, we need the big picture—we need to remember where things started. In Genesis we read that the Lord created human beings to be his image bearers. What does it mean to bear God's image. Well, consider that Israel's pagan neighbours built great stone temples and then placed images of their gods in them. Those images represented the gods' rule or sovereignty over the land and people. Genesis uses the same languages and imagery, except that in Genesis it's the Lord himself who builds his own temple—the cosmos—and instead of placing an image of himself carved in stone or gold in it, he creates human beings, to live in his presence in the temple, but also to rule his creation justly and wisely—to have dominion and to subdue Creation in his name. That's what it meant for humanity to bear God's image: to be his stewards, the priests of his temple. But then we chose to rebel. As Paul writes in Romans 1, we chose to worship the Creation instead of the Creator. We subjected the Lord's good creation to corruption. Now, in light of that, it should make sense when Paul writes that Creation is longing for the day when our inheritance is revealed. That's the day when Creation will be set free from the corruption we brought on it. That's the day when we, Creation's stewards will be restored and renewed and put back in charge, reigning with Jesus. Again, think back to Israel. He chose and called her, he rescued her, he made her his people, he sent her to the nations to bring healing and restoration. But she rebelled and she rejected her mission. And yet the Lord didn't give up and he didn't change his plan to redeem his Creation through Israel. He simply sent a faithful Israelite—he sent Jesus. And Jesus not only redeemed Israel by dying in her place, he established a new Israel in his own person, a new people to be a light to the nations—this time equipped by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is getting at in verse 23. It's not just the Creation that groans in eager longing: And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. The Lord hasn't given up on his Creation any more than he gave up on Israel. Creation is eagerly waiting for its rightful stewards to be set right. On that great day the Lord will make all things new and restore his redeemed people to their—to our—rightful place as good, wise, and just rulers of Creation—as the faithful priests of his temple. This is what it means for our glory to be revealed. The big picture, the story of redemption, reminds us that this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning. And so we groan and we wait eagerly too. We live in the mess we've made here in the world. We live with sin and with sickness and with death, and yet we live in hope, knowing that what God has begun in Jesus he will one day complete and on that day his glory will be revealed to an extent we can't even imagine. And, Paul writes, we can hope because our God has given us the firstfruits of his new creation. He's given a down payment on what he has promised. The present age and its rulers have been decisively defeated by Jesus at the cross and at the empty tomb and God's new age has been inaugurated. Jesus is ascended to his throne. He is Lord. He truly is God's King. He's given us his Spirit—Paul describes the Spirit here as the firstfruits—and that's because we live in the overlap between these two ages, these two kingdoms. The Jews brought the firstfruits of the harvest—usually sheaves of grain harvested at the very beginning of the season—as offerings to God. They offered them in good years and even in bad years in faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest. And so the Spirit is the sign of hope for us. The life he gives to us here and now is a reminder that encourages our faith and hope in the resurrection and the new creation to come. We groan and we sigh, we wait longingly in eager expectation, but our hope is certain because God is faithful and keeps his promises. The prophet Habakkuk wrote that one day the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Brothers and Sisters, when that seems impossible, we only need remember the cross of Jesus, his empty tomb, and his gift of the Holy Spirit. But our faith is not a complacent faith. We haven't been redeemed by Jesus and given the gift of the Spirit so that we can retreat into a sort of personal holiness or private piety while we wait for Jesus to return. Not at all. Jesus has inaugurated this new age in his resurrection and somehow someday the making new that began in his resurrection will encompass all of Creation and you and I are called, in the power of the Spirit, to embody that renewing work here and now. How is Habakkuk's prophecy going to be fulfilled? How does the knowledge of the glory of the Lord spread to cover the earth? Brothers and Sisters, that's our mission. We're called to proclaim to the world the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom is here and now. Our mission is to call the world to repentance and faith. But don't forget: We are also called to live out repentance and faith in our lives in such a way that we lift the veil on the kingdom and that we give a glimpse to the world of what heaven on earth looks like. So far as we are able to do so today, we are called to exercise the good dominion that was given to Adam—we are called to be stewards of God's temple, of his Creation. Jesus, the second Adam, has led the way for us here. In his earthly ministry he made his Father's new creation known in practical ways to the people around him and so should we. In a word full of sin we should be visible in seeking after holiness. In a world full of war and injustice, we should visible and at the forefront working for peace and justice. In a world full of hurting and sickness, we should be seeking to make the healing ministry of Jesus known. In a world full of anger and hate, we should be working for forgiveness and reconciliation. If you're like me you might get discouraged thinking about the mission Jesus has given us. It seems overwhelming. The word is so broken and so dark. It doesn't seem like anyone is watching and no one wants to listen. Sometimes it seems like you have to be a Peter or a Paul—someone important or high profile—to make a difference for the kingdom. But Friends, never forget that for every St. Paul or St. Peter, there were thousands of ordinary saints manifesting Jesus in their ordinary lives, proclaiming the Good News, and building the kingdom right where they were. We fulfil Jesus' calling to us as we raise covenant children to walk with him in faith and to live the values of his kingdom. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we work for peace and reconciliation with our neighbours, in our workplaces, and in our schools. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we forgive as we have been forgiven. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we love the hard-to-love people around us, knowing that we ourselves are hard-to-love too, but that Jesus loved us enough to die for us. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we sacrifice ourselves, our rights, our prerogatives, our time, and our treasure in order to make Jesus and his love known. In everything we do, we should be seeking to give to this groaning and suffering world foretastes of God's glory, of God's new creation. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we asked earlier in the collect we ask again for grace that to pass through the trials of this life without losing the things of eternal importance. Remind us that the suffering we experience cannot begin to compare with the glory to be revealed to us. Remind us always of the suffering that Jesus endured for our sake that in love and gratitude we might suffer too for the sake of making him known. And as we think of Jesus' death and resurrection and as we live the life given by your Spirit, fill us with hope and faith, knowing that the glory inaugurated in us today will one day be fully accomplished in our own resurrection and the restoration of all your Creation. Amen.

Finish Well: Walk by the Spirit | Paul De Vera

CCF Sermon Audio

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 79:49

Paano nga ba tayo maaring magtatapos ng matagumpay sa buhay kung tayo ay nahulog sa kasalanan? Kapag tayo'y napatunayang nagkasala, sumasagi sa isip natin na wala nang pag-asa pa. Pero sa katunayan, ang pag-asa ay laging matatagpuan sa grasya, kabutihan at kapatawaran ng Diyos para sa atin, sa pamamagitan lamang ni Hesus. Tuklasin ito sa ating pagsusuri kay David, a "man after God's own heart", na nahulog sa tukso at kasalanan ngunit nakabangong muli at mabuting nakapagtapos sa kaniyang buhay. Speaker: Bro. Paul De Vera Series: #WorthIt Watch The Full Message here: https://go.ccf.org.ph/05282023Tag

god pero finish well walk by the spirit paano diyos kapag hesus speaker bro spirit paul

By My Spirit Part 2 - Led & Empowered by the Spirit | Paul Drodge | 21st May 2023

Family Church Waterside

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2023 35:15

Pastor Paul continues the series on the Holy Spirit, exploring how the Holy Spirit desires to lead and empower our lives.

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By My Spirit Part 1 - Filled with the Spirit | Paul Drodge | 14th May 2023

Family Church Waterside

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2023 34:27

Pastor Paul starts a new series on the Holy Spirit, exploring how God's New Covenant plan was always for the Spirit to dwell within us.

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90 - It has to come out! Don't let what's inside make you sick, let it come out and be done with it

Confidence Restored - A CC: America Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023 17:45

“Don't let what's inside make you sick, let it come out and be done with it.” Tomeria Jordan Today's message is a powerful reminder regarding our lives. Told through the eyes of a mother awakened by her sick child it is an amazing parallel to our lives and what happens when we allow satan and others to condemn us. Take it from me, it's time you get free. Below is a summary of the key points from today's podcast episode. It has to come out! How I was awakened in the middle of the night by my daughter who needed relief from a bad cough Do not let life hold you down Separate yourselves (2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:17) What defiles a man/woman, what goes in or what comes out? (Mark‬ ‭7:18-23) Freedom from Bondage (Acts 16:16-40)Paul and Silas drive out an evil Spirit Paul and Silas are publicly beaten, humiliated, and jailed Paul and Silas get free and free others too Paul requests to be escorted out of the city in which they were publicly humiliated Overcoming the enemy (Revelation 12:7-12, 17) Prayer of Salvation: Lord Jesus come into my heart, I repent of my sins and make you Lord over my life. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in righteous daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for the visual podcast, more inspiration, and entertainment: www.youtube.com/@confidencerestored Access the audio podcast via linktr.ee/ccamericallc or www.confidencerestoredpodcast.com Confident Connotations (Inspirational apparel and products) Today's show is sponsored by Confident Connotations, www.confidentconnotations.com. Providing inspirational apparel and products that promote confidence, inspires life and sparks conversation. Live Happy, Free, and Unapologetically in 2023 (7-Day Devotional) Grab your copy today. What's in it for me? 7 days of faith based motivation Daily reflection pages Visioning worksheet Link: https://lnkd.in/eH3x-Gmk Rate, comment, share, and subscribe to The Confidence Restored and The Perspective View Podcasts today. Love the Show? Buy Us a Coffee To help support the costs associated with producing the CC: America Podcast you can now buy us a coffee to show appreciation. Visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ccamerica Opening Music Surface by Loxbeats | https://soundcloud.com/loxbeats Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US CC: America LLC, contractors, and staff expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, special, etc. damages and expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, reliance on, or inability to use, the podcast or the information presented in this podcast.

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Life in The Spirit - Paul Nichols - 02-26-23

life in the spirit spirit paul paul nichols

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 38:13

Life in The Spirit - Paul Nichols - 02-26-23 by Border City Church

Ezekiel - A New Move of the Spirit : Paul Uttley

Resound Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 31:38

From 13/11/22 Paul Uttley speaks on Ezekiel 37 - A New Move of The Spirit

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TPMR 01/26/23 | THE UNBELIEVABLE SCIENTIFIC POWER OF THE SPIRIT! | PAUL McGUIRE

The Paul McGuire Report

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 77:00

Life in the Spirit: Paul on Trial - Acts 24 ~ October 30, 2022

Vero Bible Fellowship Sermon Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 52:52

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Body, Soul & Spirit - Paul Nichols - 10-16-22

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Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 43:13

Body, Soul & Spirit - Paul Nichols - 10-16-22 by Border City Church

COA #22 - Make Love Your Aim

Father of the Inklings

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 6:49

It comes as no surprise that the first "fruit of the Spirit" Paul lists in Galatians 5:22 is love. From The Commands of the Apostles by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands of the Apostles and other books by Michael Phillips.

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Prayer: Praying in The Spirit | Paul Martini | July 17th, 2022

New Life City Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 33:36

Pastor Paul brings us a good word about praying in tongues and allowing Holy Spirit to guide our prayers. We don't need to know everything we want to say or ask for when we commune with God, rather we should let go of our control and let our hearts align with His! To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: http://newlifecity.org/donate Presence, prayer, transformation, evangelism: These are the core values and vision of New Life City, led by Pastor Paul Martini and based in Albuquerque, NM. — Stay Connected! Website: http://newlifecity.org New Life City Facebook: https://bit.ly/2kPYzsu New Life City Instagram: https://bit.ly/2kRmmIn

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A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Church In Toronto Sermon Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2022

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Romans 8:17-23 by William Klock There are a lot of times when I hate my cell phone. There are other times I'm thankful for it. We were on Mayne Island this week. On Wednesday morning I went for a bike ride. You wouldn't think it's possible to get lost on a twenty square kilometre Island—but you'd be wrong. I took a wrong turn. I didn't know it at the time, but my bearings were all wrong. At least on Mayne, no matter where you go you end up at back at the ocean and with a beautiful view. I got to the end of the road—much faster than expected—and was surprised to be looking across Active Pass at Sturdies Bay on Galiano. I was expecting to be on the other side of the island, looking out at Point Roberts and Tsawwassen and Mount Baker. I was disoriented. I'd been absolutely certain I was riding east when, in fact, I'd been riding due north. What road had I been on? There aren't that many, after all. So out came my phone. I opened “Maps”, and there I could see the whole island in front of me on that little screen. And almost instantly I could see where I'd missed a turn, where I'd ended up, and I knew exactly where I needed to go from where I was. I was confused, but seeing the lay of the land, the big picture, sorted it all out for me. The same thing happens with the Bible. It starts when we're children. We read books full of disconnected “Bible stories”—a bit like a kid who's only ever ridden his bike up and down his own street or had his dad load the bike in the car so he can go ride on his friend's street or at a park far away. But he's got little or no idea how those places are connected. We end up knowing Adam and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, but we struggle to know how their stories are related and part of the bigger story. As adults the most common approach to reading the Bible—when we read it!—is the cover-to-cover, Genesis-to-Revelation approach. Don't misunderstand; any type of Bible reading is good Bible reading, but the order the books of the Bible are arranged in isn't chronological and doesn't always help us see the “big picture”. Even Bible scholars and theologians aren't immune from missing the big picture. They're often so focused on the individual trees that it becomes easy to inadvertently forget the shape of the forest. I say this because our Epistle from Romans 8 this morning is one those wonderful, short passages that bring us back to the big picture of the Good News, of God's redemption and renewal of humanity and of his entire Creation. But even here we might miss it. Many Christians reading through Romans miss the big picture here because they aren't expecting Paul's language of God subjecting his Creation to futility and bondage and of that Creation waiting in with eager longing. And yet our Epistle this morning is St. Paul leading us right to the climax of his letter to the Romans. It's the hill from which we can see the lay of the land, where we've come from, where we're going, and how it all fits together. We don't have time this morning to get into the details of Paul's line of reasoning in the first half of Romans, but what he does in those chapters is to work his way through the story of Israel and all her ups and downs—and for Israel things were mostly “down”. And now in Chapter 8 he begins talking about the life in the flesh versus life in the Spirit and the law of sin and death versus the law of the Spirit. This is where, in verse 11, he famously writes that if the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies—if we are in Christ Jesus we live in hope of the same resurrection he has experienced. But even more than that, Paul goes on to write, through our union with Jesus we are children and heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ—that means sharing in Jesus' inheritance. But what is that? Paul writes in verse 17 that it means to suffer with him so that we can be glorified with him. The Christian life—life with Jesus—for Paul means two things: suffering and glory. Suffering is a given as we long for glory. What does that mean? What does Paul mean by “glory”? And what about suffering? Most Christians living through the last two thousand years have understood that suffering is part of our calling as we follow Jesus. Jesus promised it. The New Testament writers talk about it often—and most of them faced it themselves and were martyred for proclaiming the lordship of Jesus. Many of our brothers and sisters today are persecuted for their faith in various parts of the world. And yet in the West—probably in part because we haven't faced persecution for such a long time—many Christians have no place for suffering in their theology. Many even go so far as to say that if you're experiencing suffering—sickness, poverty, rejection or anything else negative—it's due to a lack of faith. But that's just the opposite of what Jesus taught and it's just the opposite of what Paul teaches here. The inheritance we share with Jesus is one of suffering that leads to glory. What this means is at the centre of our Epistle and Paul goes on in verse 18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Paul says, “For I consider…” That doesn't mean this is his opinion. Paul uses the same Greek word several times as he builds his argument in Romans. Other translations say “I reckon”. The sense of it is, “This is how I work it out”. Knowing the Scriptures, knowing Jesus, working under the Spirit's inspiration, this is the only conclusion he can reach. He's been building this argument for eight chapters in Romans and here he reaches the inevitable conclusion: those who will be glorified will first face suffering, but that this suffering can't begin to compare with the glory to be revealed. Think about what a powerful statement that was when Paul wrote this. When he writes that word “suffering” most of us probably read into that whatever our own trials and tribulations are. That's fine. But what did Paul have in mind? Later in the chapter, in verses 35-36 he writes that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ—nothing—and then he goes on to detail the sorts of suffering that he and other Christians were facing—things people might think mean that God doesn't love them, things they might think show a lack of faith, things that might separate them from Jesus. Here's his list: hardship or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril or sword. And he quotes from Psalm 44: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted sheep to be slaughtered.” These things are far worse than the sorts of suffering any of us are likely to face. And as horrible as this suffering was, none of it could compare with the glory to be revealed—no amount of suffering could make the glory not worth it. But what is the glory Paul's writing about? Our translation says that this glory is to be revealed “to us”, but that makes it sound like we're going to be spectators to this glory. What Paul writes in Greek has the sense of this glory revealed towards us or into us. It's a sense of this glory being bestowed on us as a gift—and this makes perfect sense when we remember what Paul said before: that if we are in Christ, then we will share in his inheritance—we will participate in his inheritance. And what's the inheritance? Well, who is Jesus? He is Lord. His glory is revealed or it's unveiled in his glorious and sovereign rule of Creation and Paul is saying here that the glory we wait for with eager longing, the glory that is the basis for our hope as Christians is not glory in the sense many people often think. We often think of “glory” as a place or a state of being. When a Christian dies we often hear people say that he or she has gone on or been promoted to “glory”. Brothers and Sisters, “glory” isn't going to heaven when you die. As Jesus' glory is his sovereign rule over Creation, so the glory to be revealed in us is our participation, our sharing in the sovereign and saving rule of Jesus. And this is why he says what he does in verse 19: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. If our hope, if our glory—as it is so often wrongly portrayed—was for the destruction of this world and an eternity of disembodied existence in heaven with God, then the Creation would have no reason to eagerly long for that glory to be revealed. What Paul describes here is the opposite: God's Creation is waiting for the great day when its true rulers are revealed, the sons of God, and when it will be delivered from corruption. Look at verses 20-22: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. This is where we need to stand back and look at the big picture. Everything Paul's saying here is dependent on that. It's the big picture the Bible gives of us of God's Creation, from beginning to end. We read in Genesis that God created and that everything was good. We even read there that when he created human beings he looked at his handiwork and declared us not just “good”, but “very good”. But we look around us now and have to wonder what happened. War is always raging somewhere, there's violence everywhere, there's greed and corruption everywhere. Justice is in short supply and so are the basic things that people need to survive—maybe not in our part of the world, but for billions of others. And yet even if we don't pay attention to the big evils that play out on the international scene—or even on the local scene, for that matter—we only have to look at the struggles that we have ourselves and that we share with our family and friends to keep away from sin and to do good. Hate is easy; love is hard. Paul knew it. The Roman Christians knew it. We know it. Paul tells the story of Creation in the book of Romans, but he tells it as Israel's story. We don't have time to run through the whole book this morning obviously, but Paul's point is that the whole Creation is enslaved in the same sort of way that Israel was in Egypt. And right there we get a glimmer of hope. Remember, when Israel went down to Egypt—we read about that in the story of Jacob and Joseph—it was all according to the Lord's plan. The Lord arranged for Joseph to become a slave in Egypt so that through him he could rescue his people. Egypt started out good for Israel. When things turned around under a new king who enslaved Israel, it wasn't because the Lord had ceased to be good and it wasn't because the Lord was no longer in control. No. We learn later that the Lord allowed the Israelites to become slaves in Egypt so that he could then manifest his glorious sovereignty to everyone—to Israel in rescuing her and to the Egyptians by showing his power over her false gods and over her mighty horses and chariots. In the Exodus, the Lord marked Israel forever as the people he had freed from slavery, people to whom he had given a new life. That became their national identity, celebrated every year in the Passover. In all of that Paul is working up to his point here. As the Lord allowed Israel to fall into bondage to Egypt, so he has allowed his good Creation to be subjected to death and decay. We may look around and wonder if things are hopeless. Every time one war ends and we see peace break out another war begins somewhere else. We work hard to lift this group out of poverty, but then that group over there falls into it. We cure one disease only to have two new ones crop up. Isaiah wrote about a day when the lion would lie down with the lamb and we look around us and wonder if that's ever going to happen. And Paul assures us: Yes, it's for real. This is God's promise. No matter how bad things are, this is still his good Creation and he has promised to put everything to rights. Even as he cast Adam and Eve from the garden he was promising them that he would one day overcome sin and restore everything to the way it should be. Genesis shows things going from bad to worse. It shows us humanity losing even the very knowledge of God and sinking into paganism and idolatry. But then it tells us how God came to Abraham and established a covenant with him. The Lord promised that through Abraham and his family he would restore not only humanity, but all of Creation and here Paul reminds us what that means, what it looks like and why the Creation itself would long for it to happen. Again, we need the big picture—we need to remember where things started. In Genesis we read that the Lord created human beings to be his image bearers. Theologians have argued for two thousand years over what exactly that means, but in the last century, as we've been able to read the Old Testament in light of other Jewish and Ancient Near Eastern literature that's been unearthed we've realised that the language of Genesis is temple language. Israel's pagan neighbours built great stone temples and then places images of their gods in them. Those images represented the gods' rule or sovereignty over the land and people. And Genesis uses the same languages and imagery, except that in Genesis it's the Lord himself who builds his own temple—the cosmos—and instead of placing an image of himself carved in stone or gold in it, he creates human beings, to live in his presence in the temple, but also to rule his creation justly and wisely—to have dominion and to subdue Creation in the Lord's name. That's what it meant for humanity to bear God's image: to be his stewards, the priests of his temple. But then we chose to rebel. As Paul writes in Romans 1, we chose to worship the Creation instead of the Creator. We subjected the Lord's good creation to corruption. Now, in light of that, it should make sense that Creation is longing for the day when our inheritance is revealed. That's the day when Creation will be set free from the corruption we brought on it. That's the day when we, Creation's stewards will be restored and renewed and put back in charge, reigning with Jesus. Again, think back to Israel. He chose and called her, he rescued her, he made her his people, he sent her to the nations to bring healing and restoration. But she rebelled and she rejected her mission. And yet the Lord didn't give up and he didn't change his plan to redeem his Creation through Israel. He simply sent a faithful Israelite—he sent Jesus. And Jesus not only redeemed Israel by dying in her place, he established a new Israel in his own person, a new people to be a light to the nations—this time equipped by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is getting at in verse 23. It's not just the Creation that groans in eager longing: And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. The Lord hasn't given up on his Creation any more than he gave up on Israel. Creation is eagerly waiting for its rightful stewards to be set right. On that great day the Lord will make all things new and restore his redeemed people to their rightful place as good, wise, and just rulers of Creation—as the faithful priests of his temple. This is what it means for our glory to be revealed. The big picture, the story of redemption, reminds us that this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning. And so we groan and we wait eagerly too. We live in the mess we've made here in the world. We live with sin and with sickness and with death, and yet we live in hope, knowing that what God has begun in Jesus he will one day complete. And we can hope because our God has given us the firstfruits of his new creation. He's given a down payment on what he has promised. The present age and its rulers have been decisively defeated by Jesus at the cross and the empty tomb and God's new age has been inaugurated. Jesus is Lord. He truly is God's King. He's given us his Spirit—Paul describes the Spirit here as the firstfruits—and that's because we live in the overlap between these two ages, these two kingdoms. The Jews brought the firstfruits of the harvest—usually sheaves of grain harvested at the very beginning of the season—as offerings to God. They offered them in good years and even in bad years in faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest. And so the Spirit is the sign of hope for us. The life he gives to us here and now is a reminder that encourages our faith and hope in the resurrection and the new creation to come. We groan and we sigh, we wait longingly in eager expectation, but our hope is certain because God is faithful and keeps his promises. The prophet Habakkuk wrote that one day the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Brothers and Sisters, when that seems impossible, we only need remember the cross of Jesus, his empty tomb, and his gift of the Holy Spirit. But our faith is not a complacent faith. We haven't been redeemed by Jesus and given the gift of the Spirit so that we can retreat into a sort of personal holiness or private piety while we wait for Jesus to return. Not at all. Jesus has inaugurated this new age in his resurrection and somehow someday the making new that began in his resurrection will encompass all of Creation and you and I are called, in the power of the Spirit, to embody that renewing work here and now. How is Habakkuk's prophecy going to be fulfilled? How does the knowledge of the glory of the Lord spread to cover the earth? Brothers and Sisters, that's our mission. We're called to proclaim to the world the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom is here and now. Our mission is to call the world to repentance and faith. But don't forget: We are also called to live out repentance and faith in our lives in such a way that we lift the veil on the kingdom and that we give a glimpse to the world of what heaven on earth looks like. So far as we are able to do so today, we are called to exercise the good dominion that was given to Adam—we are called to be stewards of God's temple, of his Creation. Jesus has led the way for us here, the second Adam. In his earthly ministry he made his Father's new creation known in practical ways to the people around him and so should we. In a word full of sin we should be visible in seeking after holiness. In a world full of war and injustice, we should visible and at the forefront working for peace and justice. In a world full of hurting and sickness, we should be seeking to make the healing ministry of Jesus known. In a world full of anger and hate, we should be working for forgiveness and reconciliation. If you're like me you might get discouraged thinking about the mission Jesus has given us. When I think of these things I think of things that we as Christians can do to bring Jesus and his glory to the world in “big” ways. I think of Christians—and there are so often so few of us—working on the big international scene or I think of missionaries going to far off countries. And then I get discouraged. That's far away. It's bigger than me. But Friends, never forget that for every St. Paul or St. Peter, there were thousands of ordinary saints manifesting Jesus in their ordinary lives, proclaiming the Good News, and building the kingdom right where they were. We fulfil Jesus' calling to us as we raise covenant children to walk with him in faith and to live the values of his kingdom. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we work for peace and reconciliation with our neighbours, in our workplaces, and in our schools. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we forgive as we have been forgiven. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we love the hard-to-love people around us, knowing that we ourselves are hard-to-love too, but that Jesus loved us enough to die for us. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we sacrifice ourselves, our rights, our prerogatives, our time, and our treasure in order to make Jesus and his love known. In everything we do, we should be seeking to give the world signs and foretastes of God's new creation. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we asked earlier in the collect we ask again for grace that to pass through the trials of this life without losing the things of eternal importance. Remind us that the suffering we experience cannot begin to compare with the glory to be revealed to us. Remind us always of the suffering that Jesus endured for our sake that in love and gratitude we might suffer too for the sake of making him known. And as we think of Jesus' death and resurrection and as we live the life given by your Spirit, fill us with hope and faith, knowing that the glory inaugurated in us today will one day be fully accomplished in our own resurrection and the restoration of all your Creation. Amen.

Becoming The Gospel

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2022 42:04

Ask most Christians about their experience in the gospel, and they usually head for the hills because the very thought of approaching another person to tell them about their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ terrifies them. We all have stories and scars to talk about our bad experiences in the gospel. And while speaking to others is a critical element of the gospel, Paul says there is something more important to see about it. On the one hand we need to believe it and speak it. But on the other hand, Paul says we need to ‘become' the gospel. In other words, it's not just what you say that unveils the gospel, it's your living. Paul says, “As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27a). Christians first and foremost are citizens of heaven. Which means our source for all we do and say should come from heaven. But in addition, as Christians, we are called to live heavenly lives here on earth, in our daily situations in order that our colleagues, classmates and family to see the gospel lived out right before their eyes. By the power of the Spirit Paul and the Philippians did it. Now it's our turn.

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Renouncing Claudia Winkleman - cultivating the desire to live by the Spirit

John Davies: Notes from a small vicar

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 8:26

How can we cultivate the desire to live by the Spirit so that our cravings for what other people want can fade and diminish? There's a discipline involved. It might be that we determine to spend less time with those things which feed our desires to have what others desire - in other words to fast-forward through Claudia Winkeman's shampoo adverts, or to stop reading the new car reviews in the weekend supplements - and to use that time instead to reflect on people we admire for being good examples of living out those fruits of the Spirit Paul names: people who exude love, joy and peace; people who display patience, kindness and generosity; faithful, gentle, self-controlled folks. Using them as our models, we're increasingly likely to share their desires to live in the Way of God. A talk for The Second Sunday after Trinity , 26 June 2022. Find the text to this and all my talks at bit.ly/johndavies-talks.

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God our Father: Breaking the Curse of the Orphan Spirit | Paul Kidd

CLF Church - Raleigh

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2022 55:08

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Restoring the Church that Jesus Started - Part 4 - The Move of The Spirit - Paul Nichols - 05-29-22

jesus christ church started restoring spirit paul paul nichols

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 32:58

Restoring the Church that Jesus Started - Part 4 - The Move of The Spirit - Paul Nichols - 05-29-22 by Border City Church

”Rallying Around Unity, Contending for the Faith” ~Phil.1:27-2:3(PT.II)

The Kingdom Corner with Matt Geib

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 55:09

“Rallying Around UNITY ,Contending Together For The Faith” ~~ Philippians 1:27-2:4 (07/01/21) Phil. 1:27 Only let your conversation/conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,(NKJV) “Only” connects this all inclusive exhortation that Paul begins this portion of scripture with, with the previous verses (vs. 23-26) where we saw he was ‘between a rock & a hard place' about whether he should remain with them or go to be with Jesus in Heaven…He knew they needed His ministry & whether his salvation or deliverance meant being phys. Free from house arrest or not he was now confident that he would be able to continue his ministry to them & that that was what he was to do. OPENESS of heart by the Philippians was needed as Paul now begins to address basic spiritual needs of the church; rubber meets the road principals are now provided throughout the rest of this letter to correct certain things in their lives & provide for what they may be lacking “Conversation/Conduct” KJV uses conversation, which in that day had a different meaning than currently ( an interchange or discourse between people)…a better rendering is manner of life, behavior ,conduct……………HOWEVER THERE IS MOREJ “POLITEUO” (Grk)( Poly –too-i-mi) this is the word from where we get our word politics, it referred to the public duties devolving on a person as a member of a body of people Acts 23:1 I have lived (politeuo) =conducted myself as a worthy citizen of heaven before God until this day FURTHER meaning….Manage the state (steward) , administrate civil affairs, here it speaks of citizenship …that is “Live as the citizens of heaven would exuding heavenly attributes” The use of Politeuo…is a kind of play on words as Philippi was a Roman colony & being a good citizen of Rome was imperative , so Paul uses this to show our relationship relationship to being good citizens of heaven The use of this specialized word here COLORS the rest of the Epistle…giving it a Heavenly atmosphere,,,,we are heavenly people, with a heavenly destiny, & a heavenly origin…with a responsibility of living here on earth as being of the heavenly realm in the midst of ungodly people & surroundings. 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 3:12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name. Only let your conversation/conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ….The construction of the Greek language conveys STEPPING up To ONES spiritual RESPONSIBILITY as ‘Heavenly Citizens'… being responsible to exhort OURSELVES to live this way daily!= Maturity!:-) Only let your conversation/conduct Be Worthy of The Gospel—KJV says Be as It Becometh the Gospel Becometh …literally to have the weight of(weighing as much as) another thing. It means of like value or worth as much **SAINTS are to see to it that their manner of life weighs as much as the gospel they profess to believe or their words will not have weight** WORD STUDY: Eph. 4:22-24 You took off[a] your former way of life, the old self[b] that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed[c] in the spirit of your minds; 24 you put on[d] the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.(HCSB) “Conversation” anastrophē ‘manner or way of Life'(conduct) ITim. 4:12, Heb. 13:5-7, Jn. 3:13, I Peter 1:15-18 **I Peter 3:1,2, II Peter 2:7,3:11 “That You STAND FAST” Be Firm & Upright in holding ones ground Implication: there is an enemy(s) we must confront, When you become a Christian you enter a ‘Spiritual Battle' (Eph. 6:12)..Here Paul begins to address the attack on Unity that was coming against the Philippian church “One Spirit”…This speaks of the Unity of the Spirit which the Body of Christ is to be fused & blended in…of course produced in our spirits by the influence of God's Holy Spirit “Mind”….trs. of Grk. Word ‘Soul'…our reasons, our will, emotions…this is where EXERTION takes place as we are influenced by God (not the World) “Striving” (synathleō)is the trs. Of a Grk. Word used in an Athletic contest…our words ‘athlete' & athletic come from this word….the GREEK language conveys a Powerful picture of an Athletic team WORKING TOGETHER in Perfect coordination to Win a competition/game.(Lk. 13:24,Ro. 15:30) Paul here is exhorting the Phil. To work together in perfect co-ordination like a team of Greek Athletes toward a common Goal/ Prize…………………LOL!! Paul must have been a ‘Sports Fan'! he is always using athletic metaphors to expound upon the Christian life….(see…I tim.4:7-10,IITim.2:5,I Cr.9:24-26,Phil. 3:12,13,Heb. 12:1, Eph. 6:12) “Only (since my only reason for remaining on earth is for your progress in the Christian life), see to it that you recognize your responsibility as citizens (of heaven), & put yourselves to the absolute necessity of performing the duties devolving upon you in that position, doing this in a manner which is befitting to the gospel of Christ, in order that whether having come & having seen you, or whether being absent I am hearing the things concerning you ,namely, that you are standing firm in one spirit, holding your ground, with one soul contending (as a team of athletes would ) in perfect co-operation with one another for the faith of the gospel.” ~Philippians 1:27 The New Testament Expanded Translation ~ Kenneth S. Wuest “Terrified” used by the grks. To describe the terror of a startled horse …”Adversaries” here Paul is referring to the pagan idolators in Philippi who would oppose the Saints “Evident Token” a law term that denotes proof which is obtained by an appeal to facts,,,which were “that of God.” Connecting ‘striving together' (vs. 27) this evident token is A possible allusion to A Gladiators contest in the Ampitheater …The Christian Gladiator Knows GOD is the director of the contest & Has given Him a sure/evident token of deliverance The idea verse 28 conveys is the Saints in Philippi have not allowed themselves to be scared by antagonism from the pagan community & thus this was clear evidence to convince the pagans that they (the pagans)were on the road to hell & the Saints were clearly saved I Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. I Peter 3:12-17 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.[a]13 And who will harm[b] you if you are deeply committed to what is good?[c]14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed,[d]15 but honor[e] the Messiah[f] as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason[g] for the hope that is in you. 16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear,[h][i]so that when you are accused,[j] those who denounce your Christian life[k] will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will,[l] than for doing evil. “FOR”….connects the thought from previous vs. (28) on not being in fear because…… “For unto you it is given” the ‘IT' has been graciously given to you just like the free gift of salvation given to you , this IT also means ‘on behalf of, in the place of' ‘IT' – “It has been graciously given the saints to suffer not only for the sake of BUT in THE PLACE of Christ” POINT: suffering from Pagans/the enemy may cause terror, HOWEVER when viewed in God's light, it was really a gift of God's Grace and NOT evil “Conflict” (Agon) –agony ….again a picture or word used to describe an athletic contest. Paul again was using this metaphor to describe our Christian Life…we are God's athletes to whom he has given an opportunity to show the stuff we are made of conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me….Paul uses this picture to describe his own Untiring work for the Gospel of Christ WORD STUDY: ** Suffering for the Gospel IS Scriptural** II Tim. 3:12 10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.(HCSB) 3:10 10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death Acts 5:41,9:16,II Cor.1:7,Romans 8:17,36, I Peter 2:20,4:16,5:10, Matt. 5:11, Heb. 11:25 Phil. 2:1,2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, (2) fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. The exhortation that Paul had given in 1:27 is kind of a ‘Hope-So' for the Phil. To be standing fast in One Spirit w/ a single Mind , striving together as a TEAM for Faith in the Gospel is further elaborated on now..verse 2 here basically repeats the same hope/exhortation AN EXHORTATION TO UNITY as shown by FOUR FACTS in 2:1 “If” could be since or in view of the fact …(is FACT & yet conditional) 1)“CONSOLATION” …we could say consolation IS a Certain Thing/attribute (Grk.) GRK. (PARAKLESIS..Par-auk-leeseis, It's ROOT= paraklētos ,'Comforter' ) Is a calling near, summons, (esp. for help) THE CONTEXT ALWAYS DETERMINES Meaning) a calling near, summons, (esp. for help) importation, supplication, entreaty exhortation, admonition, encouragement consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter) persuasive discourse, stirring address instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse In view of the FACT that The PHIL. Were under ATTACK to become DISUNIFIED CONSOLATION Here meant EXHORTATION…POINT: Christ's Life should be an exhortation ,admonition, & encouragement for the Phil. To live in a state of HARMONY with each other, to be likeminded. 2)“COMFORT” literally is a word which comes to the side of one to stimulate or comfort Him/Her…it speaks of persuasive address…”Of Love (AGAPE)” Agape…produces the action (compelling) of COMFORT , loving persuasion & encouragement ..HERE coming through the ‘Instrument' of the Apostle urging them to Live in UNITY 3)“Fellowship Of The Spirit” A koinōnia , a sharing & joint participation in GODLY Things together as Saints & also Including God's Spirit …Paul implores since all of them participate In common activities & interests of the HS. there should be a NATURAL flow of UNITY in their midst….so again be Like-Minded PROBLEM: Not all were living Spirit-Filled & Controlled Lives..(Remember the song ‘One Bad apple?…J) 4)“Bowels & Mercies” Or…Tenderheartedness & Compassionate Yearnings These deep emotions & graces of love should dispel differences & bickering among the Phil., Estrangements should be healed 2 FULFILL…”…. Literally “complete or FILL FULL', BE Likeminded…literally THINK THE SAME THING!....this Like-mindedness is shown by 3 elements mentioned in this verse a)Having the same love b) being in HEART agreement (soul to soul agreement…literal) c) thinking the ONE THING TRS. (WUEST) “ Fill Full my joy by thinking the same thing , having the same love, being in Heart agreement, thinking the ONE Thing” WORD STUDY: Unity/Oneness …Think ‘Phalanax' Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ACTS 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Eph. 4:1-7 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting[a] one another in love, 3 diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope[b] at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah's gift. (HCSB) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!_PS. 133:1 EPH. 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. EPH. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. “THROUGH” this in the Grk. Shows an compelling Motive “STRIFE” has the idea of being FACTIOUS I Cor. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? JAMES 3:14-1614 But if ye have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15 Such wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish16 For where envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work. II Cr. 12:20,Gal. 5:15, 20,21 ,I Tim.6:4,Lk. 14:11,Ro. 12:10,I Cr. 15:9,Eph. 4:2,I Peter 5:5 Paul's exhortation is POINTING to different factions in the Church of Philippi that he is wanting to Address & correct “Vain glory” consist of 2 Words = a) ‘Empty, vain, of no purpose, futile & b) Opinion …we could say EMPTY PRIDE “LOWLINESS” trs. Other places as humble, humility …Plato said of this word the state of mind that accepts what the universe offers & does not impiously exalt itself…bad meaning to pagans= ‘abject groveling” THE NT Meaning Connotes enoblement…I PETER 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, “It Runs Low' …this word used secularly to describe the Nile River in the dry season “Esteem” To lead, to be a leader ,have command, to consider, deem account think-- from a root word which refers to looking at EXTERNAL Facts, to weigh & judge a person , NOT ones inner feelings or sentiment “BETTER” literally ‘having above' , thus to excel , or surpass 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. “LOOK” – to fix attention upon w/ desire & interest in…Lightfoot= “ To consult one's own Interest” RO 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. I Cr. 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. I Cr. 8:9-13 I Cr. 10:24

Big Tech Returns To Work // Spirit Airline's Competitive Spirit // Paul LaMonica of CNNBusiness - 3/4 (Hour 2)

The Financial Exchange Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 40:25

(2:59) - Chuck and Mike start the final hour of the week talking about the return of big tech workers to their offices, with Apple being the most recent to announce an in-person return to work on April 16th.(11:31) - Taking a look at discount airline Spirit, which plans to open crew bases in Miami and Atlanta in effort to grow its staff and become bigger than its rival airlines.(23:33) - A conversation about Sony and Honda's plans to team up in order to make electric vehicles.(32:41) - Paul LaMonica of CNNBusiness joined the show to talk about Citigroup, which has its investors on edge due to its billions of dollars in Russian exposure.

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Episode 262: Episode #262 - Awareness of the Spirit - Paul's Story (Part 3) - Paul Withrow and Bert Midyette

"The Word Works" with Bert Midyette

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 13:35

We're glad to welcome our returning guest, Paul Withrow, for enlightening and informative episodes that encourage Believers to be aware of Holy Spirit's leading and His desired work through each of us.Please visit www.bertandjo.com for more teaching resources.

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Keeping in Step with the Spirit (Paul Mallard, PRC 2017)

Living Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 46:36

In this week's episode, we are delighted to share with you the first of three talks given by Paul Mallard at the Pastoral Refreshment Conference in 2017.

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COA #22 - Make Love Your Aim

Father of the Inklings

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 6:49

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Dressed For Battle: Part 6 - Sword Of The Spirit // Paul Finn

Level.10 Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 33:25

Apologies for the technical difficulties with the sound.

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Is God Still Doing Miracles? with Dr. Craig Keener

The Good Fight Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2021 55:45

On today's episode we have an in depth conversation with Dr. Craig Keener and discuss whether or not miracles still being done today. Dr. Craig Keener's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CraigKeenerPhD Dr. Craig Keener's Website https://CraigKeener.com/ Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts https://tinyurl.com/4c54ycvc Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels https://tinyurl.com/jeuaduk The Mind of the Spirit: Paul's Approach to Transformed Thinking https://tinyurl.com/398ccfme 1 Peter: A Commentary https://tinyurl.com/2zjtf423

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People of the Spirit - Paul (Acts 9:1-19a) - Andrew Bowles

St Mark's Emerald Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2021 14:27

People of the Spirit - Paul Acts 9:1-19a Andrew Bowles 18 July 2021

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A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity

led led by the spirit paul fletcher spirit paul blueprint church

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2021

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Romans 8:17-23 by William Klock Our Epistle from Romans 8 this morning is one those wonderful, short passages that remind us of the bigger picture, that gives us a bird's-eye view of the Good News, of God's redemption and renewal of humanity and of his entire Creation. It's the hilltop from which we can see the lay of the land, where we've come from, where we're going, and how it all fits together. This is the midpoint of Paul's letter to the Roman church. In the first half of the letter, Paul works his way through the story of Israel and all her ups and downs—and for Israel things were mostly “down”. And now in Chapter 8 he begins talking about life in the flesh versus life in the Spirit and the law of sin and death versus the law of the Spirit. This is where, in verse 11, he famously writes that if the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies—if we are in Christ Jesus we live in hope of the same resurrection he has experienced. But even more than that, Paul goes on to write, through our union with Jesus we are children and heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ—that means sharing in Jesus' inheritance. But what is that? Paul writes in verse 17 that it means to suffer with him so that we can be glorified with him. The Christian life—life with Jesus—for Paul means two things: suffering and glory. Suffering is a given as we long for glory. What does that mean? What does Paul mean by “glory”? And what about suffering? Most Christians living through the last two thousand years have understood that suffering is part of our calling as we follow Jesus. Jesus promised it. The New Testament writers talk about it often—and most of them faced it themselves and were martyred for proclaiming the lordship of Jesus. Many of our brothers and sisters today are persecuted for their faith in various parts of the world. And yet in the West—probably in part because we haven't faced persecution for such a long time—many Christians have no place for suffering in their theology. Many even go so far as to say that if you're experiencing suffering—sickness, poverty, rejection or anything else negative—it's due to a lack of faith. But that's just the opposite of what Jesus taught and it's just the opposite of what Paul teaches here. The inheritance we share with Jesus is one of suffering that leads to glory. What this means is at the centre of our Epistle and Paul goes on in verse 18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Paul says, “For I consider…” That doesn't mean this is his opinion. Paul uses the same Greek word several times as he builds his argument in Romans. Other translations say “I reckon”. The sense of it is, “This is how I work it out”. Knowing the Scriptures, knowing Jesus, working under the Spirit's inspiration, this is the only conclusion he can reach. He's been building this argument for eight chapters in Romans and here he reaches the inevitable conclusion: those who will be glorified will first face suffering, but that this suffering can't begin to compare with the glory to be revealed. Think about what a powerful statement that was when Paul wrote this. When he writes that word “suffering” most of us probably read into that whatever our own trials and tribulations are. That's fine. But what did Paul have in mind? Later in the chapter, in verses 35-36 he writes that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ—nothing—and then he goes on to detail the sorts of suffering that he and other Christians were facing—things people might think mean that God doesn't love them, things they might think show a lack of faith, things that might separate them from Jesus. Here's his list: hardship or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril or sword. And he quotes from Psalm 44: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted sheep to be slaughtered.” These things are far worse than the sorts of suffering any of us are likely to face. And as horrible as this suffering was, none of it could compare with the glory to be revealed—no amount of suffering could make the glory not worth it. But what is the glory Paul's writing about? Our translation says that this glory is to be revealed “to us”, but that makes it sound like we're going to be spectators to this glory. What Paul writes in Greek has the sense of this glory revealed towards us or into us. It's a sense of this glory being bestowed on us as a gift—and this makes perfect sense when we remember what Paul said before: that if we are in Christ, then we will share in his inheritance—we will participate in his inheritance. And what's the inheritance? Well, who is Jesus? He is Lord. His glory is revealed or it's unveiled in his glorious and sovereign rule of Creation and Paul is saying here that the glory we wait for with eager longing, the glory that is the basis for our hope as Christians is not glory in the sense many people often think. We often think of “glory” as a place or a state of being. When a Christian dies we often hear people say that he or she has gone on or been promoted to “glory”. Brothers and Sisters, “glory” isn't going to heaven when you die. As Jesus' glory is his sovereign rule over Creation, so the glory to be revealed in us is our participation, our sharing in the sovereign and saving rule of Jesus in the age to come. And this is why he says what he does in verse 19: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. If our hope, if our glory—as it is so often wrongly portrayed—was for the destruction of this world and an eternity of disembodied existence in heaven with God, then the Creation would have no reason to eagerly long for that glory to be revealed. What Paul describes here is the opposite: God's Creation is waiting for the great day when its true rulers are revealed, the sons of God, and when it will be delivered from corruption. Look at verses 20-22: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. This is where we need to stand back and look at the big picture. Everything Paul's saying here is dependent on that. It's the big picture the Bible gives of us of God's Creation, from beginning to end. We read in Genesis that God created and that everything was good. We even read there that when he created human beings he looked at his handiwork and declared us not just “good”, but “very good”. But we look around us now and have to wonder what happened. War is always raging somewhere, there's violence everywhere, there's greed and corruption everywhere. Justice is in short supply and so are the basic things that people need to survive—maybe not in our part of the world, but for billions of others. And yet even if we don't pay attention to the big evils that play out on the international scene—or even on the local scene, for that matter—we only have to look at the struggles that we have ourselves and that we share with our family and friends to keep away from sin and to do good. Hate is easy; love is hard. Paul knew it. The Roman Christians knew it. We know it. Paul tells the story of Creation in the book of Romans, but he tells it as Israel's story. We don't have time to run through the whole book this morning obviously, but Paul's point is that the whole Creation is enslaved in the same sort of way that Israel was in Egypt. And right there we get a glimmer of hope. Remember, when Israel went down to Egypt—we read about that in the story of Jacob and Joseph—it was all according to the Lord's plan. The Lord arranged for Joseph to become a slave in Egypt so that through him he could rescue his people. Egypt started out good for Israel. When things turned around under a new king who enslaved Israel, it was not because the Lord had ceased to be good and it was not because the Lord was no longer in control. No. We learn later that the Lord allowed the Israelites to become slaves in Egypt so that he could then manifest his glorious sovereignty to everyone—to Israel in rescuing her and to the Egyptians by showing his power over her false gods and over her mighty horses and chariots. In the Exodus, the Lord marked Israel forever as the people he had freed from slavery, people to whom he had given a new life. That became their national identity, celebrated every year in the Passover. In all of that Paul is working up to his point here. As the Lord allowed Israel to fall into bondage to Egypt, so he has allowed his good Creation to be subjected to death and decay. We may look around and wonder if things are hopeless. Every time one war ends and we see peace break out another war begins somewhere else. We work hard to lift this group out of poverty, but then that group over there falls into it. We cure one disease only to have two new ones crop up. Isaiah wrote about a day when the lion would lie down with the lamb and we look around us and wonder if that's ever going to happen. And Paul assures us: Yes, it's for real. This is God's promise. No matter how bad things are, this is still his good Creation and he has promised to put everything to rights. Even as he cast Adam and Eve from the garden he was promising them that he would one day overcome sin and restore everything to the way it should be. Genesis shows things going from bad to worse. It shows us humanity losing even the very knowledge of God and sinking into paganism and idolatry. But then it tells us how God came to Abraham and established a covenant with him. The Lord promised that through Abraham and his family he would restore not only humanity, but all of Creation and here Paul reminds us what that means, what it looks like and why the Creation itself would long for it to happen. Again, we need the big picture—we need to remember where things started. In Genesis we read that the Lord created human beings to be his image bearers. Theologians have argued for two thousand years over what exactly that means, but in the last century, as we've been able to read the Old Testament in light of other Jewish and Ancient Near Eastern literature that's been unearthed we've realised that the language of Genesis is temple language. Israel's pagan neighbours built great stone temples and then places images of their gods in them. Those images represented the gods' rule or sovereignty over the land and people. And Genesis uses the same languages and imagery, except that in Genesis it's the Lord himself who builds his own temple—the cosmos—and instead of placing an image of himself carved in stone or gold in it, he creates human beings, to live in his presence in the temple, but also to rule his creation justly and wisely—to have dominion and to subdue Creation in the Lord's name. That's what it meant for humanity to bear God's image: to be his stewards, the priests of his temple. But then we chose to rebel. As Paul writes in Romans 1, we chose to worship the Creation instead of the Creator. We subjected the Lord's good creation to corruption. Now, in light of that, it should make sense that Creation goans with eager longing for the day when our inheritance is revealed. That's the day when Creation will be set free from the corruption we brought on it. That's the day when we, Creation's stewards will be restored and renewed and put back in charge, reigning with Jesus. Again, think back to Israel. He chose and called her, he rescued her, he made her his people, he sent her to the nations to bring healing and restoration. But she rebelled and she rejected her mission. And yet the Lord didn't give up and he didn't change his plan to redeem his Creation through Israel. He simply sent a faithful Israelite—he sent Jesus. And Jesus not only redeemed Israel by dying in her place, he established a new Israel in his own person, a new people to be a light to the nations—this time equipped by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is getting at in verse 23. It's not just the Creation that groans in eager longing: And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. The Lord hasn't given up on his Creation any more than he gave up on Israel. Creation is eagerly waiting for its rightful stewards to be set right. On that great day the Lord will make all things new and restore his redeemed people to their rightful place as good, wise, and just rulers of Creation—as the faithful priests of his temple. This is what it means for our glory to be revealed. The big picture, the story of redemption, reminds us that this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning. And so we groan and we wait eagerly too. We live in the mess we've made here in the world. We live with sin and with sickness and with death, and yet we live in hope, knowing that what God has begun in Jesus he will one day complete. And we can hope, because in Jesus and the Spirit, God has given us the firstfruits of his new creation. He's given a down payment on what he has promised. The present age and its rulers have been decisively defeated by Jesus at the cross and the empty tomb and God's new age has been inaugurated. Jesus is Lord. He truly is God's King. He's given us his Spirit—Paul describes the Spirit here as the firstfruits—and that's because we live in the overlap between these two ages, these two kingdoms. The Jews brought the firstfruits of the harvest—usually sheaves of grain harvested at the very beginning of the season—as offerings to God. They offered them in good years and even in bad years in faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest. And so the Spirit is the sign of hope for us. The life he gives to us here and now is a reminder that encourages our faith and hope in the resurrection and the new creation to come. We groan and we sigh, we wait longingly in eager expectation, but our hope is certain because God is faithful and keeps his promises. The prophet Habakkuk wrote that one day the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Brothers and Sisters, life is full of suffering, of trials, of tribulations, when the glory of the Lord filling the earth seems impossible, we only need remember the cross of Jesus, his empty tomb, and his gift of the Holy Spirit. But with this in mind we need to be careful. A lot of Christians, knowing this hope, have ended up becoming complacent. Brothers and Sisters, we haven't been redeemed by Jesus and given the gift of the Spirit so that we can retreat into a sort of personal holiness or private piety—or even into the walls and fellowship of the Church—while we wait for Jesus to return. Not at all. Jesus has inaugurated this new age in his resurrection and somehow someday the making new that began in his resurrection will encompass all of Creation and you and I are called, in the power of the Spirit, to embody that renewing work here and now. How is Habakkuk's prophecy going to be fulfilled? How does the knowledge of the glory of the Lord spread to cover the earth? Brothers and Sisters, that's our mission. Full of the Spirit, we're called to proclaim to the world the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom is here and now. Our mission is to call the world to repentance and faith. But don't forget: We are also called to live out repentance and faith in our lives in such a way that we lift the veil on the kingdom and that we give a glimpse to the world of what heaven on earth looks like. So far as we are able to do so today, we are called to exercise the good dominion that was given to Adam—we are called to be stewards of God's temple, of his Creation. Jesus has led the way for us here, the second Adam. In his earthly ministry he made his Father's new creation known in practical ways to the people around him and so should we. In a word full of sin we should be visible in seeking after holiness. In a world full of war and injustice, we should be visible and at the forefront working for biblical peace and biblical justice. In a world full of hurting and sickness, we should be seeking to make the healing ministry of Jesus known. In a world full of anger and hate, we should be working for forgiveness and reconciliation. If you're like me you might get discouraged thinking about the mission Jesus has given us. When I think of these things I think of things that we as Christians can do to bring Jesus and his glory to the world in “big” ways. I think of Christians—and there are so often so few of us—working on the big international scene or I think of missionaries going to far off countries. And then I get discouraged. That's far away. It's bigger than me. But Friends, never forget that for every St. Paul or St. Peter, there were thousands of ordinary saints manifesting Jesus in their ordinary lives, proclaiming the Good News, and building the kingdom right where they were and transforming an empire. We fulfil Jesus' calling to us as we raise covenant children to walk with him in faith and to live the values of his kingdom. We fulfil Jesus' calling when work for peace and reconciliation with our neighbours, in our workplaces, and in our schools. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we forgive as we have been forgiven. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we love the hard-to-love people around us, knowing that we ourselves are hard-to-love too, but that Jesus loved us enough to die for us. We fulfil Jesus' calling when we sacrifice ourselves, our rights, our prerogatives, our time, and our treasure in order to make Jesus and his love and life known. In everything we do, we should be seeking to give the world signs and foretastes of God's new creation. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we asked earlier in the collect we ask again for grace to pass through the trials of this life without losing the things of eternal importance. Remind us that the suffering we experience cannot begin to compare with the glory to be revealed to us. Remind us always of the suffering that Jesus endured for our sake that in love and gratitude we might suffer too for the sake of making him known. And as we think of Jesus' death and resurrection and as we live the life given by your Spirit, fill us with hope and faith, knowing that the glory inaugurated in us today will one day be fully accomplished in our own resurrection and the restoration of all your Creation. Amen.

Led by the Spirit - Paul Fletcher - 30.05.2021

Blueprint Weekly Sermon

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2021 29:06

Led by the Spirit - Paul Fletcher - 30.05.2021 by Blueprint Church

A Pioneer Spirit | Paul Drodge | 16th May 2021

Family Church Waterside

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 40:47

Pastor Paul explores, through the example of Caleb, how God's desire is for us to be people who carry a pioneer spirit - a spirit that trusts God to take new territory for Him and believes God to work in our lives in fresh (and unexpected) ways! Support this podcast

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Psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit: Paul’s formula for congregational worship — Adriana Perera

Ministry Magazine Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 14:35

One of the strongest points of contention in a church often centers around worship styles. What does the Bible actually say about worship styles? How can we have truly Biblical worship experiences?

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Schooled Thru Spirit - Guest Paul Hutto

WLTK-db Lets Talk Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 120:00

Host DeEtte Ranae brings you a phenomenal show this week! DeEtte welcomes Psychic Medium Paul Hutto to the show and they discuss his spiritual journey. DeEtte also provides you with your weekly tarot card reading!

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Root vs Fruit

The WizeGuys

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 41:39

In this episode we're simply giving you the formula for life. Ha, you didn't think it was possible, did you?! Get out your notepad…time to go to the “school of unlearning”… And, as always, our conversation will be roguish, and we'll weave in our core values of seeking wisdom, applying the “why's” and, as always, we'll share a mystic MacNugget. Here we go… “It's strap in time…with maybe a bit tighter cinch.” “Namaste, all of you beautifully, exotic cocktails… Comment on Facebook, email us, we want to more of these stories! mac@wizeguys.life, stu@wizeguys.life Manifesto points to consider: A life spiritualized is a life simplified(and one beyond all other!) Wize gets used to different. Wize uncovers your adventures in missing the point. Wise knows that Namaste will change the world. IT'S ABOUT THE ROOT, NOT THE FRUIT (Cause and Effect) Mac tells the “Spiritual Gifts” story. We need to learn to concentrate on the fruit-the effect of something more basic. Otherwise it's an adventure in missing the point. If we get the root right, then these winsome, world changing character qualities appear like fruit in an orchard: THE FRUIT: Affection for others, Exuberance about life. Serenity. A willingness to stick with things. A sense of compassion in the heart. A conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. (Namaste) We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments. Not needing to force our way in life. Able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. So, what is the root? The Spirit! Do you want a life like that? MYSTIC MACNUGGET “Live, animated and motivated by The Spirit” -Paul of Tarsus

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Podcast Name Change, The Christmas Spirit, Paul Rudd Doesn’t Age, Moving Update and New Albums

Moments with Maddie

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 11:07

Maddie explains what happened to Maddie and Mom, gives a moving update, and talks all things Disney announcements and new Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes albums. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/momentswithmaddie/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/momentswithmaddie/support

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Fruit of the Spirit - Part 9: Self-Control

Wawasee Bible Sermon Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 34:53

Part 9 - SERIES: Fruit of the Sprit Self-Control is the final fruit of the Spirit Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23. In many ways it’s the capstone fruit, because as we grow in the others we naturally grow in self-control. However, self-control may not be exactly what you first think it to be. Self-control is not self-management. Rather, it is denying power to your old self and yielding control to your new self. It’s giving the Holy Spirit control over your “self”. If you’ve trusted Christ you have an old self (your old sinful nature) and a new self (your new identity in Christ) that are opposed to each other. Which “self” will you yield control to today?

Episode 408: Gifted - The Gift of Faith

FIA Good Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2020 6:49

While listing the gifts of the Spirit Paul just briefly mentions this one.” It’s there, but if you don’t look for it, you’ll miss it. But, this is not one you want to miss! Tune in for more about the gift of faith...

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Blessed are the Poor in Spirit - Paul

The Rock Church

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2020 70:47

blessed poor in spirit spirit paul

Wisdom from the Spirit

Mount Olive Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2020 23:19

Start at the Beginning It’s a very good place to start Paul began his ministry in simplicity (1 Cor. 2:2) Tangible lessons are easier to learn (1 Cor. 2:4) Grow in the Spirit Paul moved on to impart wisdom (1 Cor. 2:6) As faith grows, so does spiritual knowledge (1 Cor. 2:10) Dig deeper Have the mind of Christ Speak Spiritual truth that can be understood (1 Cor. 2:13) Live as salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16)

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Meetings in the Spirit: Paul in Antioch and Jerusalem

KPC Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2019 42:04

Dr. Mark Wilson brings us a message from Acts 15.

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Craig S. Keener | The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 2

The Master Lectures Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 31:23

In today's episode, we hear from Craig S. Keener.Craig S. Keener is a North American academic and F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Keener received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies and Christian Origins from Duke University. He has authored 25 books and his recent books include Galatians (Cambridge, 2018) and Mind of the Spirit: Paul's Approach to Transformed Thinking (Baker Academic, 2016) Dr. Keener is married to Dr. Medine Keener and has a son named David. In this lecture, Dr. Keener talks about Jesus warning the church in Sardis to be prepared and to wake up or else be blotted from the heavenly book of life. He goes on to say that Philadelphia and Smyrna were the only two churches who received messages without rebuke. God's desire then and always is to restore his people to fellowship, and Dr. Keener gives us a historical account of the seven churches in Revelation so we can understand who the church was then and who it is today. So that we might also heed Jesus's warning to be prepared.If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Dr. Keener's lectures on Revelation, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.

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Craig S. Keener | The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 1

The Master Lectures Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2019 32:21

In today's episode, we hear from Dr. Craig S. Keener, a North American academic and F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Keener received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies and Christian Origins from Duke University. He has authored 25 books and his recent books include Galatians (Cambridge, 2018) and Mind of the Spirit: Paul's Approach to Transformed Thinking (Baker Academic, 2016) Craig is married to Dr. Medine Keener and has a son named David. In this lecture, Dr. Keener talks about Jesus addressing seven churches; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea in the book of Revelation. Jesus warned of false teachers and admonished the church for “losing its first love”. Dr. Keener reiterates the importance of the church persevering to the end so that we might receive the Lord's promise of a great hope.If you like what you hear, visit our website at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, where you can watch more of Dr. Keener's lectures on Revelation, along with thousands of other lectures on the Bible and theology.

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Are You My Mother?

Downriver Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2019

Big Idea: Are we under the law, or are we under the Spirit? Paul urges the Galatian people to pursue the Spirit, through faith, because the Spirit is all about freedom. If we pursue the law, we are subject to the requirements of the law, and that means that they only way to be saved by the law is through perfection. That’s impossible, which is why Paul so desperately urged the Galatian people–as well as you and me–to submit ourselves to God’s grace instead. Legalism leads to slavery, but faith in Christ leads to freedom.

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Freedom From The Orphan Spirit // Paul Finn

Level.10 Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2019 34:39

Apologies for the feedback heard during sections of this recording.

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Episode 33 The Believer's Benefit Package

Deeper Devos

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 11:38

After directing the Ephesians to be “filled with the Spirit” Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 5:19-21, “but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” And at first glance it may seem as though Paul is just adding to our already longer than we'd hoped "to do" list. Not only should you be filled with the Spirit but now you need to walk around singing and being thankful and submitting to everyone. Um, really Paul? No. Actually, he's simply elaborating on the benefits of being filled with the Spirit. The result of letting the Spirit lead. Aka. the believer's benefit package and it's amazing!Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

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Blessed are the Poor in Spirit – Paul M. Williams

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2019 56:07

Matthew 5:3 This sermon is the first in a series of eight sermons preaching through the beatitudes. You will notice that the word ‘beatitude’ has a single ‘t’ rather than a double as in ‘beattitude’. This is because, in Latin, ‘beatitudo’ means “a state of blessedness”. In fact, the word beatitude means “supreme blessedness” which is why each of the eight beatitudes begins with the word ‘Blessed’. Here before us then, stand a number of statements spoken by our Lord, that offer to men supreme happiness, well-being, and prosperity if they are found in such condition! In the first of this eight-part series, we will examine the nature of what it means to be poor in spirit and the great blessings that attend the soul that truly senses moment by moment, their absolute need for the Saviour! “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.

The Fullness Of The Spirit | Paul Nyamuda (14 Nov 2017)

Go Church Sa

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2018 48:22

The Fullness Of The Spirit | Paul Nyamuda (14 Nov 2017) by Go Church SA

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Faith and Action to Release the Spirit - Paul Nichols - 2018-08-19 - 8_19_18, 4.15 PM

action spirit paul paul nichols

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2018 34:09

Faith and Action to Release the Spirit - Paul Nichols - 2018-08-19 - 8_19_18, 4.15 PM by Border City Church

Freedom In Christ - Life In The Spirit - Paul Moore

Scott Street MB Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018 28:01

How has your diet of reading the Bible been for you? Are you feeding yourself with the truth, or are you feeding yourself on what the world has to offer? I think it is safe to say that if it is the truth that sets us free, then the opposite of truth binds us up – imprisons us – holds us captive We are to daily find our strength and power by the Holy Spirit of God who lives within us. I love driving our car when the tank is full. I love living my life when I am full of the Holy Spirit. The phrase “be filled” could better be understood - “be being filled” - a continual process. Just like your car, the more you use it, the more you need to fill it. But unlike the gas for your car – there is an endless supply – and the price has already been paid by Christ. Power, life, truth, freedom – all offered by the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God. And as you walk in the Spirit, you will find your desires begin to change – from yourself to the things of God. Psalm 37:4 – 5 says “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this.” Unless we take the time to refuel, we will run out of gas. Our cars have warning lights when we are low onn fuel and so do our lives – lack of joy, peace, purpose. We become more focused on ourselves than on others. These are signs that we need to go back to the water of life and get refilled! Let’s make room for Him today! Revelation 22:17 - “The Spirit and the Bride say Come. And let the one who hears say Come. Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Preached on Sunday June 10, 2018 at Scott Street Church

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The Sour Fruit: Self Control-Rev. Kelly Dotson

Faith Presbyterian Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2018 28:37

2 Peter 1:3-11; The last fruit of the Spirit Paul lists in Galatians 5 is "self control". No one wants to have to practice self control, but even the world will tell you that the one who has self control is a good person. But, for christians self control isn't so much denying self but clinging tightly to christ.

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Firm Foundations (Pt. 20) Gifts of the Spirit – Paul M. Williams

romans nunez killing sin spirit paul

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2018 68:56

Part 20 – What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? Modern 21st century man well makes a fitting boast on account of the vast array of his many accomplishments, they’re admittedly very impressive! In this century and the last, the world has witnessed staggering and unprecedented breakthroughs in every field of expertise, from medicine to engineering. Western civilization has never known such affluence, such protracted periods of peace and prosperity; such high standards of health and living on a universal scale. You say, what has this got to do with the subject heading of this Bible teaching? Everything!! I fear that the modern man with all his natural brilliance and expertise has lost sight of his need for God. It is one thing when the world does this, but when Christians follow suit, it is a very sad day indeed. Behold the Mega-Church with all its outward display of pomp and glory. It bears greater resemblance to a mini village complex than a Church of the Living God, and serves as an indictment; a testament to the fact, that whatever fallen man can accomplish the Church is only one step behind! No!! The Church of Jesus Christ is first and foremost a spiritual body of believers who’ve had a supernatural encounter with the Almighty and through the new birth have been grafted into Christ’s spiritual body. Jesus Christ is the spiritual head and from Him flows down to each individual member, every spiritual blessing and spiritual gift needed for the sound nourishment and spiritual growth of the entire body. These spiritual gifts are not mere niceties that make for a cosy addition; instead, they are crucial components needed for the building up spiritually of Christ’s Church. In this 20th teaching part we examine Biblically the gifts of the Holy Spirit and ask ourselves, are these gifts for today? Download teaching notes (pdf) http://traffic.libsyn.com/bethesdashalom/20_What_Are_the_Gifts_of_the_Holy_Spirit.pdf

Keep In Step

Sunday Morning's at PCC

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2017

While we are called to stay in step with the Spirit Paul reminds us that pride is one of the biggest problems we have. Pride causes us to push God to the margins and causes us to believe that we do not need Him. Instead of pushing Him to the margins we are called to embrace and draw close to Him. In so doing we will live in the freedom that has been given to us.

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Killing Sin by the Spirit - Paul Nunez

Dwell Christian Church

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2017 43:08

Guest Speaker Paul Nunez shares with us from Romans 8:11-17 about the mortification of sin.

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit – Paul M. Williams