Podcasts about spirit who

In a season of Stillness—but I'm still here. ❤️‍

We're throwing it back to this transformational episode with coach Xavier Dagba about the "dark night of the soul." Xavier shares his raw journey—disappointing his parents, dropping out of school (on a full scholarship!), and even facing homelessness—before finally stepping into his true gifts.We unpack the messy, necessary process of embracing your purpose, becoming the “villain” in someone else's story, and trusting your path even when it feels like sh!t. If you're breaking old patterns and stepping into your next evolution, this episode is for you.

Wake Up to Love, and pray the Holy Rosary, pray the LOVE with us LIVE every weekday morning at 4:44 am ET

Read Online“Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” Luke 8:18Do you have much? Or little? According to Jesus' words, if you have much, then you will receive much more; but if you have little, then you will lose even what you have. Does this seem fair?Of course, our Lord is not speaking in worldly terms. He's not saying that if you have much money, then you will gain more, or if you are poor, then you will become poorer. Instead, Jesus is speaking about the grace that comes from understanding His holy Word. Notice that the passage above begins by saying, “Take care, then, how you hear.”To “hear” the Word of God implies that you truly receive what Jesus teaches. Hearing is not just hearing the words spoken with your ears. One early Church Father, Saint Bede, explains that truly hearing the Word of God with our minds leads us to love that Word, and loving the Word leads to understanding. This is not accomplished by an intellectual exercise alone, as if our natural gifts are the primary means by which we comprehend all that Jesus teaches. Rather, it comes through spiritual insight gained by the supernatural gift of the Spirit Who teaches us all things.If you want “more” understanding of the mysteries of God, then commit yourself to engaging the holy Scriptures with your mind. Read the Scriptures, ponder them and pray with them. It's easy to forget that the Word of God is a Living Word. This means that when we prayerfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we are prayerfully encountering God Himself. God is alive in His holy Word. We meet Him, personally, and this happens only by a special grace that we must be open to receive.The beautiful aspect of this teaching of Jesus is that the more we understand His Word by this grace, the more we will immerse ourselves in it, and it will continue to grow within us. If, however, we devote little time to engaging the Word of God in prayer, we will begin to “forget,” so to speak, the spiritual depths of the wisdom of God. We will lose the little understanding we have and when this happens, we will be prone to engaging and accepting the many confusions and deceptions alive in our world.Reflect, today, upon your practice of prayerfully meditating upon the Scriptures. If this is not your current practice, resolve to make it so. Perhaps start with one of the Gospels and commit yourself to prayerfully reading it little by little every day. The goal is not to get through the books of the Bible. The goal is to enter into each book. Every chapter and every line provides us with a depth of spiritual insight and understanding just waiting to be given and received. Commit yourself to this holy practice, and you will be amazed at the spiritual riches our Lord bestows upon you.Living Word of God, my Lord and my King, I thank You for the way in which You come to me and all Your children through Your written Word. Fill me with a love for that Word so that I will daily engage my mind in the deep truths revealed within it. May I meet You, dear Lord, and grow in an understanding of Who You are and what You wish to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: By Thomas B. from Pixabay

The need to heal the “Primal Wound” assumes we are wounded. It is important to remember that it's based on the perspective of adoptive mother Nancy Verrier, NOT an adoptee. It can leave us feeling: *stuck with the belief we cannot heal. *unsure of what to do next for the best. *pathologized for an event we had no choice in. *More and more adoptees are questioning the wound narrative and wanting to take back their power. Post Traumatic Growth is an altogether more empowering, hopeful and positive perspective that allows us to do exactly that. View the slides that go with the presentation herehttps://www.canva.com/design/DAGIf_zETn8/kZ0rRZ1DLOdWe4lZ3j0h7g/view?utm_content=DAGIf_zETn8&utm_campaign=share_your_design&utm_medium=link&utm_source=shareyourdesignpanelLet's thrive together. This event was a taster for the Growth & Transformation course.Starts: Wednesday 31st July at 9am PST, Noon EST, 5pm UK Runs every Wednesday for 24 weeks Price: £75 (approx. $100)/month for 6 months Register now - only 12 places for this first cohort (£150 per month for future cohorts) at www.thrivingadoptees.com Here's the course outline:Introduction We'll start with 2 sessions exploring the holistic nature of healing, energy, entering and pacing on the Spiral of Growth. Mind The next 4 sessions will look at what's going on in our minds, opening to and focussing on growth and what gets in the way of that. We'll use metaphors such as mind-set v mind-fluid to bust old beliefs and access new and healthier perspectives. It's all about harnessing your brain's ability to recover and transcend trauma. Body The 4 webinars on Body will get to the heart of pre-verbal, pre-memory trauma looking into Somatics, self care and embodiment to bring subconscious trauma into the warm and healing light of awareness. This is all about shifting your moment to moment lived experience to peace and calm Heart You will learn all about attuning to your heart, being guided by your intuition over 4 sessions. We will go upstream of feelings to their source and learn about creating new flows for a more contented life being triggered less, with less intensity. Social How can we navigate relationships – even the tough ones with adoptive and biological families – with more ease? 4 sessions on setting and keeping boundaries, communication, the double-edged sword of validation in adoptee communities, self- leadership and feeling like we belong Spirit Who are we at our core, our essence that's untouched by our trauma. A non-religious take on the self v the Self to understand and live our sovereignty. These 4 sessions are all about the many ways we can leave our trauma bound identity behind for a more authentic and contented life Integration 2 sessions to pull the last 22 together to catalyse our growth and transformation. Stepping into a role as alchemist to turn darkness into light, trauma into joy. Weekly Learning & Practice – 24 X 60 minute sessions Guided Support, Mentorship, Group Support & Accountability through a dedicated Facebook Group Starts: Wednesday 31st July at 9am PST, Noon EST, 5pm UK Runs every Wednesday for 24 weeks Price: £75 (approx. $100)/month for 6 months Register now - only 12 places for this first cohort (£150 per month for future cohorts) at www.thrivingadoptees.com About the speakers: About Jude Adopted at 2 days old, Jude was told the first time her mother held her, “you are adopted”. As a Reiki Master, certified aromatherapist, massage therapist and meditation teacher, she uses a variety of tools in showing people how to cultivate a life of authenticity, empowerment and fulfillment. On June 4th, 2019, she received a letter from her biological mother that pushed her out of the fog and into the realization that she had been carrying, in her body, the trauma of being relinquished. This was the final ah-ha on her personal healing journey that brought her to the root of the grief, pain and fear she had struggled with throughout her life. Now, 56, Jude has a blog, facilitates workshops and weekly adoptee support groups. She resides in Asheville, NC with her husband, Jeff and dog Skyler. About Simon Simon but was adopted at 5 weeks old and told so young he doesn't ever remember not knowing. He didn't come out of the fog until he was 40 when he found out that my teddy bear was a gift from his birth mother. That unleashed an eruption of anger, feeling rejected and unloved. That led to a quest to heal, healing and a desire to help others. A letter from his birth mother (Pat) caused a profound realisation that she loved him dearly and a visceral connection with her. He later found out that she had died, but the depth of their felt connection helped Simon take this in his stride. He's now 57, runs Thriving Adoptees and lives in Hunsingore, near York, UK with his wife, 2 labradors Rosie and Indie and pet pig Buster (who lives outside). He has interviewed over 400 adoptees and run webinars for many, many more on advocacy, healing and thriving.  Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

John 6:63, “It is the Spirit Who gives life. The flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” » Download the Transcript The post Jesus’ Teaching about the Spirit appeared first on Building Faith Families.

John 6:63, “It is the Spirit Who gives life. The flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” » Download the Transcript » Subscribe on iTunes The post Episode 407: Jesus’ Teaching about the Spirit appeared first on Building Faith and Family.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13This passage still rings true for all of us today. God wants to reveal to us, within the depths of our consciences, the deepest, most profound and transforming truths that flow from the mind of the Father in Heaven. But we cannot bear it all now. Not fully. And eternity will be spent continually deepening our understanding of all that God reveals. And the process of this ongoing and deepening discovery will fill us with an ongoing and deepening joy. This will be our Heaven, but it must begin now.First of all, it's important to understand that God does “have much more to tell you.” Interestingly, coming to know how much you do not already know is itself a form of knowledge. Knowing that there is so much more, that God's wisdom is infinitely beyond you, that the mind of God compared to yours is incomparable is itself a beautiful truth that must be understood. This truth should both humble you and also fill you with a holy awe of God and the infinite depth of wisdom, truth, beauty and glory contained within Him. This is an essential first step.Furthermore, by saying that “you cannot bear it now” does not mean that you should not try to bear more and more of the truth that God wants to reveal. In fact, it's a form of invitation, in that it indicates that there will come a time when you will be able to comprehend more. This should once again foster a hope and anticipation for all that remains hidden to be revealed. Humility in the face of the infinite God is necessary for growth in wisdom and knowledge of God.How does this growth in wisdom and the knowledge of God happen? It happens by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. It is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you to all truth.” But even this statement, once again, implies that this is a process. It is the Spirit Who will “guide” you. And this guidance will continue throughout this life and on into eternity.This teaching of our Lord begs the question: Have you begun the process? Have you begun to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth? Have there been concrete moments in your life when you came to know God in a new and profound way that could only have been possible by the power and working of God Himself? Reflect, today, upon these essential questions. If you have had God the Holy Spirit speak clearly to You, then humble yourself before that truth. Pray for more wisdom and more knowledge of all that you do not know. And if you cannot relate to the idea of there being so much more that is beyond you, then humbly turn to our Lord and beg Him to begin to open your mind to all that He wants to say to you. The infinite mind of our God awaits you to be discovered and embraced. Begin the process today and let Him guide you into all truth. God of all truth, You, Your wisdom, Your love and all of Your glorious attributes are infinite in nature and are beyond my complete comprehension. As I humble myself before these holy truths, dear Lord, please bestow upon me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, so that I may open my mind more fully to You by Your grace. May the process of deep discovery be one of great joy and become for me a process that continues into eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Pastor Joel delivers a fast-paced and short message on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We pray you enjoy this message. 00:00 1 Corinthians 12:4 01:42 Who is the Holy Spirit 03:18 The Spirit Who is our Helper 05:28 The Spirit Who Convicts 09:46 The Spirit Who Reveals 11:19 The Spirit Who Transforms 13:18 The Spirit Who Unites 14:08 The Spirit Who Gives Gifts 15:12 The Spirit Who Empowers To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: https://www.citipointenashville.com/giving If you've just made a decision for Christ, please respond HERE: https://citipointe.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/12/responses/new --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joelramsey/support

A Christ Who is God, and pours out a Spirit Who is God, is the only hope and sure hope for mere men who need new hearts.

“Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” Luke 8:18Do you have much? Or little? According to Jesus' words, if you have much, then you will receive much more; but if you have little, then you will lose even what you have. Does this seem fair?Of course, our Lord is not speaking in worldly terms. He's not saying that if you have much money, then you will gain more, or if you are poor, then you will become poorer. Instead, Jesus is speaking about the grace that comes from understanding His holy Word. Notice that the passage above begins by saying, “Take care, then, how you hear.”To “hear” the Word of God implies that you truly receive what Jesus teaches. Hearing is not just hearing the words spoken with your ears. One early Church Father, Saint Bede, explains that truly hearing the Word of God with our minds leads us to love that Word, and loving the Word leads to understanding. This is not accomplished by an intellectual exercise alone, as if our natural gifts are the primary means by which we comprehend all that Jesus teaches. Rather, it comes through spiritual insight gained by the supernatural gift of the Spirit Who teaches us all things.If you want “more” understanding of the mysteries of God, then commit yourself to engaging the holy Scriptures with your mind. Read the Scriptures, ponder them and pray with them. It's easy to forget that the Word of God is a Living Word. This means that when we prayerfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we are prayerfully encountering God Himself. God is alive in His holy Word. We meet Him, personally, and this happens only by a special grace that we must be open to receive.The beautiful aspect of this teaching of Jesus is that the more we understand His Word by this grace, the more we will immerse ourselves in it, and it will continue to grow within us. If, however, we devote little time to engaging the Word of God in prayer, we will begin to “forget,” so to speak, the spiritual depths of the wisdom of God. We will lose the little understanding we have and when this happens, we will be prone to engaging and accepting the many confusions and deceptions alive in our world.Reflect, today, upon your practice of prayerfully meditating upon the Scriptures. If this is not your current practice, resolve to make it so. Perhaps start with one of the Gospels and commit yourself to prayerfully reading it little by little every day. The goal is not to get through the books of the Bible. The goal is to enter into each book. Every chapter and every line provides us with a depth of spiritual insight and understanding just waiting to be given and received. Commit yourself to this holy practice, and you will be amazed at the spiritual riches our Lord bestows upon you.Living Word of God, my Lord and my King, I thank You for the way in which You come to me and all Your children through Your written Word. Fill me with a love for that Word so that I will daily engage my mind in the deep truths revealed within it. May I meet You, dear Lord, and grow in an understanding of Who You are and what You wish to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Proclamation of the Word Message by Pastor Joe “To Whom Shall We Go?” Sermon Notes John 6:59 & 60 Those following Jesus said it was a har/difficult statement that Jesus said about His flesh and blood John 6:61 Jesus asks His disciples does the statement cause you to stumble? John 6:62 Jesus asks “What if they see Him ascending to heaven? John 6:63 Jesus says it is the Spirit Who gives life John 664 & 65 Jesus knows the one who will betray Him and again states no one can come to Him unless the Father granted it John 6:66 Many of the followers of Jesus stopped following Him John 6:67 Jesus asks the 12 do they want to leave Also? John 6:68 & 69 Peter response where else are they to go, it is Jesus who has the words of eternal life John 6:70 & 71 Jesus says He chose them, but one is a devil

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 90-especially explaining that the Spirit Who makes the Word effectual has taught us to come to it-before, during, and after reading and hearing it-as unto the worship of God. --Q90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation-- That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation and prayer- receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 89-especially explaining that the Spirit Who caused the words of Scripture to be written on the page also now writes that Word on our hearts, as He applies to us the salvation that the Father predestined and the Son has purchased. --Q89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation-- The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Morning Services- "Trinity Series: The Power of the Spirit" Who is the Holy Spirit? On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the Holy Spirit but do we really understand this expression of God? Scripture: Acts 2:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12–13This passage still rings true for all of us today. God wants to reveal to us, within the depths of our consciences, the deepest, most profound and transforming truths that flow from the mind of the Father in Heaven. But we cannot bear it all now. Not fully. And eternity will be spent continually deepening our understanding of all that God reveals. And the process of this ongoing and deepening discovery will fill us with an ongoing and deepening joy. This will be our Heaven, but it must begin now.First of all, it's important to understand that God does “have much more to tell you.” Interestingly, coming to know how much you do not already know is itself a form of knowledge. Knowing that there is so much more, that God's wisdom is infinitely beyond you, that the mind of God compared to yours is incomparable is itself a beautiful truth that must be understood. This truth should both humble you and also fill you with a holy awe of God and the infinite depth of wisdom, truth, beauty and glory contained within Him. This is an essential first step.Furthermore, by saying that “you cannot bear it now” does not mean that you should not try to bear more and more of the truth that God wants to reveal. In fact, it's a form of invitation, in that it indicates that there will come a time when you will be able to comprehend more. This should once again foster a hope and anticipation for all that remains hidden to be revealed. Humility in the face of the infinite God is necessary for growth in wisdom and knowledge of God.How does this growth in wisdom and the knowledge of God happen? It happens by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. It is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you to all truth.” But even this statement, once again, implies that this is a process. It is the Spirit Who will “guide” you. And this guidance will continue throughout this life and on into eternity.This teaching of our Lord begs the question: Have you begun the process? Have you begun to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth? Have there been concrete moments in your life when you came to know God in a new and profound way that could only have been possible by the power and working of God Himself? Reflect, today, upon these essential questions. If you have had God the Holy Spirit speak clearly to You, then humble yourself before that truth. Pray for more wisdom and more knowledge of all that you do not know. And if you cannot relate to the idea of there being so much more that is beyond you, then humbly turn to our Lord and beg Him to begin to open your mind to all that He wants to say to you. The infinite mind of our God awaits you to be discovered and embraced. Begin the process today and let Him guide you into all truth. God of all truth, You, Your wisdom, Your love and all of Your glorious attributes are infinite in nature and are beyond my complete comprehension. As I humble myself before these holy truths, dear Lord, please bestow upon me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, so that I may open my mind more fully to You by Your grace. May the process of deep discovery be one of great joy and become for me a process that continues into eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

The Spirit Who gives peace in Christ works it by Scripture truth, providential care in the church, and gracious work in believers' hearts, lives, and relationships.

Christ Jesus is on His way coming!!!  You can reach out to us on gospel2020project@gmail.com Visit the following links to subscribe and connect with us! Telegram link https://t.me/rhapsodyfm Google Podcast link https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yaGFwc29keS5yZWN Apple Podcast link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/word-of-life-podcast/id1507564447   But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). The Word of God is everything. Jesus reiterated this in our opening verse when He chastised Martha for being encumbered and troubled by many things. He said one thing is needful, which is the Word of God, and her sister Mary, gave attention to it. When the world was a chaotic mass, empty and in darkness, what did God do? He didn't call the angels for a construction exercise; He didn't fix it by trying to do anything with His hands. He only said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Words are powerful, but the Word of God is all powerful. Always remember that. When you were born again, you were born of the Word: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). You're an offspring of the Word, called to live by the Word, built and being built by the Word. You dwell in the Word, and the Word dwells in you. Now, God says, “Let the same Word that brought you into being, flow out of your mouth.” When we say, “Speak words,” it's not just any words you're to speak; it's “the Word.” In the realm of the spirit, the Word is all that's necessary. So, have the Word in your spirit; let it dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16) and come out of your mouth. The Word of God in your mouth is God talking. As you grow in the Word, all that comes into your thinking, your imaginations, are all in sync with the Word. And then you find that, like Jesus, your life is the manifestation and revelation of the Word. Hallelujah! CONFESSION I take my place of dominion, and reign in the Name of Jesus over circumstances, through words. I refuse to succumb to contrary winds, but I speak the right words only, thereby effecting changes in my family, health, business and ministry. The world is subject to me. I walk in righteousness and produce works of righteousness. Amen. FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 12:37 (KJV) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. John 6:63 (AMPC) It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life. Joshua 1:8 (KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Luke 11:14-36 & Judges 3-4 2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Romans 8:12-19 & Psalm 110-111   To give towards sponsoring free copies please kindly click the below link  https://buy.stripe.com/bIYcOj8vQepC3eM6op

A naming ceremony In traditional African society, the naming ceremony is a process of introducing the newborn baby to the extended family, the larger community and above all confers on the child a name and an expected identity. Jojo & B share their pregnancy and childbirth experience at a birth center compared to a hospital birth. The audience can appreciate the introduction to the naming ceremony, it's connection to African culture, and the inspiration behind it. They both give insight on the delights and tribulations they faced throughout the last minute transfer of care in order to have a good outcome with their labor and delivery. They continuously give credit to God by recognizing His intervention and His comforting Spirit Who guided them throughout their journey to baby number three. Jojo & B emphasized the significance of having faith while receiving limited intervention laboring and delivering new life into this world. They were encouraged by talking to the Most High through prayer, reading scripture from His Word, and gathering testimonies of God's glory and goodness. It certainly strengthened their faith as they rested while the Most Hight worked. Do tune in to hear their very own witnessing testimony that does give glory to the Most High. #faith #SpeakLife #SpiritualWalk #NaturalDelivery #Platelets #BirthCenter #9months

“Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” Luke 8:18Do you have much? Or little? According to Jesus' words, if you have much, then you will receive much more; but if you have little, then you will lose even what you have. Does this seem fair?Of course, our Lord is not speaking in worldly terms. He's not saying that if you have much money, then you will gain more, or if you are poor, then you will become poorer. Instead, Jesus is speaking about the grace that comes from understanding His holy Word. Notice that the passage above begins by saying, “Take care, then, how you hear.”To “hear” the Word of God implies that you truly receive what Jesus teaches. Hearing is not just hearing the words spoken with your ears. One early Church Father, Saint Bede, explains that truly hearing the Word of God with our minds leads us to love that Word, and loving the Word leads to understanding. This is not accomplished by an intellectual exercise alone, as if our natural gifts are the primary means by which we comprehend all that Jesus teaches. Rather, it comes through spiritual insight gained by the supernatural gift of the Spirit Who teaches us all things.If you want “more” understanding of the mysteries of God, then commit yourself to engaging the holy Scriptures with your mind. Read the Scriptures, ponder them and pray with them. It's easy to forget that the Word of God is a Living Word. This means that when we prayerfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we are prayerfully encountering God Himself. God is alive in His holy Word. We meet Him, personally, and this happens only by a special grace that we must be open to receive.The beautiful aspect of this teaching of Jesus is that the more we understand His Word by this grace, the more we will immerse ourselves in it, and it will continue to grow within us. If, however, we devote little time to engaging the Word of God in prayer, we will begin to “forget,” so to speak, the spiritual depths of the wisdom of God. We will lose the little understanding we have and when this happens, we will be prone to engaging and accepting the many confusions and deceptions alive in our world.Reflect, today, upon your practice of prayerfully meditating upon the Scriptures. If this is not your current practice, resolve to make it so. Perhaps start with one of the Gospels and commit yourself to prayerfully reading it little by little every day. The goal is not to get through the books of the Bible. The goal is to enter into each book. Every chapter and every line provides us with a depth of spiritual insight and understanding just waiting to be given and received. Commit yourself to this holy practice, and you will be amazed at the spiritual riches our Lord bestows upon you.Living Word of God, my Lord and my King, I thank You for the way in which You come to me and all Your children through Your written Word. Fill me with a love for that Word so that I will daily engage my mind in the deep truths revealed within it. May I meet You, dear Lord, and grow in an understanding of Who You are and what You wish to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2021 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

The Holy Spirit living within you is the Spirit of Christ, Who empowers your life as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Now you are living the life of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit of God really lives within you. You live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit Who motivates you to pursue spiritual realities. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. (Romans 5, 8-10)The Holy Spirit who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead lives within you. And since God's Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, He also raises restores to life your mortal body by the same Spirit Who breathes life into you! (Romans‬ ‭8:11)Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit, Paraclete, to be your Comforter, Counselor, Encourager, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby, Who remains living within you forever in Jesus place to guide and instruct and teach you all things in Jesus name. (John 14:16-17)The Father sent the Holy Spirit in Jesus name, to represent Him and act on His behalf. He teaches you all things. And He causes you to recall everything Jesus said as the word of God from heaven and on earth, and brings into your remembrance just as Jesus promised. (John‬ ‭14:26‬)The Holy Spirit is the Truth-giving Spirit Who guides you into all the Truth, He unveils the reality of every truth within you. He tells you whatever he hears from the Father, and He Gives the Message that's been given to Him to you. He speaks only what He hears from the Father. (John‬ ‭16:13‬)

If someone was to describe your spiritual life, what characteristics would be unmistakable? For the believer in Jesus Christ, the presence and power of His Holy Spirit is the main distinctions. It is the Spirit Who points us to Christ and calls us to love Christ. But we can become focused on being filled with knowledge--which is needed...unless the desire of our heart is lacking. In this study from multiple New Testament texts, we are called to seek and emphasize the work o the Spirit. Since we are a new creation in Him, our old life has no place or authority, and we have to fight man-centered thinking. Because if Jesus was full of the Spirit and led by Him and working under His power, how much more important is it for us? Video of this service is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJR0FaTvaig

The Holy Spirit is the most important gift heaven has ever given us, and as Christians, we cannot live a successful life without Him. It is the Spirit Who guides us when we speak in tongues, which is an effective tool in shutting down and disabling the devil. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Pentecost! It is a reminder and celebration of the great mystery of the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Blessed Virgin and the Apostles in the Cenacle at Sion. It is also a lesson of challenge for us: The Spirit of God is never given in vain. That same Spirit Who descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost also descends upon every Christian soul in the waters of Baptism. That same Spirit given to the Apostles so that they might forgive sins remains with those who have succeeded the Apostles in generations since, and sins are still being forgiven. That same Spirit challenges each and every one of us this day, this week, this year not to receive the grace of God in vain, but rather to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”  John 16:12–13This passage still rings true for all of us today. God wants to reveal to us, within the depths of our consciences, the deepest, most profound, and transforming truths that flow from the mind of the Father in Heaven. But we cannot bear it all now. Not fully. And eternity will be spent continually deepening our understanding of all that God reveals. And the process of this ongoing and deepening discovery will fill us with an ongoing and deepening joy. This will be our Heaven, but it must begin now.First of all, it’s important to understand that God does “have much more to tell you.” Interestingly, coming to know how much you do not already know is itself a form of knowledge. Knowing that there is so much more, that God’s wisdom is infinitely beyond you, that the mind of God compared to yours is incomparable is itself a beautiful truth that must be understood. This truth should both humble you and also fill you with a holy awe of God and the infinite depth of wisdom, truth, beauty and glory contained within Him. This is an essential first step.Furthermore, by saying that “you cannot bear it now” does not mean that you should not try to bear more and more of the truth that God wants to reveal. In fact, it’s a form of invitation in that it indicates that there will come a time when you will be able to comprehend more. This should once again foster a hope and anticipation for all that remains hidden to be revealed. Humility in the face of the infinite God is necessary for growth in wisdom and knowledge of God.How does this growth in wisdom and the knowledge of God happen? It happens by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. It is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you to all truth.” But even this statement, once again, implies that this is a process. It is the Spirit Who will “guide” you. And this guidance will continue throughout this life and on into eternity.This teaching of our Lord begs the question: Have you begun the process? Have you begun to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth? Have there been concrete moments in your life when you came to know God in a new and profound way that could only have been possible by the power and working of God Himself?Reflect, today, upon these essential questions. If you have had God the Holy Spirit speak clearly to You, then humble yourself before that truth. Pray for more wisdom and more knowledge of all that you do not know. And if you cannot relate to the idea of there being so much more that is beyond you, then humbly turn to our Lord and beg Him to begin to open your mind to all that He wants to say to you. The infinite mind of our God awaits you to be discovered and embraced. Begin the process today and let Him guide you into all truth.God of all truth, You, Your wisdom, Your love and all of Your glorious attributes are infinite in nature and are beyond my complete comprehension. As I humble myself before these holy truths, dear Lord, please bestow upon me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, so that I may open my mind more fully to You by Your grace. May the process of deep discovery be one of great joy and become for me a process that continues into eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2021 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

The Spirit Who dwells in believers yearns jealously. [1 hour 4 minutes]

The Spirit Who dwells in believers yearns jealously. [1 hour 4 minutes]

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.  Mark 1:12–13Today’s Gospel from Mark presents us with a short version of the Temptation of Jesus in the desert. Matthew and Luke give many more details, such as Jesus’ threefold temptation from satan. But Mark simply states the fact that Jesus was driven into the desert for forty days and was tempted.What’s interesting to note is that it was “The Spirit” Who drove Jesus into the desert. Jesus did not go there against His will; He went there freely in accord with the will of the Father and by the direction of the Holy Spirit. Why would the Spirit drive Jesus into the desert for this time of fasting, prayer and temptation?First of all, this time of temptation took place immediately after Jesus was baptized by John. And though Jesus Himself did not spiritually need that baptism, these two series of events teach us much. The truth is that when we choose to follow Christ and live out our baptism, we receive a new strength to fight evil. The grace is there. As a new creation in Christ, you have all the grace you need to conquer the evil one, sin and temptation. Jesus, therefore, set for us an example in order to teach us this truth. He was baptized and then was driven into the desert to face the evil one so as to tell us that we also can conquer him and his evil lies.As Jesus was in the desert enduring these temptations, “the angels ministered to him.” The same is true with us. Our Lord does not leave us alone in the midst of our daily temptations. Rather, He always sends us His angels to minister to us and to help us defeat this vile enemy. What is your greatest temptation in life? Perhaps you struggle with a habit of sin that you fail at time and time again. Perhaps it’s a temptation of the flesh, or a struggle with anger, self-righteousness, dishonesty or something else. Whatever your temptation may be, know that you have all you need to overcome it on account of the grace given to you by your Baptism, strengthened by your Confirmation and regularly fed by your participation in the Most Holy Eucharist.Reflect, today, upon whatever your temptations may be. See the Person of Christ facing those temptations with you and in you. Know that His strength is given to you if you but trust Him with unwavering confidence.My tempted Lord, You allowed Yourself to endure the humiliation of being tempted by satan himself. You did so to show me and all Your children that we can overcome our own temptations through You and by Your strength. Help me, dear Lord, to daily turn to You with my struggles so that You will be victorious in me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2021 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Join Pastor Brian Morris for this week's teaching from his series on Exile. This teaching is titled Rebuilding After Exile - What Kind Of Leaders Do We Need? We Need Leaders … •Who listen and obey •Who respond to the stirring of the Spirit •Who motivate by the example of their Spirit-led work ethic •Who answer inquiry respectfully, openly, & courageously to defend the legitimacy of their endeavour •Who lead the completion, dedication and celebration of work done to the glory of God Visit worshipataemc.com to connect with us. We'd love to hear from you!

Synopsis: Hear the story of US Navy Seal Michael Monsoor and his relationship with Fr. Paul Halladay, a priest from Mobile. Consider the ways in which God called them to lay their lives down to love and serve their neighbor. Consider how God is calling you to lay down your life like Christ. Dig in Further:What is your rooftop? Who are the people there with you? What is the grenade at your feet?How do you think Christ is calling you to lay your life down in Union with his Spirit?Who are people in your life you have seen lay their lives down like Christ?How can Christ train you to respond to persecution, difficulty, poverty, need, threats and the like as he did for us?

Aug. 31, 2020  During this week's Behind The Message, Pastor Daniel & Jennifer along with Wes Tucker unpack this past weekend's message discussing further Jesus' statement: “I Am The Bread Of Life.” They highlight the importance of acknowledging that it is the Spirit Who gives life and that there is nothing that our fleshly selves can contribute to an unbeliever's conversion. Our sole work is to make much of Jesus...being filled by the Spirit, sharing the Gospel by faith, and trusting God to bring to Him those who He calls. Holding to this truth will encourage us to proclaim the Gospel more boldly, pray more desperately, and love more truly. Big Truth: Jesus is the Bread of Life Big Ideas: -Jesus is the bread that satisfies. -Jesus is the bread that saves. -Jesus is the bread that sustains. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Everything else, no matter how good it is, in the end, cannot satisfy, save, or sustain us. Israel ate manna and died. Jesus alone is the bread of life. Discussion Lead Group Members to discuss the following… -What Got You? Ask your group members to each share a take away from Sunday's sermon or from the BTM video that got them thinking or doing. -Read John 6:48-50. In this passage, Jesus is making reference to Exodus 16 where God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness after He set them free from Egyptian slavery. Read Exodus 16 in order to gain insight into what Jesus is referring to in John 6.  -What was the complaint of the Israelites?  -Who provided for the need?  -What were the directions given to the Israelites?  -Why were these directions significant? -Now that you have some insight from Exodus 16 into what Jesus is referring to in John 6...make some connections… -What is the truest need of the people in John 6 to whom Jesus is talking? -Who will provide for the need?

This is our fifth and final example of bias in translation. After this episode, we’ll have one more to conclude our class on How We Got the Bible.  Today our focus is God’s spirit.  Should it have an uppercase ‘S’ or a lowercase ‘s?’  Should pronouns referring back to spirit be masculine (like “he”) or Read more about 352 Bible 23 – Spirit Who or Spirit Which? (Translating the Holy Spirit)[…]

This is our fifth and final example of bias in translation. After this episode, we’ll have one more to conclude our class on How We Got the Bible.  Today our focus is God’s spirit.  Should it have an uppercase ‘S’ or a lowercase ‘s?’  Should pronouns referring back to spirit be masculine (like “he”) or Read more about 352 Bible 23 – Spirit Who or Spirit Which? (Translating the Holy Spirit)[…]

Paul is amazed at the grace that has made him a writer of the mystery of the gospel, and the Ephesians recipients of the mystery of the gospel, by the Spirit Who is the Revealer of the mystery of the gospel about Christ, Who is the Center of the mystery of the gospel.

24: Spirit Who or Which? (Translating the Holy Spirit) by Sean Finnegan (For a higher quality video visit lhim.org/resouorces/classes.php?id=80) Are you curious how we get our English Bibles? Have you ever wondered about the manuscripts and the translation process? Join Sean Finnegan as he leads you through a journey of discovery to understand where we get our Bibles... To read the rest of the description visit lhim.org/resouorces/classes.php?id=80

God With Us: Early Letters, Week 2 Galatians: Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5–6) The second major Christian doctrine defended in the Book of Galatians is the doctrine of sanctification by the power of the Spirit. Sanctification (“cleansing”) is the process by which we are made more and more like Jesus Christ. Paul will argue that sanctification is a work of the Spirit Who dwells within us, and is not accomplished by obedience to a set of rules. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

God With Us: Letters, Week 2 Galatians: Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5–6) The second major Christian doctrine defended in the Book of Galatians is the doctrine of sanctification by the power of the Spirit. Sanctification (“cleansing”) is the process by which we are made more and more like Jesus Christ. Paul will argue that sanctification is a work of the Spirit Who dwells within us, and is not accomplished by obedience to a set of rules. This message is part of our God With Us series where Pastor Bob walks us through the entire Bible.

So what is the Spirit? WHO is the Holy Spirit? Wind? Breath? Hey called the Spirit an Advocate. A Comforter. The bigger our problems we live through, the greater the comfort we experience from the Spirit. We can carry on Christ- like life changing ministry when comforted, when encouraged by the Spirit. We have a Peace the world cannot give us.

The post The Spirit Who (still) Moves – Pat Bills appeared first on Fourth Avenue COC.

Shout with Joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship and Serve the LORD with gladness. Come into His Presence singing with Joy.Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He is Who made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation. (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5)‬‬Behold, God, is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the LORD God is my strength and song; yes, He has given me victory, He has become my salvation. Therefore with joy I will draw water and drink from the wells of my salvation. (Isaiah ‭12:2-3‬)The LORD your God; hears you, He Enlighten your eyes. Trust in His Mercy; Rejoice in His salvation. Sing to the LORD, Because He is Good to you and has dealt bountifully with you.(Psalms 13:3, 5-6)Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:10)‬‬We are carefully joined together in Christ Jesus, becoming a holy temple for the LORD. And IN Him you also have become a dwelling IN which God lives by His Spirit. ‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2:21-22)‬‬Honor and majesty are found in His Presence; strength and joy are found in His sanctuary. (1 Chronicles ‭16:27‬)Your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received as a Gift from God. You are not your own.‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ )‬God is telling you through the pen of Nehemiah, to be strengthened by the Joy of the LORD – to be strong in the LORD, be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him that strength which His boundless might provides- in the power of His Might. (Ephesians ‭6:10‬)Strength and Joy are in His Place, Who is IN you. For you are the Temple of the Living God. As God said: I will dwell IN and among them, I will live IN them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.‭‭(1 Chronicles ‭16:27, 2 Corinthians 6:16)Yes, The Spirit of the LORD on Jesus is IN you and among you, He lives IN you and walks among you, ‭and He grants consolation and joy, consoles those who mourn, He gives us beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of expressive praise instead of a spirit of heaviness, a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that you may be called oaks of righteousness lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah‬ ‭61:3‬)Therefore, I will greatly rejoice in the LORD my God, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, I am like a bridegroom dreased for His Wedding , and as a bride adorned withher jewels. (Isaiah ‭61:10‬). The LORD God wants you to know what you have, so He has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. The Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭2:10, 12‬). ‬O COME, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a Great God, and a Great King above all gods. (Psalm ‭95:1-3)‬We praise the LORD by saying praiseworthy things about Him. We find this regularly in the Scriptures. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you who are upright and in right standing with Him; shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm ‭32:11‬)Then I shall be joyful in the Lord; I shall rejoice in His deliverance. (Psalm ‭35:9‬)Rejoice in the Lord, you upright and in right standing with God, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭97:12‬)‬I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk ‭3:18‬)You show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. (Acts 2:25-28, 31; Psalm ‭16:11‬)LORD YOU are our glory and joy.‭‭(I Thessalonians‬ ‭2:20‬)‬Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.(‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:5‬)‬And these things God writes to you that your joy may be full. (I John ‭1:4‬)He says: These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may and delight may be in you, and remain in you, and that your joy may be full measure and complete and overflowing. (John ‭15:11‬)Jesus said these things while I He was still in the world, so that His joy may be made full and complete and perfect in you, that you may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that you may have My gladness within you, and your heart filled with My Joy. (John ‭17:13‬)Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians ‭5:16-18‬)Philippians is one of the most joyful book in the Bible — the apostle Paul uses the Greek words for joy and rejoicing sixteen 16 times in only 104 verses. Always be full of joy in the LORD. I say it again—rejoice! (‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4)‬

What is walking in the Spirit- How do we walk in the Spirit- Who can walk in the Spirit- Listen to find out.

How might we have confidence in the message of the gospel? How do Christians know that the message of the gospel is from the Lord Himself? There have been several different attempts to answer this question of authenticating the message of the gospel. In the Roman Catholic tradition, their trust of the gospel is based upon the authority of the church itself. Since the church declares the gospel is true, then it must be true, they argue. On the other hand, many contemporary evangelicals have argued that we can trust the gospel message because of the historical evidence that proves the central claims of the gospel. In other words, the authority of the gospel is derived from historically verifiable facts. However, the Bible does not need to be authenticated by any authority outside of its own. The primary authority by which we believe the Bible is not the testimony of the church nor the testimony of historical research but rather the testimony of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, as the author of Scripture, is the supreme and final authenticator of His own words. In our passage for this week, we will see that it is the Spirit Who inspired the gospel message, Who illumines our minds to understand the gospel message, and Who empowers the gospel message to achieve the salvation it proclaims. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon 1 Peter 1:10-13, Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Westminster Confession of Faith 1.5,6.

Life in the Spirit: Who's the Boss

Inspired - Life in the Spirit - Who is the Holy Spirit by Jubilee Community Church, East Grinstead Sermons

The Spirit Who...Sanctifies - Dave Connolly - 2014.09.28 by Frontline Church

The Spirit Who...Lives In Us - John Cavanagh - 2014.09.19 by Frontline Church

The Spirit Who...Sends Us - Jenny Harding - 2014.10.26 by Frontline Church

The Spirit Who...Equips - John Harding - 2014.10.13 by Frontline Church

Galatians 5:16-26 Live in the Spirit 16. Paul used four verbs to designate the Spirit-controlled life of the believer, to walk in the Spirit (v. 16), to be led by the Spirit (v. 18), to live by the Spirit (v. 25a), and to keep in step with the Spirit (v. 25b). He says if you follow the Holy Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The flesh refers to the areas of your heart, life, and mind that still desire the things that are contrary to the character of God. (vs 19-21) 17. The flesh and the Spirit are two warring forces within us, in mortal combat. Do you feel your heart war against what God wants for you? Wrong attitude toward someone - jealousy, bitterness, lust? Do you sense your mind warring against what God wants for you? Justifying your anger, making little of your lust, giving yourself a pass on those sins you want to think are insignificant? You know how strong your flesh is. The Spirit is greater. He is God alive and at work within you, changing you from the inside out to be more Christ-like. 18. The law is external and exposes our actions. The Spirit reveals hearts & motives. The Spirit Who set us free from bondage to both the Law and to sin empowers us to fulfill the intent of the Law. Romans 8:3-4 Ways to walk in the Spirit 19. Acts of the sinful nature vs. the fruit of the Spirit in vs 22-23. Sexual sins: these 3 have sexual connotation: immorality, impurity, and debauchery. Our society is obsessed with sex, especially with regard to removing boundaries. Sex is powerful, but it cannot stand on its own. God created sex, and then framed it for greatest intimacy. Sex had a weight to it that, outside of the frame that God created, crushes men and women and whole societies. But when a man gives himself fully to his wife, commits to be with and stay with her forever because he made a covenant promise to her before God. When he says, "I'm not going anywhere" in rich or poor, sick or health - you'll probably have all of that. When you stay together through good times and tough times, you find out that you were wrong about love. We thought the greatest emotion was in the beginning, that the strongest feelings ebb over time. What you find out is that the deepest emotion, the greatest intimacy, the most meaningful friendship grow as you stay together. There is greater intimacy, friendship, and togetherness in a committed marriage than in all the promiscuous relationships the world can ever offer. False worship: idolatry and witchcraft. Sinful attitudes: "…enmity, strife, jealousy…" Enmity is ill will or hostility. Strife is arguing, quarreling. Jealousy - we all know - wanting something someone else has instead of being happy for them. Next attitudes and actions: rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy. Sinful attitudes lead to sinful actions. Addictions: drunkenness and orgies Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. If you give yourself over to something other than Jesus Christ to find fullness, purpose, rescue, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22-23. The fruit of the Spirit - the transforming that the Spirit does in a follower of Jesus. So the flesh has a broken view of sex, a wrong focus in worship, sinful attitudes and actions, addictions to dull pain. The Spirit of Jesus offers love, joy, peace, patience... How do you crucify the flesh? 1. You turn your eyes upon Jesus. 2. Build defenses against your struggle (accountability, confession, counseling) 3. Pray for revelation of and healing for your heart's condition.

What global challenges face today's generation of students and young people? Author, speaker, and social critic Dr. Os Guinness draws Wheaton students' attention to several areas of necessary involvement for their generation. Two grand, global tasks face the church in this century: preparing the Global South and winning back the West for the Lord. Dr. Guinness points out the unlikely relationship of the gospel and civilization: the Christian religion accepts the world while renouncing much of it—we are to be"in the world but not of it." Furthermore, we are to remember that it is the Spirit Who leads and that the Kingdom moves through great reversals; when God is at work, not even a mighty reformation is out of the question.

• Sweating in the Spirit • Who is Responsible for the Apostasy? • The Doctrine of Unity and Separation • Sermon Review: The Abundant Life by Pastor Gervase Nicholas Edward Charmley

I. Armistice Day: November 11, 1918 We are continuing our study in Romans and we come to a challenging passage, but one that I think will bear good fruit in our lives and our hearts as we understand it. Today is Veterans Day, it's November 11th, the year 2001. Veterans Day was designated in honor of the original Armistice at the end of World War I. On November 11th, 1918 World War I came to an end. Now, we tend to know more about and study more about World War II than World War I, but I think that World War I may be the greatest tragedy in the history of the human race. It's something that I just don't understand, how it ever came about, how the assassination of one man and one leader led to the deaths of almost 9 million men on the battlefields of Europe and around the world. That war, World War I, was called "the war to end all wars," but it did not do that, not at all. The ceasefire was set after all that carnage, 8.6 million men died. After all of that death, the ceasefire was set for the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918, November 11th. At a small village in France, Ville-sur-Haine, a Canadian soldier named Private George Price was awaiting, as were millions of other fellow soldiers, the end to the bloodiest and most confusing war in human history up to that point. It was two minutes to 11. At that moment a German sniper bullet ran out and Price was killed, perhaps the last casualty of World War I. The Central powers that lost the war also lost 3.5 million men, the Allied powers that won the war lost 5.1 million men, and Thomas Hardy wrote a poem to mark the Armistice, and it strikes to the core of the confusion and the mystery of what happened concerning that war. This is what he wrote. There had been years of passion—scorching, cold And much Despair, and Anger heaving high Care whitely watching, Sorrows manifold Among the young, among the weak and old And the pensive Spirit of Pity whispered ‘Why?’ Men had not paused to answer. Foes distraught Pierced the thinned peoples in brute-like blindness, Philosophies that sages long had taught, And Selflessness, were an unknown thought, And ‘Hell!’ and ‘Shell!’ were yapped at Lovingkindness Calm fell. From heaven distilled a clemency; There was peace on earth, and silence in the sky; Some could, some could not, shake off misery: The Sinister Spirit sneered: ‘It had to be!’ And again the Spirit of Pity whispered ‘Why?’ Why indeed. Why 8.6 million people died in a war to end all wars, which laid the groundwork for the greatest war this history has ever seen, World War II? Nothing came of it, just millions dead. And as I look at it, I think the root of it all is sin, it's just sin. And it points to a far deeper and a far more significant battle that's going on today, even now. And I don't refer to the military struggle that faces us as a nation, I refer to the struggle inside the hearts of every one of us as Christians, the struggle over sin. And as we struggle with sin, aren't we tempted and aren't we led and don't we even cry out to ask that same question, why? Why after all this? Why after what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross? Why after the indwelling Holy Spirit? Why after the teaching that I've received? Why after even my own experience, for I've already spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do, why do I still sin? Why? And I believe that's the very question that Paul was seeking to answer here in Romans 7:13-25, which Tony read for us. And don't you sense as you listen to Paul wrestling through it for himself that he would ask the same question when he says, "I do not understand what I do." Can't you resonate with that? Isn't that crying out, saying, "Why do I act the way I do?" Why is it that the very good thing that I want to do I cannot do? And the very evil thing that I've rejected forever that I swore I would never do again, I find myself doing it again? Why is it? What is this thing, this vicious enemy called sin. And Paul is bringing it out for us, it's almost like for a moment the dust, and the steam, and smoke of the battlefield just clears for just a moment and you can look out and for the first time see very clearly the enemy, sin. And as you look through the letters on the page to the reality and then into your own heart, you realize it's the same struggle that you have as well, the struggle with sin. II. A Very Difficult Passage Now, as we come to Romans 7:13-25 we come to a very difficult passage, it may be the hardest passage in the Bible, it's hard to interpret and hard to understand. Now, as you read through it you may not see why it's difficult, but the more you think about what's been taught about the Christian life, the more you see that this is a difficult passage. I've thought a lot about this passage, I've probably studied more about it than any other passage I've ever preached on and I'm still not quite sure what it means. You say, "Well, why are you preaching?" Well, there's some things I am sure about and those things that I am sure I will tell you I'm sure about, but then there are some things I'm not quite sure. Have you ever been driving a car and you have a Coke can rolling around in the backseat and when you turn right the thing rolls over and hits one side of the car, and then when you turn left it rolls over and hits the other side? Do you know what I'm talking about? Are you the kind of person to pull over and get it? Or are you the kind of person that's going to ignore it and just live with it? See, I'm the kind... That kind of stuff drives me crazy. I've got to have things battened down inside the car. Well, that's the way my mind has been whenever I read a good commentator on Romans 7. I listen to what they say and I roll over and hit that side. And then I listen to the next person, I roll over and hit that side. Now, what are the issues? What makes this difficult? Well, it has to do with the nature of the Christian life and what God has done in us and what we've already learned in Romans compared to the things that Paul says about himself here in Romans 7. That's what makes it difficult. A Review of the Gospel in Romans Now, let's understand the context. Paul has been unfolding for us the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Romans 1:16, he says, "I'm not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is from faith to faith, just as it is written the just shall live by faith." And so there is this Gospel message of a righteousness that comes down from Heaven as a gift from God. It's an imputed righteousness, it's given just as a gift to those who simply believe. And then we've seen in Romans 1, 2 and 3 how Paul unfolds the need that we all have for it. Every last one of us needs this righteousness, because all of us have sinned and lack the glory of God. Every last one of us has exchanged the glory of God for something man-made, something sinful and wicked. And we continue to do this and we continue to live out this sin and we struggle with it, whether Jew or Gentile. Jew and Gentile alike struggle with sin. Everybody's locked under sin and we need a savior. And so God provides a savior in Jesus Christ, and what a salvation it is. And we need that salvation because we are threatened with eternal wrath. We're threatened with punishment because of our sin. "The wages of sin is death," that is eternal wrath under the judgment of God. But God presented Jesus Christ, it says, in Romans 3, as a sacrifice of atonement, a propitiation for us. Jesus stood in our place and absorbed the wrath of God on the cross. That's what was going on when He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was absorbing the wrath and punishment of our sins, our crimes against God. Justification by Faith Well, how can that righteousness of Jesus Christ be given to me? And how can my sins be given to Him? How does that transfer occur? Well, Romans 4 teaches it's simply by faith, apart from works of the law, apart from anything that you can do, no good works will ever be accepted on your behalf for your sins. Your good works cannot pay for your sins, because as we're going to find out, the more we study on Romans 7, even your best works are tainted deeply with sin. We can never get away from it. And so, how is it we receive this free gift just by faith? Like Abraham, who looked up at the stars and believed the promise from God, "So shall your offspring be," so it is with us. We hear a message, a simple message of freedom from sin through Jesus Christ and we believe it and we are justified. We're declared not guilty by the judge of all the universe. Amen, hallelujah. We're free forever. We are justified by faith. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I can't wait to preach on that, so I'll do a little this morning. Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." What a glorious message. And so, we're justified, but then a question comes. If it's true that we're simply justified by grace, by grace alone and that the law comes in just to increase sin, but where sin increased grace increased all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign even more powerfully in life. If sin can't beat grace and grace always trumps sin and grace is always greater than sin and overwhelms it, if all of that's true, then why don't we just sin all the more? Why don't we just sin and sin and sin? Romans 6:1, "What then shall we say, shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?" Our Present Christian Life So Paul in Romans 6 and 7 is dealing with the question of our present Christian life, now that we're justified and how it relates to sin. That context is very important. And then in Romans 6 we've learned that we are united with Christ, aren't we? By faith. We've become one with Him. Jesus Christ died and we died in Him and Jesus Christ rose and we rose in Him, and water baptism is a picture of that. We were buried with Him through baptism and death, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. So we're united with Jesus Christ and that gives us a complete assurance. And therefore, Romans 6:14 says, "sin shall not be your master, because you're not under law, but under grace." You've come to a whole new realm of existence. You're a new person in Christ and sin cannot rule over that new creation, that new person that you are. Sin is not your master. Sin does not call the shots in your life. You can say no to sin anytime wickedness, but rather present ourselves to God as those who've been brought from death to life and present the parts of your body, your hands, your feet, your eyes, your mouth, all the parts of you to God as instruments of righteousness. Is There Something Wrong with the Law? And then in Romans 7 he talks about the problem of the law. Well, is there something wrong with the law, then? Did that which is good produce death in me, he's asking? Is there something broken or wrong with the law? Could God have written a better law? If it only ever seems to produce death everywhere it goes, is there something wrong with the law? He answers that, "May it never be." Rather, he says, in order that sin might become utterly sinful, it produced death in me through what was good. There's nothing wrong with the law, the law is holy and righteous and just and good. It's wonderful, you can't do any better. The problem is me, I'm the problem, and you too. We are the problem. The law's got lousy material to work with. It's us. We're sinners. Is Paul Speaking as a Christian or as an Unbeliever? And so Paul is going to delve into that here. Now, what is the mystery about this passage? Well, on the one hand is Paul speaking as a Christian? Paul is using very personal language here, isn't he? He says, "I" and "me" and "my" 46 times in the NASB, 46 times in Romans 7. He says, "I" and "me" and "my." He's talking intensely about himself, it seems. Well, then, Paul, are you speaking as a Christian or are you speaking about your experiences before you were a Christian? That's the issue. Now we get the Coke can rolling from side to side. Is Paul speaking as a Christian? Well, if he is speaking as a Christian and we read it, it resonates. We say, "I understand what he's talking about," don't we? You read it and you say, "This is me. This is my struggle. I do struggle with sin like that. I do the very thing I wish I didn't do. And I can't seem to stop the very thing I don't want to do." And I relate to that and I can do what Paul did. I can cry out against myself. I can say, "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?" This is me. And so it resonates. The problem is the verses itself. They seem to say things that Paul told us would never be true about us again. Look at verse 14, "we know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual…" Well, wait a minute. What is that? What do you mean I'm unspiritual? I thought I have the indwelling Holy Spirit. I thought I am now newly created and will be that way for all eternity. What do you mean I am unspiritual? And then he goes on and says, "Sold as a slave to sin." Oh, I thought we were done with that. I thought we were free. I thought we'd never be slaves to sin again. The pastor told me so. Romans Chapter 6 tells me so, even more importantly. "Sin shall not be your master, because you're not under law but under grace." And now literally a chapter later, that was 6:14, now we got 7:14 and he seems to be taking it back, at least for himself. You see the problem. Well, if Paul is speaking as a Christian, how can he make this statement? One commentator said this is not the struggle with sin, this is defeat in sin. There's a difference. We all acknowledge that there's struggle with sin. Galatians 5 talks about that, doesn't it? Galatians 5 says very plainly that if we follow the spirit, we will not follow the flesh and there's going to be a struggle. There's no question at all he's writing to Christians. And he says that there is a conflict between the spirit and the flesh there. We know that, and we do experience it, right? And so, we struggle, the flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit wars against the flesh, so that we do not do what we want, or we do not want what we do. What does that mean? You are not pure people. You're never 100% doing anything. None of you are 100% listening to me right now. Maybe a few are. I mean, there's a pull inside, isn't there? Part of you wants to listen. Part of you doesn't want to listen. Part of you is tracking what I'm saying. Part of you is thinking about other things. I won't guess at what they are, but they're out there. And so we're not pure beings. Do you realize how pure God is when it says, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one." That means He never struggles the way we do. There's no locked up kind of grid lock inside Him. He always knows what to do. And there's no hesitation with Him about anything. But we're not like that, are we? We're divided beings, and so we struggle within ourselves all the time, don't we? I'm not questioning that. The question is, is Paul talking about that here in Romans 7, because his language seems to go too far, doesn't it? What do you mean, "sold as a slave to sin?" I don't like that. I thought I was free. I thought sin had no authority over me. I thought I'm not under sin anymore. What good news is that? Now you're taking it away from me. You see the problem. He seems to say too much, if he is speaking as a Christian. Okay, the Coke can rolls to the other side. He must be a non-Christian. He's speaking as a non-Christian. Well, in order to see the problem there, you have to realize what Paul says is true of non-Christians. In Romans Chapter 8, he say, "The sinful mind," or the mind of natural man, "Is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God." They don't love God. They don't love His word. They fight against it. They're almost allergic to it. When it's preached faithfully, they get upset about it. They get angry about it. There's an allergy in the natural heart to the word of God. And yet Paul here in Romans 7 says in verse 22, "In my inner being, I delight in God's law." So now you're saying, "I see it, I see why the Coke can rolls from side to side. Are you speaking as a Christian or are you speaking as a non-Christian?" Either Way, the Christian Life Involves a Deep Struggle Against Sin And you're saying, "Thank you very much, Pastor. I never had a problem with Romans 7 until you came and told me today." But I want you to understand the Christian life. And if you truly understand the Christian life, Romans 7 gets harder and harder to understand. The more you understand how free you are from sin and the power of the Holy Spirit within you, and the more you understand just how dead you were apart from God and how you could not rejoice in God's law, and there was nothing inside you that resonated with that, the more you're going to see that Romans 7 is the hardest chapter in the Bible. And so I want to say before we continue and try to figure out what this is teaching, I want to tell you that it doesn't ultimately matter. Now, you may be surprised about that, but I believe it's possible to be wrong about this question in Romans 7 and still be completely right about the Christian life. So the pressure's off a little bit. Now, it doesn't mean we shouldn't try to figure it out, but the pressure's off. Either Paul is a Christian or he's a non-Christian, but either way, we understand the Christian life, don't we? It's a life that's going to be involving deep, bitter struggle with sin. And it's going to be with you as long as you're in this body of death. You're going to struggle. You're going to war. And the answers have to do with the Gospel message and the promises and the power of the Holy Spirit built in you. And we'll get to that in Romans 8. He already alluded to it in Romans 7. "We do not serve in the old way of the written code, but in the new way of the Spirit." The way of the Spirit, notice in all this discussion in Romans 7, he never once mentions the Holy Spirit. That's very, very significant, I think, to me. So, ultimately, we can understand the Christian life properly and not finally resolve whether Paul is speaking as a Christian or a non-Christian. I say one more thing about it from the top. It could be that there is no resolution because sin itself is an unbelievable mystery. It is essentially insanity, isn't it? So whenever Paul sinned, even as an Apostle, it was insane for him to do so. It was a total denial and disavowal of everything God was doing in his life. And it could be we can't resolve this, because sin itself asks that question I asked at the beginning about that poem. Why? Why do we do it? There is no answer, is there? What benefit did you ever get from sin? And if the answer is none, it's only ever hurt me, it's only ever left my life devastated the way that it left the battlefields of World War I devastated, then why do you keep doing it? There is no answer, is there? It's essentially mysterious. It's the mystery of iniquity. And that's why I think we won't be able ultimately to resolve this question. But let's try to look at the chapter and try to understand it. As we look in here, we are getting an unbelievable clear look into the depths of human personality, aren't we? We're getting a probing look into who we really are. Have you ever felt this before? I do not understand what I do. I would think, of any topic in the world that you'd be an expert on, it'd be yourself. Don't you think you would really know who you are and why you do what you do? But do you? Do you understand why you do what you do? Do you ever do something or say something and say, "Why did I say that? I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to say that." Romans 7 brings that light right into the core of who we are. Why do we struggle the way we do? Now, as we've looked across this thing, we've tried to understand the various views. We understand what we're struggling with. III. Overview of the Text Let's look across the text and try to see what Paul is saying. It's really broken into three cycles. You get cycle one in verses 14-17, cycle two in verses 18-20, and cycle three in verses 21-25. In effect, in each of these three cycles, he says the same thing, only a little bit deeper each time. Cycle one. "We know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it but it is sin living in me." The first thing Paul does in this cycle is he states a problem with self. The problem's not the law. There's nothing wrong with the law. The problem is me. I am unspiritual. I've got a problem. And he states a division. There's a part of me that wants one thing and there's a part of me that wants something else. There's a war going on inside me. And then there's a statement of yearning or willingness to follow the law. There's a yearning after God, a wanting to do what God wants. And then there's a statement of powerless. But I can't do it. I see that it's good, I yearn for it, I want it but I can't do it. I just can't get there. My reach escapes my grasp. I can reach for more than I can really get. Do you feel that way in the Christian life? You can imagine more in the Christian life than you really live. And so he states bad behavior in reference to himself. "Sin living in me corrupts me and causes me grief and harm." That's cycle one. We're going to go into these more carefully over the next few weeks, God willing. Cycle two. "I know that nothing good lives in me…" It's verses 18-20. "I know that nothing good lives in me; that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do. No, the evil I do not want to do, this, I keep on doing. Now, if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it but it is sin living in me that does it." Again, he states a problem with himself. There's nothing good living in me that is in my flesh or in my sinful nature. And by the way, that slight correction there helps me to understand this whole thing. There's a slight correction which he's saying, "there's me" and then there's, "my flesh" that I'm dragging around all the time. And that helps me understand Paul speaking as a Christian. Doesn't make verse 14 any easier for me, but it does help me to understand it. So also, by the way, brothers and sisters, the fact that he says "no longer.." "It is no longer I who do it but sin living in me." What does no longer mean? It means there was a change in my life, right? There was a time that I was nothing but sin all the time. Now, I see that there's something new in me, a new creation. I hate sin. I want something new. I want to walk with God, but I've still got this flesh. So there's that no longer and that gives indications that he's talking as a Christian. And so, he puts a statement of yearning or willingness. Again, part of me desiring to please God. I want to do what is good but I cannot carry it out. And therefore, sin lives in me and corrupts me. Cycle three, verses 21-25. "So I find this law at work," he says it very strongly, this unbreakable, (it seems) or unshakable principle. "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me." Have you ever felt that? Me and my shadow, right? As soon as you want to do something good, evil's there holding you back. It makes it difficult. You don't actually do anything completely purely. That's why standing on good works will never work, because there are no perfectly good works. Evil is right there at all points. Evil is right there with me. "For in my inner being, I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in the members of my body waging a war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." So there's the third cycle. And then, as though he just can't bear it anymore, he cries out, "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Can you make that cry today? Do you see it inside yourself? What would you give to be free forever from your sin nature? What would your marriage look like? What would your employment as an employee of a company or however you earn your money, what would it be like? What would your relationship, if you're a young person, with your parents be like if you never sinned again? What would it be like? What would your relationship with the world and all of its allurements be like if there was nothing within you that resonated at all with that wickedness? What would your life be like? And so you cry out and say, I just look inward and I see wretchedness. IV. Law Leads to Christ, and Christ Gives the Spirit Who's going to rescue me from this body of death? And then, if you're a Christian, you move onto the second part. Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Somebody say amen. Somebody cheerful. Amen! Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our savior. And when we get to Heaven are you going to be talking about yourself and how great you were and how you made it through the life and all that? No. You're going to be saying, "Hallelujah! What a savior. Hallelujah! What a friend. Saving, helping, keeping, loving. He stays with me to the end." That is Jesus, our savior. We will discuss this more next week. V. Application Let's get a little application, and then, God willing, if He gives us time next week, we'll look more carefully at these verses and try to understand ourselves. How can we apply this? First of all, be thankful if you're a Christian. Speak words of praise to Jesus all the time, because you can't save yourself. You prove it every day. Even now, even as a Christian, even with the scripture, and with the indwelling spirit and all of these things, there's still enough sin to condemn you every day. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ. Thank Him often for your salvation. Thanksgiving's coming up; every day should be thanksgiving for a Christian. Every day you should be saying thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you. Secondly, be warned. Sin is going to be with you until you are separated from the body in this world. Be warned. Be ready. Sin is there. Vicious, aggressive, more dangerous than the devil. Because even if there were no devil, you'd still have your sin nature, and it's enough to condemn, right? So you've got that vicious enemy, and it's an enemy within the walls. Be warned. Sin is there. Be humbled, therefore, you cannot even control your own self. I do not understand what I do. I just can't seem to get the upper hand. And were it not for the indwelling spirit, what kind of life would you live? Even now, justified, believing in Christ, what would your life look like? You need Jesus Christ, don't you? And you need the power of the Holy Spirit, so let it humble you. Be humble. Don't think highly of yourself when you see progress in your Christian life, and you will. But realize, be humble, that something that God is working in you. Be grieved also. Does Paul ever evade responsibility for his sin in here? Does he ever say, "Well, it's not my fault. I can't help myself." No, he takes full responsibility and he's grieved. It troubles him. So be grieved over your sin. Be instructed. The law cannot sanctify you. It couldn't justify you, and it cannot finish the work in you either. You don't go get justified through faith in Christ and then read the law and try to keep it as best you can. That is not Christianity. The law cannot sanctify you. And then finally, be assured and encouraged. Have you ever wondered, "Am I a Christian?" Have you ever wondered... You look in and you see this sin and this struggle. Have you ever wondered, has it not slain you to the heart? You love Jesus Christ, you know He died in your place. You know you've trusted Him as Lord and savior, and yet you just can't seem to shake sin. I must not be a Christian. How vulnerable are we to that? Be encouraged. If Paul is writing as a mature, godly Christian man here, you can't do much better than Paul, and he still wrestled with sin too. That doesn't mean be encouraged to sin. May it never be, but be encouraged as you wrestle with sin. I really believe only true Christians really wrestle with sin. They really wage war, and they're going to be doing it until the Lord comes back. So be encouraged and be assured, just because you have sin in your life, doesn't mean you're not a Christian.