Podcasts about therefore god

Philippians 2:4-11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Zechariah 9:9,16 9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 16 On that day the Lord their God will save them,  as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. Psalm 20: 6-9 6  Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven    with the saving might of his right hand.  7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. 9 O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call. Revelation 5:9-10,13-14 9  And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”  13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,  “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus did something we often overlook when He came to earth.He emptied Himself.He emptied Himself of all the rights and privileges of being the Son of God, seated at the right hand of Majesty in Heaven.He remained fully God and fully man, but emptied Himself of the glory of BEING God as He walked the earth.Philippians 2:7-11 tells us that He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”Jesus' emptying Himself has a HUGE impact on what is happening in your life and mine, right now, at this very moment, because of what Jesus is doing on our behalf in Heaven right now, at this moment!  Did you know that Jesus is in Heaven right now, interceding for you? He is also preparing a place for you, right now!  And that's not all…Join me for this lagniappe edition as we learn to follow Jesus' example, the glory of being empty to be full this season!(RAR2025EP52)

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe “Human beings are not self-referential. You don't make yourself feel loved by telling yourself ‘I love you.' We are relational beings, and so we need something outside of ourselves to tell us we have value and worth.”~Dr. John Ashley Null, Humboldt University (Berlin) and Anglican Bishop of North Africa “But where, say some, is the King of America? I'll tell you, friend, he reigns above….”~Thomas Paine (1737-1809) in “Common Sense” (pub. January 10, 1776) “There has not been a ‘when' when the Father was not in existence. This, then, is true of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Put another question and I will answer it.Since when has the Son been begotten? Since as long as the Father has not been begotten.Since when has the Spirit been proceeding? Since as long as the Son has not been proceeding but being begotten in a non-temporal way that transcends explanation.”~Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-390) in “On the Son” orations 29, chapter 3 “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible. “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, the only-begotten; that is of the essence of the Father, God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; by whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth. Who for us men and for our salvation came down and was incarnate and was made man; he suffered and the third day he rose again, and he ascended into heaven; from then he shall come to judge the living and the dead. “And in the Holy Spirit. “But those who say: ‘There was a time when he was not;' and ‘he was not before he was made;' and ‘he was made out of nothing,' or ‘he is of another substance' or ‘essence,' or ‘The Son of God is created,' or ‘changeable,' or ‘alterable'—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.”~The Nicene Creed (325 AD) “…we are not entitled to such license, I mean that of affirming what we please; we make the Holy Scriptures the rule and the measure of every tenet…”~Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335-c. 394), church leader from ancient Cappadocia; key participant in the Council of Constantinople (381AD), that confirmed and expanded the Nicene Creed (325 AD). SERMON PASSAGEselected passages (ESV)John 5 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Philippians 24 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Psalm 21 Why do the nations rage  and the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth set themselves,  and the rulers take counsel together,  against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,3  “Let us burst their bonds apart  and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;  the Lord holds them in derision.5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,  and terrify them in his fury, saying,6 “As for me, I have set my King  on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree:  The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;  today I have begotten you.8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,  and the ends of the earth your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod of iron  and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;  be warned, O rulers of the earth.11 Serve the Lord with fear,  and rejoice with trembling.12 Kiss the Son,  lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,  for his wrath is quickly kindled.  Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Philippians 2:5-11 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.     Isaiah 9:1-7 1  But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.  2 The people who walked in darkness  have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.  5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom,     to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.   Galatians 4:4-7 4  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Christ Our King: The Word Enthroned 12.14.25 Pastor Tony Felich   2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'”   Psalm 2:6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” [7] I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. [8] Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.   Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.   WLC 45 Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God and obey not the gospel.”

Study session scripture: Romans 1:18-32For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.Study session topics:God's wrath against sinners: the unrighteousness of the gentilesWhat does the wrath of God look like? Thumos versus orgeGo'd wrath against unrighteousness is revealed in the downward trajectory of an ungodly worldRefusal to honor GodTurning to worship idolsSexual sinFurther depravityStudy session audio:

Philippians 2:1-11 1  1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Hebrews 12:1-2   1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Message Take Aways:1. Paul reminds of the preeminence of Jesus Christ who is greater than all things being God the Son, Lord of lords, and King of kings—“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” Philippians 2:9-102. Paul recalls the selfless and willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ which generates peace between God and man—“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” 1 Timothy 2:5-63. Paul recognized his mission as preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all men, a charge likewise entrusted to every believer—“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14

Sermon Summary Speaker: Andy Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7, Matthew 4:12, Judges 6-8 The Context of Advent: The sermon opens by acknowledging the difficulty of looking past the commercial "tinsel and glitter" of Christmas to find the uncomfortable reality of a baby born in a manger. The Prophecy (Isaiah 9): Andy explores the prophecy written 700 years before Jesus, promising that "there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress". He connects this Old Testament prophecy directly to Jesus' ministry in Galilee (Zebulun and Naphtali) as recorded in Matthew 4. Historical Parallel (The Midianites): The sermon draws a parallel between the "gloom" of Isaiah's time and the story of Gideon (Judges 6). Israel was oppressed by the Midianites, hiding in caves and starving. Andy notes that just as Gideon—a "nobody" with a tiny army of 300—defeated a massive army of 135,000, God uses the small to defeat the massive. Modern Application: Andy connects the historical "gloom" to the modern struggles of the council estate and inner-city life: mental health issues, abusive relationships, crippling debt, addiction, and fear. He acknowledges that life often feels like being "hemmed in" with no respite. The Paradox and Hope: The central message is that God breaks this massive oppression not with a giant army, but through a child. The "light dawning" is Jesus. Andy emphasizes that our confidence should not be in our own strength or government strategies, but in the "zeal of the Lord Almighty" and the child who is "Mighty God" and "Prince of Peace". Transcript Speaker: Andy (00:00) Thanks, Steve. Good morning, everybody. So we are at the second in our little Advent series. I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels to me that, you know, with all the… what we're trying to do here is get past all the tinsel and glitter and commercialization and busyness and all that stuff, and actually discover actually there's a baby being born. There's a baby that's got a message behind all of that. And sometimes it just feels so uncomfortable and awkward. Just sat there looking at this angel, you know, and it feels like we're just sat on a load of prickly things through the Christmas period, right? And it's really uncomfortable. And it shouldn't be like that, right? And it's kind of strange. (00:54) So this morning we're going to be looking at a few verses in Isaiah chapter 9. If you've got a Bible, you might want to turn to that. If this is kind of new to you, then Isaiah is a book that's kind of roughly in the middle. If this isn't new to you, you're going to tell me off now for what I'm about to say. But so if you open your Bible up, you probably land somewhere in the book of Psalms. If you go forwards a bit, you find the book of Isaiah. (01:17) And Isaiah is one of those books in the Old Testament that we call one of the prophetic books. Because him and a number of other writers—in the same section of the Old Testament—are writing things that God has spoken to them about that are going to happen in the future. So Isaiah is one of these. And these verses that we're going to read, he's actually talking about something that's going to happen 700 years in the future. So we're going to read this… We're dipping around a few other verses because I want to try and help us get the context of what he's saying first of all. (01:54) So Isaiah chapter 9, I'm going to start in verse 1. "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress." If you take home nothing else from this morning, take home that sentence. Pray about it. Meditate on it. Ask God what does it mean in your life? What does it mean in the lives of those that you rub shoulders with? Just think about that. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. Anybody want that? Yes. Absolutely. So take that home and pray about it. That doesn't mean switch off for everything else I say! But if you take nothing else, take that home. (02:45) And Isaiah goes on: "In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali..." Now, Israel as a geographic area was carved up into the twelve tribes, and Zebulun and Naphtali are two of those tribes. And their land was actually on the border with the next country. And every time Israel got invaded, these two tribes were the first to cop it, right? And they took all of the onslaught of enemies invading them. (03:13) So he says: "In the past he humbled those lands, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (03:34) Now just bear with me for a minute, we're going to flip forward into the New Testament. And I'm going to turn to Matthew chapter 4, and I'm going to read a few verses here. Matthew is one of those Gospel writers who's telling us about the story of Jesus as he was on this earth. And as Jesus begins his ministry, begins to teach and preach about what the Kingdom of God is, Matthew says this in chapter 4, verse 12: (04:02) "When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—aha—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (04:47) So Matthew for us is straight away saying this passage in Isaiah is about Jesus. What Isaiah is talking about here 700 years earlier is a statement about Jesus coming into this world, and what that means for mankind, and what that means for you and for I. (05:07) We carry on in verse 3 of Isaiah 9. "You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy." So he's talking about the change Jesus is going to bring to the nation and to people's lives, "…but once were in distress. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat"—and we'll come back to that—"you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (06:33) Amen, indeed. So let's just go back to verse 4. Because Isaiah pulls right into the middle of this word about Jesus, he references something, he calls it "for as in the day of Midian's defeat." And he's talking about an event that happened 400 years earlier. So he's prophesying something that's going to happen 700 years in the future, but in doing that, he calls on something that happened 400 years in his past. We get the idea... "with the Lord a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is one day," right? (07:09) So it's a... and you can read about this event in Judges chapter 6 to chapter 8. That's about the sixth book of the Bible... sixth, yeah I think that's about right. So you can read about this event in Judges 6 to 8. We might better know it as the story of Gideon. Okay? But the... and actually what we're going to do, I'm just going to read the opening verses because it sets the scene. And I just think this is really important because it ties into why Isaiah is... something powerful about the message of Isaiah about Jesus coming and what it means. And also for the first time ever, I thought Gideon has something to do with Christmas. So, here we go. (07:54) So in Judges chapter 6, we read this. I'm just going to read six verses. "Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, in caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels. They invaded the land to ravage it. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help."1 (08:52) It was a desperate time for the nation of Israel. This powerful army overran them completely. They oppressed them as2 a nation. You know, every... the men of Israel and the families of Israel had to go, leave their homes and hide in caves and in cleft3s in the rocks in order to escape the oppression of this enemy that was all over them. And, you know, when they went out and planted crops, then the Midianites would turn up and take those crops and kill the livestock. And at the end of that section I read, it says Israel was impoverished. It's a strong word. (09:37) And you get this sense of huge oppression on the nation at that time. It was desperate for them. They were reduced, as I say, to living in caves and fending for their lives. Their world had shrunk. They were hemmed in. They were struggling for food, not knowing where the next meal was coming from. Always watching their back because of this invader. No respite and no end in sight. (10:07) And I just wonder this morning, for some of us, does it ever feel a little bit like that at all? The challenges of this life? I think for some of the people we rub shoulders with, does it feel like that in this life? You know, when we're here on a Thursday morning with Edge and we're chatting to people and just discovering some of the circumstances they're going through. There's elements of this. Sure, we're not overrun by a foreign army in that sense, but there are other things that are hemming us in, making us feel oppressed. And no matter what we do, we always seem to be knocked back down. That life is a struggle. That you do feel hemmed in by life's circumstances. And, you know, um, that we're facing something beyond us, something too powerful. (11:03) But the story is the story of God acting to change that. Because it is the story of Gideon and how he chose Gideon. And the interesting thing about Gideon is, because we haven't got time to go into it, but Gideon was the least of the least, right? He was a nobody. In fact when God comes to him and says "I've called you to lead my nation and to conquer the Midianites," he s4ays "Why me? I'm the least of my family. My family is the least of the clan that we're in. I'm the last person you should be choosing. I'm just a nobody." In fact what he actually says to God is: "If God is with us, why has all this happened?" Ever said th5at? Good bit of honesty, isn't it? Absolutely. What a great prayer. "God, if you're with us, why has all this ha6ppened?"78 (11:51) But he is the least of the least. Not only is he a nobody who sees himself as the least of 9the least, when God tells him to get an army, God whittl10es his army down to just 300 people. And that's it. So here you've got a man who regards himself as the least of the least with a tiny, tiny army. And yet when we get to Judges chapter 8 and the end of the story, what we see is this man with his 300 men defeats an army of 135,000 soldiers. And you think, what's going on? He captures their kings. And he routs them. And he brings freedom to Israel. And he ends the oppression of the Midianites. (12:35) And you think, how can something so small—this guy who was the least of the least with his tiny little force—how can something so small defeat something so huge? That is so daunting, that is so scary. To human eyes, you would need something bigger and stronger to throw off the oppressor. If you've got an army of 135,000, give me an army of 200,000 to at least have a chance, you would think, right? (13:06) So the question is, why does Isaiah reference this story in the middle of this prophetic word about Jesus coming and being born into our world? Why does he pull in this event 400 years earlier? And it seems to me there's probably several reasons, but two that I just pull out of this that I think help us understand and kind of earth what Isaiah is talking about. (13:30) First of all, Isaiah says "You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor." You can see just from the glimpse of that story and my summary of it, it is well understood how the Midianites had oppressed the Israelites and how God had broken that oppression. But when we read that, we need to think carefully about, okay, how does that apply to us today in 2025? How does that apply to me and my life? How does that apply to this community where we live, this culture that we're in, this society that we're in when we read this? (14:09) Because like I say, there's not an army invading this land. Although actually probably for some of us here that might have been an experience at one point in our lives. But there are other things that squeeze in. There are other forms of oppression that stop people flourishing and blooming into all that God has called them to be and wants them to be. You know, we are overrun with mental health challenges in society today. The number of abusive relationships and control and manipulation that takes place is awful. And the effect of that on people's lives is like an oppression. (14:48) The grip of addiction and addictive behaviors is something that is so controlling that people struggle to break free of it. People spiraling into debt—which again we see on a Thursday morning so often—and not knowing how to get out and struggling how to get out and feeling like they're drowning in what is happening around them. A poverty not just of finance, but a poverty of hope and choice in people's lives becomes something that is so destructive in them. And stuck thinking that just this is their lot. (15:23) People full of fears and anxieties. You know, sure we're not running off to hide in caves, but so many people not able to get out of their own homes simply because of fear or because of anxiety. And so there are many things around us that we can equate and connect with what Isaiah is talking about here and make that connection. And all of these lead to a sense of oppression, of there's nowhere to go, of having to accept that this is our lot. (15:58) But not only is this a story about how the oppression of the Midianites was broken, it's a story of how that occurred. For as in Midian's day, this Gideon who was the least of the least, who was a nobody with his tiny little force... it just makes no human sense. How can that defeat this huge thing? How can that make any difference to this that seems so massive and so unable to overcome? How can Gideon with his tiny group bring freedom for the whole of Israel? As we look at it with human eyes, we think, huh? How's that gonna change? How is that ever gonna change? (16:47) So Isaiah tells us this breaking of oppression, this light shining in the darkness, this dawning of a light, is this child being born in 700 years time. That is what is going to make the difference. That is what is going to bring about a change. But again, it makes no sense! If you look at it with human eyes, how can that event—how can a tiny baby that is just totally dependent on Mum and Dad for its food, for its clothes, for its protection, for a roof over its head—how can a tiny baby be the thing that is going to make such a difference that it will break oppression in people's lives? That it will break the yoke on their shoulders and the rod of oppression on their backs? (17:34) What are... what are the baby's qualifications? You know, when we were doing... talking to builders about [Project] 146, that was a key question for us. What are the qualifications of this builder? So we interviewed five of them. You know, and we asked them questions like, "Have you done churches before? Do you work with charities?" Because that's different from working with commercial organizations. We wanted to see pictures of their work. We wanted to talk to other clients they'd had and get a conversation about how they found them and understand and make sure we were clear about the qualifications of the builder before we said "Yeah, we'll take you on and engage you." We need to know what their qualifications were. (18:16) When we look at Gideon, we see this man who is the least of the least with his tiny force. But what we also see is God said: "I will be with you." And so it's Gideon the nobody, tiny little force, but God with him. And that is what brought... broke the oppression for Israel. That's what brought freedom to those men and women and enabled them to step out of those caves, enabled them to plant crops, enabled them to go and, as Isaiah says here, "enlarge their nation and increase their joy." (18:55) So with Gideon, it's God is with him. But when we look at this child being born, this is God himself coming to this earth. This isn't somebody with God, this is God himself being born. All authority and power is his. He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government and peace. He will be establishing and upholding his Kingdom of justice and righteousness. (19:30) Paul, when he was writing to the church in Philippi, he put it this way. He says: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but he made himself nothing" ...became a baby, totally dependent on Mum and Dad. "Made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore... Therefore God has exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (20:25) See, that's his qualifications. That's why he is well able to bring about freedom from oppression. That's why he is well able to tackle the things that we've just talked about that so grip society today and grip our culture and grip our own lives. That is his qualifications. That's why he is the one able to shatter whatever yoke is on our lives, whatever bar is across our shoulders, and whatever type of oppression we are under. Our confidence is not in our abilities. It's not in our self-control. It's not in our self-discipline. Our confidence is not in government strategies. It's not even in church programs. But our confidence is in Jesus Christ and him alone. And that's why we can challenge the principalities and powers of this world—because of Him. (21:20) And there's two other things I just want to pull out quickly before we finish. In verse 6, Isaiah says to us: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given." You see, what has been done to bring this light that Isaiah starts his message with... this great light, or to see that this light slowly dawning—what's been done to bring that has been given to us. (21:49) You see, when we read about Jesus in the Gospels, like in Matthew earlier, and we read about his three-year ministry, we don't see a man who was going around just doing his own thing. We don't see Jesus just doing what he wanted to do and that was it. No, we see him doing what the Father told him to do, but we see them doing that for us. He came to tell... teach us about the Kingdom of God. He came to teach us about what it is to repent and have our sins forgiven. He came to teach us what it is to live in a way that he calls us to. He came to... he demonstrated that with signs and wonders raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons, and bringing freedom to men and women's lives. (22:31) You see, when you were born, you were born into your family. You came to your family, in that sense. But this child has been given to us. That's good news! This Jesus has been born to us, for us. He's given to all of us. You see, God has reached down and come to us. That means he's come to you. And he's come to me. He has not remained distant. Nor has he sent somebody else in his place. You know, like if King Charles were going to write you a letter, it would be a postman that delivers it. He wouldn't come personally and give it to you. Yeah? That's not the way God works. He's come to us personally through his son Jesus. He's sent his one and only son Jesus to us that we may walk in light and that the hold of oppression on our lives may be broken. (23:25) But in coming to us... it demands a response, right? If you come to us—literally to me and Ange to our house—and ring the doorbell, it demands a response from us. We might think, "Uhh..." Shut the curtains? No, no, no, we wouldn't do that. We would open the door and welcome you in. But it demands a response; we have to respond. And in the same way, Jesus... [knocks on pulpit] ...comes to us, right? And it demands a response. Every time. (24:00) And we can reject him. And then we'll remain under the yoke that Isaiah is talking about. We'll remain seduced by the world around us and we'll succumb to the oppression that that world puts in our lives. Or... we can embrace this child. We can embrace this son. And surrender all to him and bow the knee. (24:26) And you might think, "Well does that matter?" Does that matter? Well Isaiah goes on in verse 7 and he says "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." In other words, it will grow, and grow, and grow. The government and peace of Jesus will grow and grow and grow. You see, Jesus did not remain a baby born in a stable. He did not remain even the man that walked this earth for three years preaching and teaching the Kingdom of God. He did not remain the man who laid down his life for you and for me on a cross. He did not even remain the man that God raised from the dead three days later and appeared to his disciples. But he is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. And all authority and all power has been given to him. And all things are under his feet. And countless millions have found that to be true ever since that day. (25:27) This Jesus has come to you, and to me. What is our response? And finally, Isaiah finishes this passage by saying "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." And you know what it is when you want to change something in your own life? And in your own circumstances? And how we can try harder? And we want to do things better? And we want to be more careful? And we want to work smarter? And in just two or three weeks some of us will be duped into making resolutions... and all that kind of stuff, right? But we tire. And we get lazy. And we lose our way. Or something unexpected happens and comes from stage left and thwarts us with what we're doing and we're all of a tailspin again. And we thought we were making progress, but so often it can feel like one step forward, ten steps back. (26:15) You see, this breaking of the oppression... this son coming... this increase of his government and peace and the growth of his justice and kingdom isn't like that. This light of dawn breaking upon our lives isn't like that. God isn't going to start this and then decide it's too hard. It's not that he looks at you or he looks at me and thinks, "Can't really help with that bit." It's not that he looks at you or I and thinks... and starts working in us but then gives up because he gets bored, like we might. Or because actually he's busier with some more important people. Doesn't do that. (26:50) Why? Because the zeal, the passion of the Lord for you and for I will accomplish this. It's not dependent on our efforts. It's dependent on him. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The one who lives in unapproachable light. Who knew your name before you were born. And who ordained all the days of your life before one of them came to pass. His zeal, his passion for you will accomplish this in your life and in my life. His zeal will see it through. (27:30) I'd like us just to spend a little bit more time in worship and just come before this Jesus. There's a couple of things that strike me about this passage that are interesting in terms of, you know... we're very keen to try and encourage engagement in terms of prayer and asking Jesus to bring about change in our lives, right? And apply that. But there's a theme here that God seems to use what on the surface appears insignificant, possibly even weak. When we talk about Gideon and his little force. We talk about a child being born in a stable. And in fact if you take that further and you talk about a man willingly letting himself be crucified on a cross. (28:20) There's a theme that in God bringing freedom for you and me, he uses what seems weak and insignificant. And lays down their lives. And it seems to me that in responding to him, to know that freedom, there's something about that that you and I need to do as well. We need to, in a sense, admit before Jesus that we are weak, actually. And that we want to lay down our lives. And that actually, before Jesus, we are insignificant. (28:55) And let's be honest, that's quite hard because we like to think, you know... we're not... we like to think we've got some strength and some oomph. But in responding to Jesus, it's about laying down our own lives. And coming to him in full surrender. But the second thing about this passage Isaiah says is that this is about a light that is dawning. You see we can read a passage like this and there's a danger of triumphalism. Of thinking "Yeah! Jesus is going to change everything! Right now! Boom, boom, boom!" And I know it's not like that. Life is hard for a lot of people. Even in this room this morning, life is hard. But the promise that is here... the hope... is that there is light dawning. There's not a promise of when the full day comes, right? But there is a promise of hope, of light dawning. And that is Jesus. (30:04) And so we come to him. I wonder if we could have the worship band back please? And if we're going to worship again... but I just want to encourage you to respond to Jesus. You know, he's knocking. You might have been a Christian for donkeys' years. Guess what? He's still knocking. He's still looking and wanting to break things in our lives that we would know his freedom and walk in the goodness of all that he has for us. Thanks, Steve.

Philippians 2:1-11 1   1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have so much to be grateful for, and most of all we can give thanks for Christ Jesus leaving the heights of heaven and coming to dwell among us, taking our sin, destroying death and making eternity in heaven possible to thise who call upon His name. Chad meditates on this most wonderful hymn from Paul's letter to the Phillipians and calls us to be ever grateful for the finished work of our Saviour. Jeff Anderson sings "You Took the Way Down". Hidden Streams: Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Coming Home for Christmas: 1517 Advent Devotional Face to Face: A Novel of the Reformation by Amy Mantravadi Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug More from the hosts: Chad Bird We have the mind of Christ We have the mind of Christ    Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be exploited,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Salvation's story You took the way down The Lord of glory You took the way down You came down to earth So we can enter Your rest And wait for the day Every knee shall bow Every tongue confess That Jesus is Lord We have the mind of Christ We have the mind of Christ

Happy Thanksgiving! As you gather with family and friends today, we hope your hearts are filled with gratitude to God for His many blessings. While Thanksgiving is a treasured tradition for us, its roots stretch back more than 4 centuries. Who gathered at that first feast in 1621? Why were they there? And what exactly were they giving thanks for?Let's take a closer look at the remarkable story of the Pilgrims—one of enduring faith, sacrifice, and God's gracious provision.Who Were the Pilgrims?Most of us learned in grade school that the Plymouth Colony—located in present-day Massachusetts—was founded in 1620 by a group we know as the Pilgrims. These settlers, also called Separatists, longed to break away entirely from the Church of England, believing it had drifted from biblical teaching. Their commitment to worship according to Scripture set them on a courageous journey toward religious freedom.Nearby, the Puritans would establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. While they shared many beliefs with the Pilgrims, their approach differed. The Puritans remained within the Church of England, seeking to reform it from within. Though their strategies diverged, the stories of these two groups are deeply intertwined in the early chapters of American history.The Pilgrims faced significant persecution in England for worshiping outside the established church. Holding fast to the Bible as their ultimate authority made them targets. In 1609, seeking refuge, they fled to Leiden, Holland. Yet even there, challenges persisted—some were arrested, and the freedom they sought still felt out of reach.Recognizing Europe would not offer the spiritual liberty they longed for, they made a bold and costly decision: to sail to the New World. About 120 men, women, and children boarded the Mayflower. While some passengers—known as “adventurers”—joined the voyage for economic opportunity, the Pilgrims' primary aim was clear: to worship freely and build a life rooted firmly in their faith.Hardship Upon ArrivalTheir journey across the Atlantic was long and brutal. Delays meant they arrived in November—not summer—leaving no time to plant crops. That first winter, remembered as “the starving time,” was devastating. Nearly half the group died from disease and lack of food.Still, in God's providence, the Pilgrims formed a gracious relationship with local Native Americans. A Native American named Squanto—who had learned English years earlier—became a critical ally. He taught them how to plant corn, where to fish, and how to survive in an unfamiliar land. His guidance helped bring the colony through that difficult first year.With Squanto's help, the Pilgrims planted crops in the spring of 1621 and harvested enough that fall to sustain their small community. To honor God for His provision, they invited their Native American neighbors to join them in a feast of thanksgiving.By that point, only 22 men, four married women, and 25 teenagers and children remained from the original group. Their guests nearly doubled the gathering, bringing food and friendship—resulting in what may have been America's first potluck meal. Together, they celebrated survival, provision, and the kindness of God expressed through unexpected relationships.A Legacy of FaithYears later, Plymouth's longtime governor, William Bradford, reflected on their experience in Of Plymouth Plantation, quoting Hebrews 11:13–16 to describe the Pilgrims' faith:“All these people were still living by faith when they died… They were looking for a country of their own… longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”For the Pilgrims, this passage captured the heart of their journey. They understood that their true home was not a piece of land or a colony—they belonged to God. Their courage, perseverance, and gratitude were expressions of that eternal hope.As we celebrate Thanksgiving today, may we remember this story of faith under pressure, resilience in hardship, and gratitude rooted in God's unwavering provision. The freedoms we enjoy—especially the freedom to worship—come through the sacrifices of those who came before us.From all of us at FaithFi, we wish you a warm, joyful, and grace-filled Thanksgiving. May your day be filled with gratitude for God's goodness and confidence in His faithful care.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My question is about the so-called ‘Dollar 2.0' and the new S.1582 bill. How might this impact our currency? I'm retired and concerned about my savings.My dad recently passed away and left me and my siblings money in an IRA. We're being told we need to set up inherited IRAs to receive it. What exactly is an inherited IRA, and is that our only—or best—option?I run a construction company and also helped start a nonprofit. Can I legally pay myself a salary from the nonprofit? And can the nonprofit hire my construction company for its projects?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Sound Mind Investing (SMI)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Romans 1:20-2520 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Philippians 2:6-11 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,  10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,   21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   Proverbs 11:24-25 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.   Above and Beyond   God has gone above and beyond by going low.   God became one of us (Incarnation), died for us (Atonement), rose for us (Resurrection), reigns for us (Intercession), and put His Spirit in us (Indwelling). God is the first and greatest giver. Generosity is a response, not an initiation. God calls us to go above and beyond. Mission:  to help people follow Jesus. Vision: to see God do immeasurably more in and through you. Generosity is an act of faith that moves us beyond theory to trust. Generosity goes above and beyond yourself.   5G Strategy:  Gatherings, Growth, Generations, Good Works, Global Discipleship   Generosity is participation in transformation.  

창세기 (Genesis) 1:27 [새번역/ESV] 27 하나님이 당신의 형상대로 사람을 창조하셨으니, 곧 하나님의 형상대로 사람을 창조하셨다. 하나님이 그들을 남자와 여자로 창조하셨다. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 로마서 (Romans) 1:20-27 [새번역/ESV] 20 이 세상 창조 때로부터, 하나님의 보이지 않는 속성, 곧 그분의 영원하신 능력과 신성은, 사람이 그 지으신 만물을 보고서 깨닫게 되어 있습니다. 그러므로 사람들은 핑계를 댈 수가 없습니다. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 사람들은 하나님을 알면서도, 하나님을 하나님으로 영화롭게 해드리거나 감사를 드리기는커녕, 오히려 생각이 허망해져서, 그들의 지각없는 마음이 어두워졌습니다. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 사람들은 스스로 지혜가 있다고 주장하지만, 실상은 어리석은 사람이 되었습니다. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 그들은 썩지 않는 하나님의 영광을, 썩어 없어질 사람이나 새나 네 발 짐승이나 기어다니는 동물의 형상으로 바꾸어 놓았습니다. and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 그러므로 하나님께서는, 사람들이 마음의 욕정대로 하도록 더러움에 그대로 내버려 두시니, 서로의 몸을 욕되게 하였습니다. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 사람들은 하나님의 진리를 거짓으로 바꾸고, 창조주 대신에 피조물을 숭배하고 섬겼습니다. 하나님은 영원히 찬송을 받으실 분이십니다. 아멘. because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 이런 까닭에, 하나님께서는 사람들을 부끄러운 정욕에 내버려 두셨습니다. 여자들은 남자와의 바른 관계를 바르지 못한 관계로 바꾸고, For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 또한 남자들도 이와 같이, 여자와의 바른 관계를 버리고 서로 욕정에 불탔으며, 남자가 남자와 더불어 부끄러운 짓을 하게 되었습니다. 그래서 그들은 그 잘못에 마땅한 대가를 스스로 받았습니다. and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 사람들이 하나님을 인정하기를 싫어하므로, 하나님께서는 사람들을 타락한 마음 자리에 내버려 두셔서, 해서는 안될 일을 하도록 놓아 두셨습니다. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 사람들은 온갖 불의와 악행과 탐욕과 악의로 가득 차 있으며, 시기와 살의와 분쟁과 사기와 적의로 가득 차 있으며, 수군거리는 자요, They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 중상하는 자요, 하나님을 미워하는 자요, 불손한 자요, 오만한 자요, 자랑하는 자요, 악을 꾸미는 모략꾼이요, 부모를 거역하는 자요, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 우매한 자요, 신의가 없는 자요, 무정한 자요, 무자비한 자입니다. foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 데살로니가전서 (1 Thessalonians) 5:9 [새번역/ESV] 9 하나님께서는 우리를 진노하심에 이르도록 정하여 놓으신 것이 아니라, 우리 주 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 구원을 얻도록 정하여 놓으셨습니다. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ

Today, we're tackling some tough listener questions. We're joined by Tara Buchanan, good friend and cohost of the Behind Our Smiles podcast. Sponsor It's here! Order the Sexual Desire Differences Masterclass and get the video, a resource list, and an invitation to participate in tonight's (Thursday, November 13, 2025) Live Q&A session with Bonny and J at 7:00pm eastern! Masterclass: Sexual Desire Differences - Sex Chat for Christian Wives. From the Bible The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved. Song of Songs 7:13 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. Song of Songs 8:10 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:17 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." Genesis 2:16–17 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened....Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another....Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:21,24, 26–27 Resources Behind Our Smiles Podcast, with Tara & Joe Buchanan Struggling with Sex in Marriage? Here's What To Do First. - Hot, Holy & Humorous Sensate Focus Therapy | Cornell Health Everything You Need to Know About Sensate Focus Touch by Linda Weiner, LCSW | YouTube The Back Door (my take on anal sex) • Bonny's Oysterbed7 Why I Took My Breast Implants Out - Hot, Holy & Humorous Are Breast Implants Bad for You? - Hot, Holy & Humorous Should Christians Get Plastic Surgery? - Hot, Holy & Humorous Episode 111: Accepting Your Body - Sex Chat for Christian Wives Is Anal Sex Okay? - Hot, Holy & Humorous Episode 31: Listener Questions - Sex Chat for Christian Wives (including anal sex) Q&A with J: Pegging. Is It Okay? - Hot, Holy & Humorous Finger Cots | Amazon Episode 235: Helping Your Husband Heal, with Tara Buchanan Episode 216: When She Wants Sex More - Sex Chat for Christian Wives (w/Tara Buchanan) Thanks for joining us at the virtual kitchen table for another great chat! If you could, leave a rating and/or review so that others can find the show. Please also check out our website and webinars at forchristianwives.com. And visit our individual ministry pages for more resources as well: Strong Wives - Bonny Burns Honeycomb & Spice - Chris Taylor Hot, Holy & Humorous - J. Parker

Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux was preacher for this service. Philippians 2:9-11: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 54 - Beautiful Savior, King of Creation - Philippians 2:9-11: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 55 - Crown Him With Many Crowns - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Preacher), Hannah Caauwe (Organist)

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on December 21, 2020)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...    It is important to read New Testament Bible and to keep scriptures of what God says before us so we will not drift away from God's laws with the thinking of humans and be turned over by God to a reprobate mind.   Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   II Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?   The only thing important is:  What does God say?   By the New Testament Bible, we set our thinking to match God's view.   ***   Consider this:   I Corinthians 7:39   The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.   In churches, people are often told, "We don't go by the law in the New Testament church."    We don't go by the law of Moses concerning sacrifice of animals for sins, but we still go by the New Testament laws of God as the New Testament church.   Romans 7:1-3  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.   I Corinthians 7:10-11  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.   Matthew 5:32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.   (If a husband divorces a faithful wife and she remarries, she will commit adultery but her husband who divorced her will be the cause of her adultery.  And the man who marries this divorced woman commits adultery.)   Mark 10   2 And the Pharisees came to HIM (to Jesus), and asked HIM, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting HIM.   3 And HE answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?   4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.   5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.   6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.   7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;   8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.   9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.   10 And in the house HIS disciples asked HIM again of the same matter.   11 And HE saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.   12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.   At the marriage ceremony, most couples vow that marriage is "till death do them part."  That is certainly what God teaches.   ***   In the Bible, the apostle Paul shows us how the two become one flesh.   I Corinthians 6:15-16  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.   (Even if a man has sex with a prostitute, the two become one flesh.)   How do you separate one flesh?   You can't explain it away by divorce papers from a civil court.   Therefore God says:  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  (I Corinthians 6:18)   Sexual sins are different from all other sins.   ***   Concerning homosexuals and lesbians:   Romans 1:25-27   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.   26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Thursday, 6 November 2025   For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Matthew 14:3   “For Herod, having seized John, he bound him, and he placed in prison for Herodias, his brother Phillip's wife” (CG).   In the previous verse, Herod exclaimed his belief that John the Immerser had risen from the dead, which is why he had the miracle powers working in him. The narrative will now explain what led to John's imprisonment. That begins with the words, “For Herod, having seized John.”   Herod himself was behind the arrest of John. One can already sense that his conscience was nagging at him as the narrative begins. Something about John's death came about because of Herod. Understanding this, the narrative continues, saying, “he bound him, and he placed in prison.”   Cambridge notes the location of this prison –   “At Machærus, in Peræa, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, near the southern frontier of the tetrarchy. Here Antipas had a palace and a prison under one roof, as was common in the East. Cp. Nehemiah 3:25, ‘The tower which lieth out from the king's high house that was by the court of the prison.' It was the ordinary arrangement in feudal castles.”   The reason Herod put him in prison is stated as, “for Herodias, his brother Phillip's wife.”   To understand the abbreviated thought, and in anticipation of the words of the next verse, Albert Barnes states –   This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, probably the one that danced and pleased Herod. Josephus says that this marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias took place while he was on a journey to Rome. He stopped at his brother's; fell in love with his wife; agreed to put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, King of Petraea; and Herodias agreed to leave her own husband and live with him. They were living, therefore, in adultery; and John, in faithfulness, though at the risk of his life, had reproved them for their crimes. Herod was guilty of two crimes in this act:   Of “adultery,” since she was the wife of another man.   Of “incest,” since she was a near relation, and such marriages were expressly forbidden, Leviticus 18:16.   John was the last prophet under the Law of Moses. His duty was to call the people to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Instead of the king turning and accepting his wrongdoing like David, he doubled down in his sin like so many of the biblical kings under the law had done.   And like so many of those kings, he acted against the Lord's prophet, attempting to silence him from publicly exposing his deeds.   Life application: Under the New Covenant, there is no Law of Moses for believers to condemn people with by living it out for them to see. However, there is the truth, like during the time of Noah, that the world is accountable to God for its actions.   Paul says, “because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression” Romans 4:15. And yet, he speaks elsewhere about the law of conscience –   “...for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2:14-16   Because of conscience, especially since the coming of Christ and His fulfillment of the Law of Moses, it is still right for believers to call out wrongdoing in others, particularly those in positions of authority.   In the world, this has been a dicey thing to do at times. It is becoming that way again in much of the world. Like in the times of Noah, the whole world is marching towards ungodliness and actively pursuing wickedness. Despite this, believers need to stand fast on what is wholesome and morally proper.   Numerous denominations and churches have caved to the inappropriate and ungodly mores of fallen humanity. This only makes it more important for Christians to be ready to speak out concerning what is proper.   Not only are we tasked to evangelize the masses within society, but we need to do so with those who are supposedly members of the church. Let us continue to be beacons of light, even if the whole world is clamoring to be rid of us. This is right and proper, and it is what the ancients are remembered for –   “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16   Lord God, despite the trouble it is bound to bring us, help us to stand firm on Your word, openly living out what is expected of us for others to see. When the chance comes for us to defend Your word or to speak against the immorality around us, may we boldly do so, knowing that there is a reward ahead for the stand we take. Amen.  

Thursday, 30 October 2025   When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Matthew 13:54   “And having come into His fatherland, He taught them in their synagogue, so they are outstruck and say, ‘Whence this, this wisdom and the miracles?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus was noted to have lifted Himself and purposefully set out from where He was. Matthew next says, “And having come into His fatherland.”   It is a new word, patris, a fatherland, coming from patér, father. It speaks of one's native country. Therefore, more than simple geography is being referred to. Instead, thoughts such as identity, family tradition, family lineage, etc., are being referred to. In Hebrews 11:14, it refers to the hope of the saints who await their true homeland, a heavenly country –   “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland [patris]. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16   Once Jesus arrived in His earthly fatherland, “He taught them in their synagogue.”   Mark adds that this teaching in the synagogue was on the Sabbath, something that is unnecessary in Matthew's gospel, as this would have been understood by the Jewish audience his words are directed to. This teaching by Jesus in the synagogues that He attended is noted elsewhere. In the case of His instruction in Nazareth, it notes, “so they are outstruck.”   Matthew's use of the present verbs brings the reader directly into the room. It is as if they are sitting in front of us having this awe-inspiring conversation. The reason for their astonishment is next stated, “and say, ‘Whence this, this wisdom and the miracles?'”   Another new adverb, pothen, whence, is seen. It is from the same source as posos, how great, how many, how much, etc. The explanation for their questioning will be given in the coming verses. But one can imagine already why it would be so. They had seen Jesus growing up, observed His family, learning, daily habits, etc. None of that could seemingly account for His presentation while teaching.   Life application: How often has it been said of people who have come to faith in Christ that the change in them is inexplicable? Someone went to a particular school, bumbled around like most youth do, spent his time surfing or doing some other activity, and seemingly would be the guy who would spend the rest of his life in a local bar talking about the good old days.   And yet, after meeting the Lord, he returns home eloquent, confident, and ready to challenge the norms of those still living out their lives in the same cliques they were in years earlier. When they see him, they are astonished at the change, question what kind of game he is up to, and offer him a free round of bowling as they try to figure him out.   But even more pronounced is the reaction of his family. They knew all of his secret faults, shortcomings, and personal struggles. How could there be such a vast change in him? But this is the power of Jesus in our lives.   He will transform each believer as they allow Him to. This will never be forced, and yet, for every inch of our past lives we are willing to cede to Him, He will step in and renew us in His image. Jesus wants us to reflect Him, and He will gladly allow us to do so in order to bring Him glory.   Likewise, our conversion may be stunning to others at first, but eventually, they will realize it is true and permanent, or at least as permanent as we stand fast and direct our eyes to Jesus. Once they realize this, we will no longer appear as an aberration, but a source of hopeful change in their own lives when difficulties come their way.   This is what Jesus would have for each of us. Not only should we be conformed to His image and transformed in our minds, but we should also do so to the point that we effect this change in others as well. May it be so with each of us, to the glory of God who saved us in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Lord God, may our lives reflect the goodness of Jesus in all we do. May our actions and words lead others to want the same confident walk with You that we possess. In all ways, may we bring glory and honor to You with every fiber of our being. Amen.

QUOTES FOR REFECTION “Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning second…. Our moral thinking is much more like a politician searching for votes than a scientist searching for truth.”~Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion “What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.”~John Ashley Null, Thomas Cranmer's Doctrine of Repentance: Renewing the Power to Love “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.”~Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pensées “Such is the grasping tendency of the human heart, that it must have a something to lay hold of and which, if wrested away without the substitution of another something in its place, would leave a void and a vacancy as painful to the mind, as hunger is to the natural system.”~Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), Scottish minister, professor, and social reformer “Here's a thought for my revolutionary heartTake a deeper look at history, it's there to pick apart.See the people at the top, they get to do just what they want,‘Til after while the people at the bottom finally get smart.Then they start to holla revolution, tired of living here, destitution…See, if we destroy the system that means we'll have less of greed. But see, it's not that simple.I got to thinking ‘bout the history of human nature…Look at the power, but you know what power does to man.Corruption always leads us to the same…again.So when you talk about revolution dawg, I hear just what you saying.What good is taking over, when we know what you gon' do?The only real revolution happens right inside of you.”~J. Cole, rapper and record producer in “High for Hours” “The redeemed have all their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. God is the inheritance of the saints; he is the portion of their souls. God is their wealth and treasure, their food, their Life, their dwelling-place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory. …In these things the redeemed have communion with God; that is, they partake with him and of him.”~Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in “God Glorified in Man's Dependence”SERMON PASSAGESProverbs 423 Keep your heart with all vigilance,   for from it flow the springs of life. Deuteronomy 10 12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Mark 7 6 And [Jesus] said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,  ‘This people honors me with their lips,  but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me,  teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'…” 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.… 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Matthew 22 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.” Romans 1 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 1:16-3216 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Seeking Revival Series Revival through the Gospel What kind of God?  THE MODERN MISREPRESENTATION  THE GOD THE APOSTLES PREACHED  THE GOD WE PREACH THE TRUE GOSPEL – REPENT AND BELIEVE  THE GOSPEL FOR ALL

17 For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.1Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.1.     Can you think of modern examples of a culture's distorted worship distorting their humanity?2.     Where/when does your humanity get distorted? Is there any idol worship behind that?3.     Is it surprising, or convicting, that Paul says the people who judge and condemn are also without excuse?4.     Have you considered that when you judge you are taking the place of God, distorting worship? How does judging keep you from experiencing the gospel?5.     How does all of this apply to issues of sexuality in our culture?6.     The gospel saves us from both self-righteous judgment and self-centered indulgence. Where are you seeing that in your life, and where do you need to see it more?

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 14th of October, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Book of Exodus 20:1-17:“God spoke all these words:I am God, your God,who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.No other gods, only me.No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I am unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverent use of his name.Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.No murder.No adultery.No stealing.No lies about your neighbour.No lusting after your neighbour's house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbour's.”These are the Ten Commandments and I've read them to you through the Message Bible version, and then I can hear somebody say, ”I am a New Covenant man. These don't apply to me anymore.” Oh, my dear friend, listen to me, they do. They apply to every one of us. If you look at the Gospel of Matthew 5:17:“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ (‭ESV) ‬‬“And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.”Who would want to kill Jesus?Why would they want to kill Jesus?Luke 13:31–35 (ESV) At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' ”In our lifetime, there have been assassinations.Charlie Kirk is the first spectacle/murderRecorded live/high def while streamingCan be replayed infinitelyThe arguments about his message are typicalUnlike other assassinations, we can go back and review his message unlike any other. Something different:He was political, but was doing more than arguing politics He was smart, but more than arguing factsHe regularly declared TRUTH - preacher/prophetic/apostolicHe had influence in the highest spheres: culture, finance, politics and church.Shockingly, no scandals (though people are doing everything to create them.His funeral was a first ever in my lifetimeLargest funeral in our timeWho's who of finance and politicsPowerful worship, for hoursHours of the Gospel being preached - JESUSA gospel that doesn't reach all spheres of society, including our leaders in government, is an ineffective gospel.Our message isn't for these four walls - it's for this zip code, for this region, for our nation, for the world.“The church should stay out of politics!” I agree to the point that we have to be careful about trying to get specific candidates elected under the banner of “God's Man.” Politics is attempting to influence morality and Christians are attempting to influence morality, Christians have to speak into politics. Moses appealed not only to the Israelites, but also to Pharaoh Prophets spoke directly to Kings - Elijah/Ahab/Jezebel1 Kings 18:1 (ESV) After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”Jesus was before Pontus PilatePaul/Silas preached to their jailerPaul preached to Publius and eventually appealed to Rome Acts 19:21 (ESV) Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”A version of this is playing out in American right now.?A nation/states founded on biblical principles We have the highest population of non-Christian's trying to throw off our Christian-based frameworkThis will be more defined than ever in your lifetime.People will be involved. The spiritual realm will be very active THERE IS ASSAULT ON TRUTHThis is not an attack on facts, but TRUTH2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning…TRUTH is under attackGenesis 1:1 (ESV) In the beginning, Godcreated the heavens and the earth.Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…Genesis 1:27 (ESV) male and female he created them.Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”Genesis 2:15 (ESV) The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.Genesis 2:16–17 (ESV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”Genesis 3:4–5 (ESV) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”THERE IS AN ASSAULT ON TRUTH TELLERSGod is the ultimate truth teller - his WORDS created lifeTRUTH tellers declare, deposit and reinforce LIFEYou are not a threat based on what you believeYou become a threat by what you declare with your life and especially with your WORDSAdam/Eve were the original TRUTH tellers - the moment that they sinned, they were deceived and their role changedCain killed AbleGenesis 4:3–8 (ESV) In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.1 John 3:12 (ESV) We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.Saul tried to kill DavidSaul killed priests - 1 Samuel 22:17 (ESV) And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” Jezebel killed the ProphetsHerodias killed John the Baptist Mark 6:17–20 (ESV) For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.Mark 6:23–25 (ESV) And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”Pharisees killed Stephen - Acts 7:54–59 (ESV) Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”JesusEvery apostle but John There is going to be an attack on Christianity on a new level. Not just individuals, but Christianity will be the new racismTHERE IS AN ASSAULT TO BE SILENT ABOUT, TOLERATE, AFFIRM & ULTIMATELY CELEBRATE ANTI-TRUTHPeople become deceived - believe the lies2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (ESV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.War on Words:Gender Affirming CarePlanned ParenthoodSocial Pressures - Go along to get alongRedefining of LOVE - Love without truth is not LOVEJohn 14:6–7 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”John 8:31–32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What’s Next: Section Two WEEK TWENTY-NINE: WEEKLY READING PAGE 113 Acharei Mot “after the death” Torah: Leviticus 16:1–18:30 Ketuvim: Writings-Narrative: 1 Chronicles 23-29 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Proverbs 25-31; Ecclesiastes 1 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Ephesians 1-6 Scripture Memory: Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God highly ex alted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heav en and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

What’s Next: Section Two WEEK TWENTY-NINE: WEEKLY READING PAGE 113 Acharei Mot “after the death” Torah: Leviticus 16:1–18:30 Ketuvim: Writings-Narrative: 1 Chronicles 23-29 Nevi’im: Prophets/Poetic: Proverbs 25-31; Ecclesiastes 1 Brit Chadashah: New Testament: Ephesians 1-6 Scripture Memory: Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God highly ex alted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heav en and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ (‭ESV) ‬‬“And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.”Who would want to kill Jesus?Why would they want to kill Jesus?Luke 13:31–35 (ESV) At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' ”In our lifetime, there have been assassinations.Charlie Kirk is the first spectacle/murderRecorded live/high def while streamingCan be replayed infinitelyThe arguments about his message are typicalUnlike other assassinations, we can go back and review his message unlike any other. Something different:He was political, but was doing more than arguing politics He was smart, but more than arguing factsHe regularly declared TRUTH - preacher/prophetic/apostolicHe had influence in the highest spheres: culture, finance, politics and church.Shockingly, no scandals (though people are doing everything to create them.His funeral was a first ever in my lifetimeLargest funeral in our timeWho's who of finance and politicsPowerful worship, for hoursHours of the Gospel being preached - JESUSA gospel that doesn't reach all spheres of society, including our leaders in government, is an ineffective gospel.Our message isn't for these four walls - it's for this zip code, for this region, for our nation, for the world.“The church should stay out of politics!” I agree to the point that we have to be careful about trying to get specific candidates elected under the banner of “God's Man.” Politics is attempting to influence morality and Christians are attempting to influence morality, Christians have to speak into politics. Moses appealed not only to the Israelites, but also to Pharaoh Prophets spoke directly to Kings - Elijah/Ahab/Jezebel1 Kings 18:1 (ESV) After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”Jesus was before Pontus PilatePaul/Silas preached to their jailerPaul preached to Publius and eventually appealed to Rome Acts 19:21 (ESV) Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”A version of this is playing out in American right now.?A nation/states founded on biblical principles We have the highest population of non-Christian's trying to throw off our Christian-based frameworkThis will be more defined than ever in your lifetime.People will be involved. The spiritual realm will be very active THERE IS ASSAULT ON TRUTHThis is not an attack on facts, but TRUTH2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning…TRUTH is under attackGenesis 1:1 (ESV) In the beginning, Godcreated the heavens and the earth.Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…Genesis 1:27 (ESV) male and female he created them.Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”Genesis 2:15 (ESV) The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.Genesis 2:16–17 (ESV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”Genesis 3:4–5 (ESV) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”THERE IS AN ASSAULT ON TRUTH TELLERSGod is the ultimate truth teller - his WORDS created lifeTRUTH tellers declare, deposit and reinforce LIFEYou are not a threat based on what you believeYou become a threat by what you declare with your life and especially with your WORDSAdam/Eve were the original TRUTH tellers - the moment that they sinned, they were deceived and their role changedCain killed AbleGenesis 4:3–8 (ESV) In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.1 John 3:12 (ESV) We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.Saul tried to kill DavidSaul killed priests - 1 Samuel 22:17 (ESV) And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” Jezebel killed the ProphetsHerodias killed John the Baptist Mark 6:17–20 (ESV) For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.Mark 6:23–25 (ESV) And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”Pharisees killed Stephen - Acts 7:54–59 (ESV) Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”JesusEvery apostle but John There is going to be an attack on Christianity on a new level. Not just individuals, but Christianity will be the new racismTHERE IS AN ASSAULT TO BE SILENT ABOUT, TOLERATE, AFFIRM & ULTIMATELY CELEBRATE ANTI-TRUTHPeople become deceived - believe the lies2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (ESV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.War on Words:Gender Affirming CarePlanned ParenthoodSocial Pressures - Go along to get alongRedefining of LOVE - Love without truth is not LOVEJohn 14:6–7 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”John 8:31–32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Impact Video Ministries explains to us how we can know that god is real, and they are mostly length based reasons.Cards:Fact-Checking James Tour's Embarrassing Debate Performance:www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAm2W99Qm0oGod's "Perfect" Word has a LOT of Imperfections…:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TVKrUWbvXQDesigns Need Designers, so EVERYTHING Is Designed!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPDm77oAXXUOriginal Video: https://tinyurl.com/2cyaq6djSources:Neutrino detector: https://tinyurl.com/hwlcvcqAbiogenesis through gradual evolution of autocatalysis into template-based replication: https://tinyurl.com/2359v3qaIdentifying the wide diversity of extraterrestrial purine and pyrimidine nucleobases in carbonaceous meteorites: https://tinyurl.com/yyqbrajwLife as a manifestation of the second law of thermodynamics: https://tinyurl.com/29fqxpgsOrganic Synthesis via Irradiation and Warming of Ice Grains in the Solar Nebula: https://tinyurl.com/262ln3vyOrigin and evolution of the genetic code: the universal enigma: https://tinyurl.com/28fp5xu4Spontaneous formation and base pairing of plausible prebiotic nucleotides in water: https://tinyurl.com/2c2n655rSpontaneous network formation among cooperative RNA replicators: https://tinyurl.com/ycwk6s3rThe Genetics of Vitamin C Loss in Vertebrates: https://tinyurl.com/224hum2aWhere did bone come from? An overview of its evolution: https://tinyurl.com/24w9azexThe human cell count and size distribution: https://tinyurl.com/2d2qsq3lWhat is the Most Recent Manuscript Count for the New Testament?: https://tinyurl.com/28kcvamgAll my various links can be found here:http://links.vicedrhino.comThis content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/viced-rhino-the-podcast--4623273/support.

This is part 2 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In week 2 of the series, Pastor Zac teaches how to deal with suffering in our lives.Suffering follows evil.Suffering is a consequence of the fall of creation as described in Genesis 3. Because humans sinned, we all experience the consequences of that sin through suffering and pain. While some choose to blame God, each of us has committed more than enough sin to deserve our own pain. Though choosing to blame God is tempting, there are some things we should remember about the God we would accuse.Jesus entered our suffering on the cross.The God who some choose to accuse of evil is the very God who entered into creation to suffer an excruciating death on our behalf. We do not have a God who is distant or uncaring, but a God who experienced human suffering in full. Therefore God is able to understand our weaknesses and sympathize with us. Not only this, but God can strengthen us in our time of need. Remember that God is able to take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. In light of this, how should we respond when we face suffering?Worship God - in suffering and in joy.When we experience intense suffering, the last thing we may want to do is praise God, but it helps. As shocking as it may be, choosing to praise God through the trials instills hope when we would otherwise despair. To help in times of trouble, train yourself to praise him in the hills so you are ready to praise in the valleys.Let suffering open your heart and eyes to see God more clearly.Paradoxically, God's goodness is revealed most clearly in our suffering. If we choose to praise him through it, we can feel his comfort and learn to know him more closely.Don't let suffering crush you - let God use it to make you stronger.Suffering can easily cause us to turn bitter. That temptation is strong. Choose, however, to let God strengthen you through the experience instead. Trust God to lead you through it and you will end up stronger in faith because of it.Remember: suffering in this world is temporary for the Christian.This world is not all there is, but rather the Christian has hope for the next one. There will come a day when God will wipe away every tear and set all things right. God is loving and just, and he will both establish justice and save his people.Use your experience to comfort others.When we experience trials, we should remember them so that we might comfort others in the same situation. Our trials are not ours alone, but they equip us to help others when they face similar circumstances. Whatever the pain you face, trust in God to deliver you through it.

Philippians 2 is called the “hinge of history.” Jesus, though in very nature God, humbled Himself to death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him, giving Him the name above every name. John calls this the greatest strategy for life: double down on the cross. True greatness and true life flow from self-giving love, and the simple but ultimate confession: Jesus Christ is Lord.00:00 — What is the greatest strategy for life?00:22 — What is the most important phrase Christians can say?01:16 — Philippians 2: the oldest words about Jesus01:57 — Jesus humbled Himself to death on a cross02:31 — Why “as a consequence, therefore” matters03:17 — The hinge of history explained04:03 — Why humility always leads to exaltation05:06 — What does it mean to double down on the cross?06:33 — What name is above every name?07:19 — Why “Jesus Christ is Lord” seemed ludicrous then08:19 — Why Jesus, not Caesar, defines history09:25 — How calendars themselves point to Christ10:23 — Why love, not power, defines reality11:05 — What it means to double down in daily life11:55 — How to shine by serving othersBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

John 8:19-20, So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also. These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. What is meant by “His hour”? I think “hour” could be synonymous to “time”. “His”—a possessive pronoun. Whatever “hour” is, it belongs to Him. Is it His hour of testing? Hour of temptation? Hour of suffering? Hour of power? Hour of prayer? Hour of glory? All are true. But notice that His hour is the same as the Father's hour. The Father determined it and orchestrated it, and the Son authorized it. The hour began when Judas left the upper room at Jesus' command. John 13:31-32 “Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, 'Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.'” God's love controls every “hour” of our lives. He gives them to us so we might glorify Him. May we glorify our Father in heaven in every hour as we live to love with Jesus. To know Jesus is to know His Father—God Himself. If you know what Jesus loves, you know what God loves. Of Jesus, the Father says, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” (Hebrews 1:9). Do we love righteousness and hate lawlessness? Let's give Him freshly stirred love for righteousness today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

09/07/2025 Hallowed: Honoring God's NameBig Idea: God's Name demands honor - so honor His Name with your words and your life. (Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”)Because God's Name is His identity:1. God's Name demands honor (Ex 20:7 - “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.) (Matt 6:9 - “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name.) “in vain” - empty, meaningless, worthless, false or deceptive “hallowed” - set apart, sacred, treated with the ultimate respect see Psalm 1:8a “take” - to lift up, to bear, to carry  “name” - God's identity, character, and reputation2. Christ followers honor God's Name by how we carry it. (Matt 12:34b - For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.) Don't carry, bear, or represent God's Name in a way that is empty, worthless, false, worthless or disrespectful.How are you carrying God's Name right now? How about when no one else is listening? Col 3:17; 1 Peter 2:12; Gal 2:20

God Sees a Jesus Follower as Being “In Christ”; Therefore, God Sees a Jesus Follower as His Son or Daughter MESSAGE SUMMARY: As Followers of Jesus, you are "In Christ" -- God looks at you, as a Jesus Follower, and He sees Jesus in you. Throughout the Epistles we find: "In Christ" or "In Him". In Galatians 3:14, Paul tells you that your faith in Jesus makes you “In Christ” and a recipient of God's Covenant with Abraham: “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.". Also, Paul goes even further, in Galatians 3:25-28, to tell you that, through your faith in Jesus, you no longer need any kind of intermediary because you are “In Christ” and you have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”. When God sees you, “In Christ" as a Jesus Follower, He sees Jesus, the Son. Therefore, God sees you as His son or daughter.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen.   Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Self-Centeredness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 3:21-26; Romans 6:5-11; Romans 6:22-23; Psalms 63:1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Crumbs From The Table”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Daily Dose of Hope September 2, 2025   Scripture - Luke 14:1-14   Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name.  It's amazing that you, the God of all, care about the minute details of our lives.  I mean, who are we?  But yet, you love us, you care, you died for us!  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Help us, as we move on throughout this day to remember your presence.  Guide our words, our actions, and our thoughts.  Help us hear your voice as we engage with your Word today.  We love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are beginning Luke 14.   We start by joining Jesus at a dinner party on the Sabbath.  Jesus is quite the dinner guest.  He makes things really uncomfortable!  He begins by having a discussion about healing on the Sabbath, which we all know is a sensitive topic.  There is a man there who is desperate for healing (and Jesus does heal him) but he knows that the others will judge his actions.  Jesus speaks preemptively by asking, once again, wouldn't you save a child or an animal who falls in a well on the Sabbath?  They don't answer him but we know that they would in fact save the child or animal.  Do they think this man is less valuable than their own child or animal?  It's a worthwhile question.   But the dinner party isn't over yet.  Jesus looks around and he sees that people have already taken the places of honor.  He speaks of how the guests vie for the best spots, the ones that indicate honor and prestige. But that's dangerous, Jesus says. For the host may actually find someone more distinguished and ask that individual to sit in the seat of honor. Then, the one who originally worked so hard to gain that seat will have to sit somewhere less important. In the end, they will experience humiliation.   While the advice is wise, Jesus is teaching people to be genuinely humble. Before Jesus, the whole concept of humility was unusual. In Roman culture, to be humble was to be weak. Jesus is saying that to be humble is actually smart. It is more in tune with what God calls us to do. In the end, God is going to settle things anyway. God will ensure that the truly humble person will end up where they are supposed to end up and receive the honor that is theirs. But those who think highly of themselves and place themselves on a pedestal risk the very real chance of being knocked off.   Are you humble? I think that's an important question for us all to ask occasionally. Do you think you deserve more honor than others? Where does that thought come from? Let's close with some Scripture from Philippians 2:1-11, Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,     did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,     being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself     by becoming obedient to death—         even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place     and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,     in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,    to the glory of God the Father.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Jesus became a servant so you could be saved.Jesus is God in human form (John 1:1 • John 14:9)Jesus emptied himself to serve us (Matthew 20:28 • John 10:18)Jesus destroyed the effect of sin on us (Hebrews 2:17 • Romans 8:3)Preacher: Evan WestburgSERMON RESOURCES⁠⁠⁠Philippians: Maps, pictures, videos, etc⁠⁠⁠.FIND US ONLINE

Send us a textBut the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  John 4:231. Worship Isn't Limited to a segment of PeopleRomans 1:21–25 (NIV)“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”2. Worship Isn't Limited to a segment  of LifeMatthew 6:33 (NIV) — “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”3. True Worship is a whole Life ResponseJohn 4:19–24 (NIV)“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”4. Why does Worship Matter?     - Because you become what you worshipPsalm 115:21 Not to us, Lord, not to us    but to your name be the glory,    because of your love and faithfulness.2 Why do the nations say,    “Where is their God?”3 Our God is in heaven;    he does whatever pleases him.4 But their idols are silver and gold,    made by human hands.5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,    eyes, but cannot see.6 They have ears, but cannot hear,    noses, but cannot smell.7 They have hands, but cannot feel,    feet, but cannot walk,    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.8 Those who make them will be like them,    and so will all who trust in them     - Because You Only Get one shot  Isaiah 42:5“This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,who gives breath to His people,and life to those who walk on it. Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today's message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

Here to BelongAugust 17, 2025 Teacher: Adam Barnett“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” — Proverbs 29:18Redeemer exists to see Christ exalted in our church, community, and world.Philippians 2:1–11Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.1 - Christ Exalted in Our Church2 - Christ Exalted in Our Community3 - Christ Exalted in Our World

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Old Testament Genesis 15:1-6 The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the Lord came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. The Psalm Psalm 33:12-22 Exultate, justi 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *  happy the people he has chosen to be his own! 13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *  and beholds all the people in the world. 14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *  on all who dwell on the earth. 15 He fashions all the hearts of them *  and understands all their works. 16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *  a strong man is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *  for all its strength it cannot save. 18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *  on those who wait upon his love, 19 To pluck their lives from death, *  and to feed them in time of famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *  he is our help and our shield. 21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *  for in his holy Name we put our trust. 22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *  as we have put our trust in you. The Epistle Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. The Gospel Luke 12:32-40 Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

Hebrews 11:1, 8-11, 13-16 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. … By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. … These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

Names from the Beginning - More than Redemptionhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011%3A25&version=CJBJohn 11:25Yeshua said to her, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies;"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204%3A12&version=CJBActs 4:12There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!"Parashah 1: B'resheet (In the beginning)Parashah 13: Sh'mot (Names)Sh'mot 1:1 These are the names of the sons of Isra'el who came into Egypt with Ya'akov; each man came with his household: 2 Re'uven, Shim'on, Levi, Y'hudah, 3 Yissakhar, Z'vulun, Binyamin, 4 Dan, Naftali, Gad and Asher. 5 All told, there were seventy descendants of Ya'akov; Yosef was already in Egypt.Sh'mot 1:6 Yosef died, as did all his brothers and all that generation. 7 The descendants of Isra'el were fruitful, increased abundantly, multiplied and grew very powerful; the land became filled with them.Sh'mot 1:8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt. He knew nothing about Yosef 9 but said to his people, "Look, the descendants of Isra'el have become a people too numerous and powerful for us. 10 Come, let's use wisdom in dealing with them. Otherwise, they'll continue to multiply; and in the event of war they might ally themselves with our enemies, fight against us and leave the land altogether."Sh'mot 1:11 So they put slavemasters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built for Pharaoh the storage cities of Pitom and Ra'amses. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, until the Egyptians came to dread the people of Isra'el 13 and worked them relentlessly, 14 making their lives bitter with hard labor — digging clay, making bricks, all kinds of field work; and in all this toil they were shown no mercy.Sh'mot 1:15 Moreover, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was called Shifrah and the other Pu'ah. 16 "When you attend the Hebrew women and see them giving birth," he said, "if it's a boy, kill him; but if it's a girl, let her live." 17 However, the midwives were God-fearing women, so they didn't do as the king of Egypt ordered but let the boys live.A lot like the abortion, earth saving culture that says we are overpopulating this world!Sh'mot 1:18 The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and demanded of them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?" 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "It's because the Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women — they go into labor and give birth before the midwife arrives." Sh'mot 1:20 Therefore God prospered the midwives, and the people continued to multiply and grow very powerful. 21 Indeed, because the midwives feared God, he made them founders of families. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born, throw in the river; but let all the girls live."Credit to:https://www.businessinsider.com/fetus-vision-hearing-development-uterus-2016-9 get shutterstock 

Tuesday - Philippians 2:3-113 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The LAW has gotten a bad wrap lately. In the USA and West in general the law is based on biblical principles. The concept of lawlessness or the “lawless one” is Satan. He is the instigator of rebellion against God and God's law and authority. Today, I am going to show you that the law is good when used rightly but a weapon for evil when used in a manipulative, evil, untruthful and unbiblical way. It's time we get back to a biblical understanding and application of the Law in America and in Europe. LET'S GET STARTED.WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AT: STEVENGAROFALO.COM2 THESSALONIANS SAYS: "7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.

Paul in writing to the Romans speaks about “the power of God”. What does he mean? He is not referring to physical power such as will be shown at the time Jesus returns when the greatest earthquake ever (Rev. 16 v.18) and other terrible events will occur.In today's reading in Romans, Paul writes of the gospel saying, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes “ [1 v.16].Paul's point is that the Gospel makes sense, compared to the nonsense surrounding the many gods (of human imagination) the Romans, and all except the Jews, believed in.Today, we can say it makes sense – compared to the nonsense that so many teach about evolution which more and more willingly accept as true. They think that everything that exists, sort of created itself, and there is no need for a creator God. Much of this attitude seems to be motivated by a desire to be free of the restrictions God's laws impose on their lives.A particular example of this is evident at the moment. In Ch. 1 v.26,27 Paul particularly singles out acts of homosexuality – writing “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonouring of their bodies … “ The fact that more and more Governments are legalizing same-sex “marriages” would horrify those living a generation or two ago! But most of all – what must God think!? What action will he take?But we need to also realise that to believe a gospel about believer's having a future life in heaven is also nonsense and, as a falsehood, has no power at all. It is only the gospel God revealed to men through his son that has “power”- because it is truth.It is based on historical fact, because the events of the First Century and what followed,make sense the more we think about what is written. The conviction of many people became so strong it had the power to turn the beliefs of the pagan Roman world upside down in the 2nd & 3rd Centuries – but sadly, then the Gospel became corrupted and expressed in Man-made creeds. .We must let this gospel become a power in our lives – if we are to really live a life worth living with the wonderful prospect of eternity. We must not let ourselves be influenced by those who scoff at “the power of God.”

Introduction: I Give Thanks with My Whole Heart… (Psalm 138) Because God has Proven His Reliability to Me IN THE PAST (Psalm 138:1–3) Because God is at Work in My Life RIGHT NOW (Psalm 138:6–7) 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Because God Will Not Give Up on Me IN THE FUTURE (Psalm 138:4–5; 8) Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2 Samuel 7:16 – And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Jude 24 – Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy… Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Psalm 138What was your big take-away from this passage / message?If we know it's so bad for us, why do we complain so much? What do you complain about the most?How has the Lord proven Himself reliable to you in the past? Take some time to thank the Lord for what He has done.How is the Lord at work in your life right now? Praise Him for what He is doing.How will the Lord fulfill His purposes for you in the future? Give Him thanks for what He will do for you.BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT I hope you're all doing well this morning.I've had better days.I took me forever to fall asleep last night.I'm just so tired.My neighbors were just blasting fireworksin all hours of the night.Isn't it been like three weeks since the 4th of July?I just don't get it.And then when I fell asleep, I couldn't stay asleep.I have a bed that's too small.I have a room that gets way too hot.I have a pillow that isn't comfortable at all.And I just set the alarm really early this morning.So I had to wake up and look presentable for all of you.And I stubbed my toe really hard and it still hurts.Oh, and I forgot to iron all my clothes.So I had to do it all this morning.So I was way later than I wanted to be.And so I was driving here.I got stuck behind the slowest drivers in the entire world.That just drives me insane.It's like, don't you want to get where you want to goin this century?You may not have things that you want to do,but there's things that I need to do.So move it.Oh, and I also have the worst headaches.So these lights aren't helping me at all.OK, time out.Is anyone tired of listening to my complaining yet?There is a resounding yes from the congregation.It is so annoying when someone constantly complainsand grumbles about everything.This person's constant whining sounds like nailsscreeching across a chalkboard.But quick question, if that's how other people's complainingsounds to you, how do you think your complainingsounds to them?Not much different.Let's up the ante even more.How do you think your constant complaining sounds to God?Do you think He appreciates it?No, He does not.I know that complaining is bad for me and offends God.And I am very sure that most of youknow that complaining is bad for you and offends God.So why do we keep doing it?What is going on within us?Well, this is the third week in our latest series calledHeart Problems.What to do when you don't want God?Over the past two Sundays, we've identified two different heartproblems and their surgical solutions according to God'sword.We began by evaluating our hearts to see how serious of a heartsurgery we truly need.And last week, we discovered the heart problem of hidden sin.And the surgical solution to that problemis confession from the heart.And this morning, we will unpack a third heart problemand its surgical solution from Psalm 138.Psalm 138.Your heart problem this morning couldbe that you have a serious infection of negativityand complaining.You struggle to truly appreciate all that God has given to youbecause you are so fixated on everythingthat God has not given to you.In your mind, you deserve better.You deserve more.You deserve what you want.Does that describe you right now?How do you fix this heart problem?The surgical solution to a negative and discontent heartis passionate praise and true thanksgiving.You must actually give thanks from your heart.So before we look into the solution any further,let's go to the Lord and ask for his help.Please pray for me, and I will pray for you.Father, we come to you with one of our greatest struggles,with something that I am very sure that every single personin this room struggles with.Lord, minister to us in the way that only you can.Challenge us, convict us, but also comfort us and build us up.We thank you in advance for what you will do.We ask all this in the beautiful, wonderful, powerful nameof Jesus Christ.Amen.If you are able, please stand in reverencefor the reading of God's Word as we read Psalm 138.I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart.Before the gods, I sing your praise.I bow down toward your holy templeand give thanks to your name for your steadfast loveand your faithfulness.For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.On the day I called, you answered me.My strength of soul, you increasedall the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,for they have heard the words of your mouth.And they shall sing of the ways the Lord for greatis the glory of the Lord.For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,but the haughty He knows from afar.Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,and your right hand delivers me.The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.Do not forsake the work of your hands.You may be seated.As you study this Psalm, you can'thelp but notice that David's Thanksgiving is divided upinto three different sections--the past, the present, and the future.In this Psalm, David slides back and forthon the timeline of history to find reasons to praise the Lordand give Him thanks for His actions and His attributes.And I want you to follow David's lead this morning.I want you to be on the lookout for reasonsto give thanks with your whole heart for what God hasdone in your past, what He is doing in your present,and what He will do in the future.So I give thanks to my whole heart, firstly,because God has proven His reliability to me in the past.I give thanks with my whole heart,because God has proven His reliability to me in the past.So David starts this Psalm by declaringhis complete and total devotion to the Lord.Let's read verses 1 through 2 again.I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart,before the gods I sing your praise,I bow down towards your holy templeand give thanks to your name for your steadfast loveand your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all thingsyour name and your word.This isn't the prayer of a man who is dispassionate and disconnected.This isn't the prayer of a man going through the motions.David is overflowing with gratitude for God's faithfulness,His love, and His power.David is saying, "The false gods of the other nationsare worthless idols.They get nothing from me while God gets everything from me.They get my ridicule.God gets my praise.Their words are worthless and accomplish nothingwhile God's word never fails me.Their names do not matter while God's name is infinite."David doesn't offer God some of his heart or even most of his heart.He offers God his whole heart.This is what God wants and deserves from David.This is also what God wants and deserves from you.God isn't worthy of your leftovers.He is worthy of your best.God doesn't want you just to thank Him when you remember.He doesn't want you to treat Him like the teenage cashier at the ice cream shop,who you begrudgingly tip with the slowest amount possiblewhen the iPad screen is flipped around."Ah, fine. I guess I'll do it if I have to."Is that kind of attitude honoring to God?Not on any level, but that is often how we approach giving Him the creditthat He deserves.Instead of stopping what we're doing to give Him a heartfelt thank you,we throw a quick three-second prayer up to Himthat is devoid of any emotion and energy.Instead of immediately praising Him,we immediately move on to the next thing and the next big concern.This half-heartedness drains you of your joy.This half-heartedness gives you spiritual amnesia.You forget what God has done for you in the past,so you trust in yourself moving forward.In verse 3, David gets very specific with his thanksgivingand remembers how God has come through for him in the past."On the day I called, you answered,'My strength of soul,' you increased.I am well aware that some of you are telophonophobics.You hate talking on the phone.When someone calls, you panic.When you know you have to call someone else,you secretly hope that they won't pick up.But even you telophonophobics in the roomhave had to make calls that you needed someone to answer.Maybe you had an urgent question that required an immediate answer.Maybe it was a serious issue at work that you need to solve right now.Maybe it was even a matter of life or death.Every single person in this room has a call of this kind in their past.Put yourself into that tense mindset.Try to remember how you felt.Let me ask you, when you called, did that person answer?Did they come through for you?Other people cannot always come through for youno matter how reliable they might seem.Friends and family members cannot always answer when you call.But that is not true of God.He always picks up.He always answers.God doesn't screen your prayer to say to himself,"Ah, this guy again.I don't have time to deal with him right now."That has never happened.God doesn't send you to voicemail.God is always ready and willing to answer you when you call.But God's help may not come in the form that you expected or hoped for.At some point, every single one of us in this roomhave had this exact thought or said this exact thing.God didn't answer my prayer.Is that true?Well, it really depends on what you mean by answer.If by answer you mean that God says yes,then God didn't answer your prayer.But that definition captures our experience of the situationmore than the reality of the situation.It captures our feelings more than the facts.That definition misses the big picture of what God is up to behind the scenes.God answering your prayers doesn't mean that He always answers with a yes.But it does mean that God always responds.And sometimes that response is no or wait.And you never want that answer, do you?I never want that answer either.Again, every single one of us in this room can think of a timewhen we called to God and He answered with a no.You prayed for healing and healing didn't come.You asked for that big promotionand it went to someone far less deserving.You asked for the Lord to use your witnessing, your positive exampleto make an impact on your prodigal child, but there is no positive reception.You call to the Lord and ask for that baby that you've always wanted,but that room is still empty.That no can be so confusing and devastating.What reason could God possibly have to say no to that request?I don't know.I don't want to patronize you or minimize your pain.I don't want to give you a hallmark card answer and tell you that do not be sad and upset.Listen, it's okay to be sad and upset.Seasons of sorrow are unavoidable.I've gone through these times in the past and I will again.You've gone through these times of sorrow and you may be experiencing it right now.I truly don't know the exact reason that God said no to that request when you called to Him.But He does.God never says no for no reason.Everything He does is purposeful.God never wastes your pain.Everything you go through has meaning.As I meditated upon these truths over the past week, I couldn't help but think of the hymn,"God moves in a mysterious way," which says this,"judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace.Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.God's purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour.The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower."Why God said no back then may never make sense in this life.But it will in eternity.And those times when God said no often drown out and obscure the times that He said yes.So I want you to stop focusing on the no's for a minute.I want you to start thinking about the times when you called to God and He answered youwith a yes.Consider that.Were you able to think of some clear examples when God said yes and proved His reliabilityto you in the past?Maybe you experienced a season of dark, deep depression.You called out to God and He answered you with a yes by sending you a friend who lovedyou, who encouraged you, who prayed for you, who listened to you.Maybe you called out to God when you had no idea how to handle a specific situation andHe gave you a yes by providing you wisdom from His Word.Maybe you experienced a broken relationship and you called out to God and He answeredwith a yes by bringing restoration and putting all the pieces back together again.Or how about the most important yes of all?You realized you were a sinner.You called out to God asking for forgiveness and salvation and God answered with a yesby giving it to you.I could keep going for days, weeks, months and years because there is no end to whatGod has done for you.Friends, God has been so good to you in the past.Do you recognize that?Do you believe that?There have been so many times when you recognized His goodness and you praised Him for it.But there have been many more times when you didn't recognize His goodness or praise Him.And thankfully God's goodness wasn't taken away from you when you didn't recognize it.God still gives good gifts to His children even when His children don't say thank you.But in those moments when you didn't acknowledge what God had done and say thank you to Him,the strength of your soul was diminished and depleted.Your strength of soul was like a balloon and ungratefulness was the needle that poppedthat balloon and left it deflated on the floor.That may be how you feel this morning.You're just deflated.You're just kind of there.You're down and out.Could it be that you have a heart problem because you were ungrateful for what God hasdone for you?No matter how hard your life has been, God's fingerprints of kindness are all over yourstory.You simply need the eyes of faith to see these evidences of grace or you'll miss them completely.Like David, give thanks with your whole heart because God has proven His reliability toyou in the past.Give thanks with your whole heart for what God has done for you and your strength ofsoul will be increased.I give thanks with my whole heart because God is at work in my life right now.Because God is at work in my life right now.I'm going to break some preaching rules here for a minute.Who wants to break the rules with me?All right, some of you, most of your rulekeepers besides Darlet and Jay, I guess we'll go withit.So, we're going to skip past verses 4 through 5 for now.We're not going to skip them entirely.We'll come back to them.We're going to move on to verses 6 through 7.Don't worry this will all make sense very soon.We spent some time focusing on what God has done for David.Now let's focus on what God is doing for David in verses 6 through 7.For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar.Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies and your right hand deliversme.We don't know the backstory of the Psalm or what kind of trouble David is experiencing.All we know is he needs his life to be preserved.He has enemies that the Lord needs to stretch out his hands against.David needs deliverance.Your problems seem like the biggest deal in the entire world, don't they?When you're going through trouble, you often feel like you're the only one in the entireworld who is experiencing what you're experiencing.Is that actually the case?Not at all.Literally every person in the world has something going on right now.Everyone has a problem.Everyone has trouble.And David is well aware where his life, where his troubles, where his problems rank on theorder of importance.Compared to God, he is nothing and nobody.David acknowledges that he is lowly.But he actually rejoices in that truth because even though the Lord is high, He regards thelowly, but the haughty, the proud, the arrogant He knows from afar.If you exalt yourself to the position of the movie star of your life, you will not be ina position to receive God's help.You will dismiss what he has to offer.But if you rightly acknowledge that God is the star, you will receive help from Him.God is big, but He still loves little people.God is great, but He still blesses the unremarkable.God is supremely important, but He still serves the unimportant.You may be painfully aware that you are unimportant, unremarkable, and little.But that is a good thing.That means the Lord has regard for you.God cares for you.He pays attention to you.God's helping hand is offered to you at all times.You can either push away this helping hand in pride or you can grab ahold of it in humility.I need God's help right now.You need God's help right now.You are in the midst of some kind of trouble.Maybe you're being attacked.Someone at work is gunning for you.A family member or friend is making life miserable for you.Your integrity is being called into question.You may have a target on your back, but God preserves your life.You may have enemies who are seeking to destroy you, but God stretches out His hand againstthe wrath of your enemies.His right hand delivers you.Fair warning.God may not deliver you from experiencing that hardship, but He delivers you from givingup as you experience that hardship.His right hand delivers you from anger, bitterness, resentment, isolation.You may be enduring the most intense season of temptation you've ever encountered.You feel like you can't say no one more time that any day now you're going to break.You can stand strong because God preserves you.He stretches, will stretch His hand against that temptation.If you believe that He can, His right hand delivers you from giving in.Listen to this promise from 1 Corinthians 10.13.No temptation is overtaking you that is not common to man.God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with thetemptation He will provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it.Something that God has taught me recently is that He most often delivers you throughtrust and His promises.There is nothing more powerful and dependable than a promise from God.If you're experiencing intense temptation, grab ahold of this promise and don't let goso you will experience deliverance and find the way of escape.Maybe you need delivered from the ultimate enemies of Satan, sin, and death.You are under the power of the evil one in this evil world.You are a slave to sin.You are bound for eternal death.You are like that toddler running towards the road and there will be a horrible fateunless that child is grasped by a loving father.Ask this father to preserve you and give you eternal life.Ask him to stretch out His hand against the wrath of your enemies.Ask for His right hand to grab ahold of you and deliver you from the fate that you deserve.A truck of hell is barreling down.But God will rescue you if you ask Him to.No matter what trouble you are walking through, God is at work in your life right now.You can't say, "Yeah, God sure was at work back in the day, but He hasn't done anythingfor me lately."No, God is preserving your life even when you don't know it.He is stretching out His hand against enemies that you don't even know you have.God is delivering you all the time.God isn't like the lifeguards at the pool or the beach who clock in and clock out.For many hours of the day, their floatation devices are hung up and those chairs are empty.But God is always on duty.He keeps you from drowning.He keeps your head above water.God is always on His heavenly throne.In the Psalm 121, 1-4, "I lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help comefrom?My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.He will not let your foot be moved.He who keeps you will not slumber.Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."God is not asleep on the job.God is not taking a break.He is not packing up His office.God is helping you.God is fighting for you.Give thanks with your whole heart because God is at work in your life right now.I give thanks with my whole heart, finally, because God will not give up on me in thefuture.Because God will not give up on me in the future.Let's rewind back to verses 4 through 5, but this rewind is actually a fast forward asDavid gives thanks for what God will do."All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the wordsof your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord for great is the glory ofthe Lord."In 2025, this scene seems very unlikely, doesn't it?I mean, how many presidents, politicians, dictators, and governments truly fear Godand worship Him?Not many.God is openly mocked and dishonored.His people are belittled.People are even put into prison and martyred for their faith.So many world leaders do not recognize the one who put them into power in the first place.But despite this hostility, the message of the gospel is still advancing and spreadingamong the nations.People of different backgrounds, positions, and levels of influence are hearing the wordsof God's mouth, being saved, giving thanks, and praising Him.In one day, all leaders of the earth will retire from their positions and vacate theiroffices as one rightful ruler reigns supreme.And who is this rightful ruler?Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.And Paul speaks to this future in Philippians 2, 9 through 11."Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name as above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."One day there will be no more elections, no more protests, no more corruption, no morepolitical news channels, no more war, no more threat of nuclear attack.There will be only praise and thanksgiving.The glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.And this future isn't maybe a might be or let's hope so.No, this future is set in stone.It is certain fact.You can resist it all you want, but it will come to pass.While the immediate future of this world is uncertain, God's ultimate future is not inquestion.In verse 8, "Folks is on David's future and the purpose that God has for David's life,his throne, and his house.The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.Do not forsake the work of your hands."The same God who will cause kings and leaders to bow down before him will fulfill David'spurpose as well.Actually, it is through fulfilling David's purpose that God will fulfill this ultimatefuture for his people and his creation.Help me with a quick reminder.From whose family line does King Jesus come?From King David's line.Listen to the promise that the Lord made to David in 2 Samuel 7.16, "And your house andyour kingdom shall be made sure forever, before me your throne shall be established forever."This purpose has been fulfilled and will further be fulfilled in Christ.This promise has been kept and will be further kept in Christ.David's throne has been established and will be established forever.And the one who sits on this throne is none other than Jesus Christ himself.He trusts in God's future plans.But he still cries out to the Lord and offers this prayer, "Do not forsake the work of yourhands."This may sound like doubt, but it isn't.This is a cry of dependence and neediness.David is saying, "God, please keep your promises to me.Without you, I am completely sunk.Do not forsake the work of your hands."This has become my new favorite prayer request.I've lost count of how many times I've prayed it over the past week, and you should prayit as well.God, keep your promise.Do not forsake the work of your hands.David's personal future is set in stone.It is a certain fact.The same is true for you if you're a follower of Christ.God will fulfill His purpose for you.He will keep every single promise that He has made to you in His Word.His steadfast love for you will endure forever.If you don't believe me, Paul backs up this truth in Philippians 1-6, and I am sure ofthis that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day ofJesus Christ.Jude 1-24, that God will keep you from stumbling and present you blameless before the presenceof His glory with great joy.The steadfastness of God is so foreign to us because we give up on things all the time.You start a brand new read that you're so excited for, but then it puts you to sleepso that you sell it, you send it to good will, you put it back on the shelf.You watch a movie that's boring so you turn it off.You start a new diet or exercise routine, but you get distracted and you give up onthat.You start a new hobby, but you get very distracted and very bored very quickly.You start something, but you don't finish it.God never does that.God doesn't operate like that at all.God will not forsake the work of His hands.God will not give up on you someday.God will hold on to you.He will finish what He started in you.It's so easy to believe these truths intellectually, but it's hard to feel in your heart.You often feel that God's love for you is an up and down, up and down roller coasterthat's based on your performance.If you're a good boy or a good girl, God's happy with you.If you're a bad boy or a bad girl, God's very unhappy with you.But God's love for you doesn't depend upon you and your performance at all.God's love for you depends on Christ and His perfect performance on your behalf.If God's love for me depended on my good deeds, my good works, He would have stoppedloving me a long time ago.But because His love depends on Christ, who is perfect and obeyed in every way that I'vefailed, His love for me will last forever and ever and ever.And that is true for you if you belong to Him.If you have trusted in Christ, God gives you the same exact message that I give to my kidsevery single night before I put them to bed.I love you when you're good.I love you when you're bad.I love you when you listen.I love you when you don't listen.I'm your dad no matter what.Isn't the assurance of God's love a cause for celebration?Isn't His steadfastness worthy of your thanksgiving and your praise?Instead of stressing out about what's ahead, choose to give thanks with your whole heartbecause God will not give up on you in the future.Give thanks with your whole heart for what God will do.I doubt that anyone in this room has a heart that is completely free from negativity andcomplaining.You and I complain about something every single day.And many of us complain about many things most days.Discontentment is a serious heart problem that you shouldn't take lightly.Disatisfaction is an acid that eats away your heart, your ministry, your walk with the Lord.The only surgical solution to that heart problem of ingratitude is gratitude.You must give thanks.It's not enough to just feel thankful.You have to verbalize it.You have to express it.You must acknowledge and verbalize your thankfulness for the attributes and actions of God.We've spent a lot of time talking about giving thanks.But it would be a big failure on my part if I didn't give you the opportunity to actuallygive thanks.In a moment, you will find some people around you and you're going to praise the Lord togetherwith your whole hearts.Come together to give thanks for who God is.Think about this God we saw in Psalm 138.He is loving.He is steadfast.He is faithful.He is glorious.He is worthy.He is high and exalted.He is the King of all.He is the Preserver and Sustainer.He is a promise keeper.Also give thanks with your whole hearts for what God has done, what He is doing, and whatHe will do.So find some people around you and give thanks together.Father, we come to you and we thank you so much, first and foremost, for the gift ofyour Son.We thank you that your Son came to live a perfect life because we never could.And He endured hell on the cross so that we could experience heaven forever.Well, there are people in this room who don't have the hope of heaven, that don't have atrue relationship with Christ, may today be the day of salvation.So that they can give thanks to you both now and forever.Thanks for the rest of us, Lord, help us to continually give thanks, to not give ourselvesover to discontentment and complaining, but to always recognize your goodness.And to know that every single day is a fresh pouring out of your mercy and your grace forus.We thank you for what you have done.We thank you for what you are doing, and we thank you for what you will do.We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.

Summer at City As the Father Has Sent Me… John 20:21 “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” Philippians 2:5-8 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.” “Kenosis is not a surrender of the divine attributes; kenosis defined as self-giving or self-donation is the premier expression of God's nature – of God's love and grace – seen most clearly on the Cross.”… Bradley Jersak Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” We bear the nature of God when we choose not to grasp for power and control but instead choose to empty ourselves and live in obedience and in surrender to God. “God's command was not about putting us in our place but, rather, lifting us to the image of the divine. He yields power to us by giving us the dignity of choice. Then by consenting to lay that power down, we become like Him!” Jersak adds, “What if kenosis – self-emptying power, self-giving love and radical servant-hood – expresses the very nature of God!”… Bradley Jersak That's how he is sending us – in obedience and full surrender. “Self-emptying power, self-giving love and radical servant-hood.” Exodus 34:6-7 “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” Jesus is among us as a servant, not lording it over others, leading by example, humble, as a child, as the younger, as the last, as the least, using no force, no selfish ambition, making for himself no reputation, he was human so we too can be authentically human, obedient, even to death on the cross, experiencing resurrection. This is the nature of Jesus and as the Father has sent Jesus, He is sending us. (Gayle Erwin, The Jesus Style) John 20:22 “‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'”

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”~CS Lewis 20th century British writer and theologian. “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you...' So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.”~Genesis 12:1 & 4 (ESV) “In exile here we wander: In heaven is our abode. The city of the angels, the city of our God. And here we toil, and strive, and fight. With sin and woe oprest, there God will give the sons of light eternal joy and rest.”~“In Exile Here We Wander” (1872), William Cook 19th Century British pastor and hymnwriter SERMON PASSAGEHebrews 11:8-16 (ESV) 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.' But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.' Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'” Ephesians 4:22-25 (NIV)You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:28-5:1,2 (NIV)“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others upaccording to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Let us imitate Christ and have the mind of Christ.Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)“Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”    Keys to a Transformed Life          Deny Self         Matthew 16:24 (NIV)         “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves          and take up their cross and follow me.'”          Walk in the Light         Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV)         “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Cast Off Hindrances Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Fix Our Eyes on ChristHebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

Who is Jesus Christ?  This is the most important question you will ever be asked. A good man? A great teacher? A revolutionary leader? Or is he the Christ, the Son of the Living God?  Who was he? Who is he? Your eternal destiny hangs on your answer.Main Points:1. Jesus came as a savior and as a king, but not an earthly one. He came for a greater purpose. He came to save us from a greater oppression than a Roman army. He came to save us from our sins, that which would keep us from God for eternity. He came to be the King of our hearts.2. This brings us to an important question. Who is this? “Who is Jesus?”  Is he just a historical figure, a religious leader, a philosopher, and a teacher? Was he a revolutionary and a political rebel? Is he an imaginary person and a myth? Or is Jesus the Messiah, the King of the Jews, a Savior, and God in the flesh?3. Have the courage today to put your faith in him and trust him as the savior of your soul.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 21:10-11 - “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”John 1:1.2.14 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”Jesus is our Savior - Matthew 1:21 - "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”Jesus is our King - Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group