Podcasts about therefore god

As Jesus stared down the barrel of a horrific death– drinking the cup of the wrath of God against all sin– He exhibited stunning courage. Even Judas and the soldiers were compelled to bow at the force of His proclamation, “I AM.” Their forced response to Jesus' courage should be our voluntary response: to fall down before Jesus in awe. Christ's courage at the end of His life compels the worship of all. “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.” (Philippians 2:8-11) Take-Home Message: The courage of Christ compels me to worship. The Courageous Christ…  Stepped forward into darkness (1-4). Why did Judas betray Jesus? Wrong expectation Wrong treasure Wrong influence Stood up for the disciples (5-9). Submitted to His demise (10-12). Message: The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus  Scripture: John 18:1-12 Simple. Authentic. Jesus. Prairiebible.org

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

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Jun 8, 2025 ========== June 8 - These Words Changed My Life Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo June 8, 2025 - Micah Cating HUMILITY + UNITY = LOVE Philippians 2:1-11 “Everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:35 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. PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 ESV If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20 ESV UNITY IS ROOTED IN HUMILITY “Complete my joy by being of the same mind” Two distinguishing characteristics of a Christian community are humility and unity. SELFISHNESS CAN DESTROY THE UNITY OF A CHURCH HUMBLE PEOPLE FOCUS ON OTHER PEOPLE Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts… Luke 20:46 JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE OF A HUMBLE SERVANT HUMILITY IS ROOTED IN UNITY WITH JESUS “Everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:35 HUMILITY + UNITY = LOVE Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

April 26, 2025 - Equipped 2025 - Day 3 - 6:30PM Session   Mike leads a lesson on "supremely supreme". He discusses Jesus's awesomeness.    Philippians 2 - Unity Through Humility 2 Therefore if there is any [a]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. The Humbled and Exalted Christ 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [b]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [c]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Light Bearers 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without [d]complaining and disputing,[e] 15 that you may become blameless and [f]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. Timothy Commended 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your [g]state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. Epaphroditus Praised 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, [h]not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.   Video: 2025 Equipped Workshop 4-26-25 - "JESUS,NAME ABOVE ABOVE ALL NAMES"- Mike Vestal Duration 42:26

Joy is a wonderful thing. And it turns out that Jesus died in order that we might have His joy. True. But sometimes, sometimes we squander that joy – what an incredible waste.   Paint the Picture Over these last few weeks we've been taking a look at joy, especially God's heart for us to have His joy in our lives – a complete and overflowing sense of joy. I don't know anyone who doesn't want joy in their lives but I'm not talking about some fleeting happiness; not some warm and fuzzy that we get when we've had a good day or something good has happened to us. Those warm and fuzzes, well, they're nice but somehow, they seem to evaporate so quickly. Now when Jesus talks about joy, He talks about something quite different. Have a listen. On that last evening together with His disciples, before He was to be crucified He talked so much about joy and what an odd time and place to do that. He is about to die and He says in John chapter 15, verse 11: I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. And again you can read for yourself in John chapter 16, verse 20. He says: I tell you the truth – you'll weep and mourn while the world rejoices you will grieve but your grief will turn to joy. A women giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into this world. So it'll be with you. Now is your time of grief but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one can take away that joy. In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. Until now you haven't asked anything in My name - ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete. And again, His final prayer before He is crucified – you read it in John chapter 17, verse 13. He says to God, His Father: I'm coming to You now but I say these things while I'm still in the world so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. See, when Jesus is talking about joy He is not talking about a warm and fuzzy. He said all of these things just before He was about to be crucified. Clearly, He wasn't having a warm and fuzzy. There is a clear distinction between the world's happiness and the joy of the Lord. And He does this on the night before He is to be crucified as if to draw a clear line between the two. He talked so much about joy so close to His brutal crucifixion. The Holy Spirit is nothing if not absolutely consistent. And again He draws this peculiar distinction by including in the New Testament, a whole book about joy – written by the Apostle Paul whilst he was in a Roman dungeon, in chains and on death row. We've been looking at that book over these last few weeks on the program, it's the Book of Philippians. It's a letter that Paul wrote whilst in jail, to his friends in the church in Philippi. Now let's continue there today. If you have got a Bible, grab it and open it up at Philippians chapter 2. Come with me into God's Word. I truly believe and I've seen it often in people and I've seen it in days gone by in my own life; that we ourselves do so much to rob ourselves of this joy that the Master – let me say this quite deliberately now – that the Master died in order that we may have. That is the price He puts on this joy, His joy in us, complete and abundant and overflowing. How sweet it is! Yet we ourselves, we can rob ourselves of that joy which has such a high price on its head. Come with me now to see what the Holy Spirit writes to us through Paul in his prison cell about this tragic robbing. Comes from Philippians chapter 2: If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ; if you got any comfort from His love; if any fellowship with 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 purpose. Don't do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Just short four verses! So what is Paul saying to the Philippians and what is the Holy Spirit whispering to you and me today, all these centuries on? "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ ...” In other words, if there is any benefit at all from knowing Jesus; any comfort from His love; any fellowship with His Spirit; any tenderness and compassion, if you have got anything out of knowing Jesus Christ, make my joy here in this dungeon complete. How? By doing what? Well effectively, by being humble. Here is Paul with his own life in serious risk if the truth be known, shackled in a prison, talking to his friends in Philippi about such a serious matter. The thing that will rob them of their joy is their pride. Listen again to these words: ... then make my joy complete by being like-minded; having the same love; being one is spirit and purpose; do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Let me ask you this. How much joy is there in selfish ambition and vain conceit? At the end of the day when all that matters is looking after "number one", our own interests, it's so empty and hollow and let me say, completely joyless. When we manipulate and strive to get our own way; when we harbour selfish ambition and vain conceit in our hearts and live them out in our lives; when we tread on people and destroy our relationships, in truth, what we discover is that we are completely alone. What joy is there in that? But when we, in humility, consider others better than ourselves; when we look after other people's interests and not our own, well, we turn that around completely and that, my friend, removes a blockage to joy. Listen to how James and Peter put it. James chapter 4, verse 6 and First Peter chapter 5, verse 5 as they quote Proverbs 3:34: God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble. If we would have that deep and abiding joy of which the Master spoke on that frightful evening before He was crucified; the joy that He prayed over us in that final prayer; that joy that He died to purchase, then let me say bluntly, that we too must come to that cross and lose our lives.   An Odd Place I remarked earlier in the programme that a dungeon on death row is an odd place for Paul to sit and write a letter about joy. It's a short letter, just a few pages, but it oozes the joy of the Lord. Earlier we saw that the Holy Spirit through Paul's words was putting His finger on one of the things that robs us of joy – selfish ambition and conceit, getting our own way. And he pleads with his friends, "If you have any benefit from knowing Jesus Christ, put all that other stuff behind you." Well, that's easier said than done. I mean, we're all a bit selfish; we all want our own way, and one of the first words we learn to utter as little children is, "No!", so how do we get beyond that? How do we grow and move on so that instead of being disobedient to God and being robbed of His joy, we love Him through our obedience and live "in" His joy? See, obedience – it's not a particularly trendy word these days – it smacks of old fashioned, rigid, out dated religion, doesn't it? Yet John writes in First John chapter 5, verse 3: The love of God is this: that we obey His commandments. That's how we express our love to God. Ok, well, that much most of us know. We know the theory but what about the practice? The prize is the joy of the Lord, so how do we get over our sin of selfish pride that robs us of that prize? Well lets go on to see what the Holy Spirit is whispering into our hearts through the next part of this Book – Philippians chapter 2, beginning at verse 5 – he writes this: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who being in the very nature of God, didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped but 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 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. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not just in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. This is a wondrous picture of the cross. Have you ever thought about it this way? I mean, it's tough for anyone to do, to go to the cross, but Jesus humbled Himself. He stepped out of His glorious heavenly realm where angels bowed down and worshipped Him and became a man. What a huge step of humility. And Paul is saying here, "Let your attitude", literally, "Let this be in you, just as it was in Jesus." I love that. See, Jesus comes first; He does it first. He never asks us to do something He hasn't already done and when we hear His gentle call, we hear a call to follow Him. Do you hear that call in your heart today? "Follow Me; come follow Me to the cross – the place where I poured Myself out for you." Jesus, God Himself, didn't consider what He was entitled to out of His love for us, you and me. He humbled Himself and became – wait for it, here it is, that word – obedient to death, even such an excruciating death as death on a cross. And He is calling us here, to lay down our lives – this great paradox. We think we can get joy our own way but we don't discover the joy of God until we lay our lives down; until we die to self. This is the heart of the message of joy. So long as you and I reign as our own little tin pot, despotic dictators in our lives there can be no joy of the Lord. So long as the self, selfish, self absorbed, self centred wraps its tendrils around our heart, that heart will be constricted and all joy squeezed out of it. I mean, real joy, the joy that comes from God Himself. That when we go to Him and say, "Jesus, I crown You as Lord of my life, every part, every dealing, what I eat and drink and say and do and think and feel and hope and dream; every dealing and every transaction." When we crucify that "self" on the cross, look at what happens, Jesus is exalted and there in comes the joy. Listen again to His prayer that night before He died; a prayer that He prayed very deliberately for you and me. His final prayer before the cross, the purpose of His suffering. Father, I'm coming to you now but I say these things while I'm still in the world so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. Do you see this? Obedience is a word of liberation not oppression. The sweetest paradox of the human experience is that ‘the self' is a ruthless tyrant. It is at the cross where we invite the Spirit of God into our hearts to breathe His joy into us. Here is that peculiar distinction between the world's happiness and God's joy. Listen with me to the last part of the passage we just read, Philippians chapter 2, verses 12 and 13: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence but now much more so in my absence, continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. We are going to come back and look at God's work in us next.   Shining Like Stars My prayer for you today is that God's Word has quickened your heart to His purpose, His purpose for joy in your life. See, dying to self is such a scary concept; such a step of faith and not just once but daily. Look at what Jesus says in Luke chapter 9, beginning at verse 23: Jesus said to all of them “If anyone would come after Me he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. This is the great paradox of dying to live. And you see, God wants us to shine like stars – we are going to look a little bit further what Paul writes about that. And that's what happens when we have the joy of the Lord in us because there is something that happens; something that the rest of the world sees when God is at work in our hearts; when we live the joy that can only be found at that cross. See, this last bit is so important because it speaks about the attitude we take as we suffer as the self dies. Make no mistake, death is always painful. When Jesus talked about taking up our cross daily and following Him, He was talking about nailing ‘the self' to flesh and the flesh will hang on for dear life. It will be prone to complain and grumble; it will want to turn back; to run from the cross. Listen again as the Holy Spirit whispers His wisdom into our hearts. We are going to pick up what Paul was saying at Philippians chapter 2, beginning at verse 14: Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God, without a fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you so that you too should be glad and rejoice with me. See, humility; laying down our lives at the cross, stands out but it's not humility when we complain and argue and grumble. Humility is when we submit obediently to the will of God; dying to self. There are times in my walk where this dying has been particularly painful I can tell you, the power of the temptation to lash out and blame others; to grumble and complain. You see, dying at the cross never seems fair. "I have rights you know, I am entitled", the flesh cries. But the Spirit of God calls us to this odd place to discover joy. Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ, who being in the very nature of God didn't consider equality with God to be something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of the servant, being made in human form and being found in appearance as a man, humbling Himself, He became obedient to death, even death on a cross. We should be like that. That is what Paul is saying; that is what the Holy Spirit is saying and here is what happens. We all of a sudden appear different to those around us – utterly different – other worldly. Like something that is rarely seen on this planet, we shine like stars amidst a crocked and perverse generation. We shine with a light of joy that only glows in a life surrendered to Jesus Christ. And that light is what will draw others naturally to Jesus. What a great deception of the devil that is, to have us think that joy only comes when we assert our rights and follow our driving ambition. What a great deception! You see the truth is exactly the opposite. Real joy; the joy of the Lord comes in that bitter sweet surrender of our lives on that cross. There is Paul in the dungeon – see how he talks about himself? He says: Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith. You see, Paul is facing execution because he preached the Gospel of Jesus, not just to the Philippians but right around the known world. Paul is coming to the end of his life and is looking martyrdom right in the face. He is looking death right in the face and yet his greatest concern is the joy of those in Philippi, that they experience the joy of God; that they don't do anything through selfish ambition or vain conceit to miss out on the joy of the Lord. And here is Paul in this dark dungeon shining like a star amidst a crooked and depraved generation. Have you ever looked up at the stars lately, away from the light of the city and the smog of the city, and looked up at the stars and what a wondrous sight it is? That's what the Holy Spirit wants us to be in this world that's so dark sometimes – in this world where people just follow their noses and do what feels right and look after their own vain interests. Jesus wants us to stand out and be different and that joy is what makes us different. It shines like a star. The joy of the Lord comes in that bitter sweet surrender of our lives on that cross – a life-long surrender; a daily surrender. “Take up your cross every day and follow Me,” said Jesus. A surrender that will mean loss and pain as the self is crucified, but a surrender that little by little will reveal this purpose of God – that our joy would shine like a star in a dark and hurting world. I want encourage you – if you haven't surrendered all of your life to Jesus Christ, do that right now. The prize is so wondrous. Yes, it's a step of faith; yes, it's a scary thing to let go of things that we know are wrong, but the prize is the joy of the Lord. The prize is living a life where God takes just who we are and who He made us, for us to shine like stars amidst a crooked and depraved generation.

Who do people say Jesus is? And more importantly, who do you say He is? This sermon by Richard Bruce dives deep into the most crucial question of faith, exploring the identity of Jesus as the Messiah and the profound power held within His name. Discover how an encounter with Jesus can be a life-transforming choice, just like it was for a beggar at the temple gate. Are you ready to consider what it means to call Jesus your Lord, Savior, and Friend? Tune in to explore the step of faith. To catch up on the latest sermons from Deep Creek, go to iTunes, Spotify ordeepcreekanglican.comand check out the website for more info about whats happening. We are a welcoming and growing multigenerational church in Doncaster East in Melbourne with refreshing faith in Jesus Christ. We think that looks like being life-giving to the believer, surprising to the world, and strengthening to the weary and doubting. Transcription Taken from Mark chapter eight, verses 27 to 38, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, who do people say I am? They replied, some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah, and still others one of the prophets. But what about you? He asked, who do you say I am? Peter answered, you are the Messiah. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan, he said, you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his father's glory with the holy angels. This is the word of the Lord. Sermon: Richard Bruce Well. Good morning. It's good to be with you. My name is Richard Bruce, and, I'm feeling very old today because, the last time I spoke at Deep Creek, Bob Brown invited me, and I looked this up. It was a men's breakfast out there in 2006. So, that was some time ago. And I'm also feeling, old, but also encouraged because, I've known Megan for a very long time. I was her first youth group leader, and, I was there the night that she made a commitment of faith. So it's been wonderful to journey, along with her over many years. I do want to encourage you to continue to keep all of the candidates, that had their names put forward for the archbishop in your prayers. It's a pretty tortuous process that they go through and very vulnerable. There's not too many jobs that you have. Nearly 800 people, considering you for, but that is that is the Anglican way that we do it, in Melbourne. But, encourage you to keep the candidates in your prayers. My role, currently, I am the archdeacon for Diocesan and Parish partnerships, working centrally, in the diocese. And what that looks like on a day to day basis is, I work with our prison chaplains, our hospital chaplains, op shops. And then there's a whole range of, individual church programs that work with Anglicare Victoria, Brotherhood of Saint Lawrence Benitez and other Anglican agencies. So I'm I'm kind of like the go to guy, for those things. If a parish wants to investigate doing a program like a. A breakfast program for homeless people or an op shop or something like that. I'm the person that they come to. I go and meet with the parish, talk about it, and then we work out who are the organizations or agencies that they might connect with to partner with in doing that. So I live locally in Warren, and I normally do come along and sit over quietly with my two boys. Over on the side we come in. Just the service begins and then we sneak out just as it finishes. Previously been on staff at a number of churches, but it's, It's good to be with you this morning as we finish, this, series of together. And I get to start my timer now for the sermon. So. Yeah. There we go. Megan said we had to be very careful about our timing. So there we go. Yeah, it was very encouraged that, she made it very clear that as a senior minister, the timing does not apply to her. But anyway, here we. Here we go. Who Do You Say I Am? I love this. This is. This is perhaps my favorite passage of scripture. If if someone said you could talk about any passage of scripture, what would it be? This. This would be it. I love the fact that as Jesus is walking along with his disciples, he asked that question who do people say that I am? And then he asks them, but who do you say that I am? I wonder if we we went down to the ponds this morning or we went to your favorite cafe this morning, perhaps to your workplace, to your social club, whatever it might be to to the people that you engage with. If we ask them, who do you say Jesus is? I wonder what the responses would be. I think they would be quite varied, wouldn't they? Quite varied. For the disciples, we see that when they first interact with Jesus, when they first start walking along with him, they ask that question, who? Who is this man? Who is this guy? When Jesus calms the waters. When? When they're out in the boat, what's their response? Who is this man that even the waters obey him? All the way through to this point in Jesus life and ministry, where the disciples have been walking with him for nearly three years, they've been living with him 24 over seven. Where Peter declares, you are the Messiah, you're the one that we have been waiting for. You're the one that's going to save us. Jesus shows his identity to his disciples, to those that are closest to him. And if you read the gospel of Mark and Matthew, you will see this come through clearly, where Jesus shows his authority and shows the power of God working through him in these five areas to teach his authority over sickness, over nature, over death, and the authority to forgive sins. So for the disciples, the people that are living with him. Where if there was anyone that would have said, this guy is a fraud. This guy is not real. There is. There is weakness. There is inconsistency. It would be the disciples, wouldn't it? So this is the power of Jesus asking this question of the disciples. The other people who are not living with him every day they say, well, some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, still some others. One of the prophets. They're all good things. But when Peter says, you are the Messiah, this is a declaration that the disciples see him in his true identity, in the fullness of his glory, in his purpose living out. This is powerful. That's why he says, don't go telling people because he knows what the implications would be. For Jesus to fulfill 300 to 500. Old Testament prophecies about who the Messiah is. In just a few years is powerful. This is part of the proof of who Jesus is. To the disciples, as they are looking for the Messiah to come. They see it living out before them in an undeniable way. It is not insignificant that Peter says you are the Messiah. You are the one that we are looking for. The Name of Jesus Now we hear the name of Jesus many times a day. If you like me in all kinds of circumstances. We hear the name of Jesus. It is one of the most used swear words in our society, isn't it? All you've got to do is watch a movie. Hear people talking. Jesus. Jesus Christ, Lord almighty. Or as one of my bosses used to say, Jesus wept. It is used all the time as a profanity in movies, TV shows, sporting fields, whatever it might be. People use the name of Jesus, don't they? But predominantly it is a swear word. Now I find it amazing that it is socially acceptable to use Jesus name as a swear word, but yet as a Christian, as a as I like to call myself as a professional Christian, being an Anglican minister, most people know that instantly when I say I'm an Anglican minister, that I'm a Christian. If I was to use the name of Jesus and start to talk to people about Jesus, they'd get all offended and upset and I'd be told to shut up. But no one predominantly tells people if they use the Lord's name in vain, to be quiet. Not to do that. That's not inappropriate. That's not appropriate. We don't see other people's names being used as a swear word, do we? People don't go, oh, Richard. But Jesus socially acceptable? It's the norm. The third of the Ten Commandments is you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for your Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. There are consequences to speaking the name Jesus, and if you misuse it, that is sinful. That is against what God wants us to do. So if you've ever misused the name of Jesus, you have sinned. But the good news is that we are all sinners, and it is in fact by the name of Jesus that we can be saved. Romans 623 says, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now the other thing that I find amazing and I've discovered over the years. Is that people are happy to talk about God. But when you start talking about Jesus, you get a reaction. You see, it's it's kind of easy to talk about God because God's this, this thing, this power, this thing which is up there and out there that isn't really tangible. And so people are happy to talk about God. But as soon as you start talking about Jesus, I get a response. Sometimes a reaction from people, particularly for those of us who have grown up in Western culture, most of us would know about Jesus. We know about the Easter story that this guy, Jesus, died on a cross and apparently rose from the dead. But the confronting thing about Jesus is that Jesus died for me. Jesus died for you. We we have this reaction, this personal response to what someone says they have done for us. I think we see that in Anzac Day, don't we? There is this response that even though it was so long ago, there are people who laid down their life for you and I today. And there's a there's a reaction, there's a personal response. A bit of a who am I that someone who doesn't even know me, laid down their life, went to war to sacrifice themselves? That I can live the life that I live today. And I think that's part of why the name of Jesus commands such a response in us, where it's nice and easy to talk about God, but talking about Jesus, well, that's personal. That's personal. The Power in the Name of Jesus Now, the Bible has a lot to say about Jesus, and we could spend hours here just going through the Bible passages which reference his name and the power of that. But I'm just going to go through a number of Bible passages. I'm going to read them out. And as I do, I want you to just take on board the name of Jesus, the person of Jesus. And I want you to ask yourself this question if if what is being said about Jesus is true? If what is being said about Jesus is right, then what are the implications for me? Where do I stand? What is? What does this mean for me? If this is the truth? How am I going to respond to it? So let's let's have this. Bible passages: Matthew 121. He was given the name Jesus because he would save his people from their sins. John 112 to 13 yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband's will, but born of God. John 129. The next stage on the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and said, look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 318. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son. John 2031 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Acts 221. Talking about the Day of Judgment, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans ten 9 to 13 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Philippians two 910 Therefore God exalted him, Jesus 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 and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. They're pretty confronting passages, aren't they? Pretty daunting to think the power and authority of the name of Jesus, that everything in all of creation at his name should bow and give honor to Jesus? The name that is used as a profanity as a swear word. Is the name by which the whole of creation ought to be bowing in honor, the name by which every person can be saved. Is Jesus Christ more than a swear word? You'd better believe it. If what the Bible says is true. Then that impacts how we live our lives. For when we acknowledge that something is the truth, we either have to live by that truth or we ignore it, don't we? We all live by the truth that we believe that gravity is real, don't we? No one came in walking around wearing really heavy shoes with because we don't believe in gravity. And if we don't have really heavy shoes, we might, you know, float away. A little while ago on my social media feed. For some strange reason, I started getting all these video clips about flat earthers. I don't I don't know what I did to for it to happen, but I started getting all these clips about people trying to convince me that the earth is flat. And I was absolutely intrigued at the flat earthers. They are 100% convinced that it is the truth. I remember watching one clip where this guy started out to prove to people who believed that the earth was round, that it was actually flat. And as he did this experiment where he had a flat bit of paper and he had a light and he started to to to curve the bit of paper and talked about angles and everything. You could see that he'd suddenly convinced himself that the earth wasn't flat. So as he was trying to convince people that it was flat through this experiment, you could see the look on his face as he suddenly was like, oh, hang on a second. Hang on a second. I've. I've just just proven what I was trying to prove. And you could see him starting to think about all the consequences of this truth that he had just come to realize. That's what happens to us as we start to explore Jesus. We start to say, is this is this real? What if what are the consequences? How has my life going to change? For most people, coming to faith is a journey rather than an individual one off event. The Crippled Beggar Healed I'm going to read to us from acts and I'm a visual person, so I like to whenever there's a Bible story or something like I close my eyes and I try to visualize and and put the people into place and, and see what it's like so that I get the, the kind of full experience. So I want to invite you if you feel comfortable to close your eyes. As I read this story from acts three 1 to 16. And then I'll, I'll bring us back into the room at the end of it. But I want to encourage you to to try to picture what's occurring in this interaction. One day, Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer. 3:00 in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, look at us, said the man gave them his attention, expecting that he was going to get something from them. Then Peter said, silver or gold? I do not have but what I have, I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand. He helped him up and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called beautiful. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished, and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them, Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness? We had made this man walk. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus. This man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that has given his complete healing to him. As you can all see. Isn't that a powerful story? Here is a man from birth. A cripple. As these disciples, as these followers of Jesus go in. They offer him Jesus healing. Can you imagine what's going through this cripples mind. He's sitting there thinking, this is. This is my life. This is how I make money. This is my identity. I'm the cripple that sits at the gates and gets money. So when Peter reaches out, his hand says, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, get up and walk. Here's a choice, doesn't he? He can sit there and go, dude, I'm a cripple. I don't walk. This is. This is who I am. This is how I am. Nothing's going to change. No. Jesus of Nazareth. This. This is it. So here's a choice to make. Do I keep living the way that I've been living? Or do I accept? Do I reach out my hand in faith? And say, well, maybe this Jesus can transform my life. Maybe Jesus can perform a miracle and heal me. But what are going to be the consequences if I'm healed? What am I going to do? Don't have a job I've been begging my whole life. I'm going to be the former beggar. Everyone's going to know. Everyone's going to ask me questions. Oh, you're the guy that used to beg and Jesus healed you. What? Tell me about that. His decision to reach out his hand wasn't just a simple thing. It was a transformation of his life. It was an incredible act of faith. That would mean he was never going to be the same again. For him, for whoever his family was, for his community, for the people in the temple that day I was there the day that miracle occurred. I was there, I saw him when I went in. He was a beggar inside. He was walking around. Unbelievable. When we come and we engage with Jesus, there is a transformation that occurs. We see that throughout the Gospels. We see that from the apostles, from the disciples, even after Jesus ascension. And there are many people in this room today that could give testimony of Jesus transformation in their lives. Maybe not as miraculous as being born a cripple and being healed, but we could. All who are Christians give our testimony of what it was that caused us to give our lives to follow Jesus. How miraculous or mundane that may be. Just like the disciples, we have a testimony of a relationship with the living Jesus that has transformed our lives, that continues to transform our lives. What Good Is It? The last part of that Bible passage that we read talks about what good is it for someone to gain the whole world and yet to forfeit their soul? It's a great question, isn't it? I love Jesus questions. He kind of just. Really puts it to us. So many people in our world are trying to gain the whole world. I've known people who have acknowledged who Jesus is. I've been using these Bible passages since Meghan was a teenager. This is who Jesus is. Are you going to acknowledge who he is and accept him or reject him? Because they're the only two options. And there's going to be consequences to that decision. What are you going to do today? What are you going to do tomorrow? Next week? It's a daily decision to pick up our cross. For those who are Christians, to pick up our cross and to follow Jesus. So whether you are a person of faith or not. Jesus is who he is. He is the Messiah. He is the Christ for me. And for many people, this is the undeniable truth. Who do you say Jesus is? Who do you say Jesus is? For me, when someone asks me that question, I often get asked, why are you a minister? Or why are you a Christian? I go to a local gym in Doncaster and we were meant to be. I was meant to be going with a group of them to the football game yesterday afternoon to watch Carlton lose again. And I said, so I started to help arrange this social activity, and I ended up saying, I can't go. I've I've got to go to an Archbishop selection. And for some of those people, they were kind of like, oh, you know, it's great conversation about being an Anglican minister and conversations of, of faith. And, I was I was sitting at the archbishop's election with my daughter Bella on the, the phone here. she's she's saying I'm talking with the people from the gym, and they're I'm trying to explain what an archbishop's election is. And so I'm sitting there typing away as people are asking her questions, and I'm thinking, what a great witness. My daughter's there explaining to a bunch of people what it is about a faith and an election. I'm expecting over the next few weeks, as I'm at different gym sessions for people to to come and ask me questions of faith. Who did you elect? What was the process? Why are you a Christian? Who is Jesus? My response is always Jesus is my Lord, my Savior and my friend. The characteristic that always gets people is that last one friend. Jesus is your friend, isn't he? Like 2000 years ago. And I say, well, no, he's alive and well and I have a living relationship with my Lord and my Savior today. Just as real as the disciples had 2000 years ago as Jesus walked this planet. So what words? If you're a Christian, what words would you describe Jesus as to people? If you're not a Christian sitting here today, what words would you have used to describe Jesus? Called to be Friends One of my other favorite passages is I come to to land this message. John 1512 to 15 if we could have that up on the screen. John 15 says, my command is this love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than they lay down their life for their friends. You are my friends. If you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends. That everything that I learned from my father I have made known to you. Throughout this series you. If you've been coming along each week, you have heard testimonies. If you've been invited along by someone this morning for the first time, or maybe the 10th time. Ask them for their testimony. Ask them, why are you a Christian? Or maybe you are someone who has been a Christian for a while and you've been struggling, and there's a sense there of, I just need to recommit my life to Jesus afresh. there's nothing wrong with doing that. I've probably done that a hundred times. But today is one of those days where you have the choice. Like that beggar. Am I going to reach out my hand to Jesus? Or am I just going to sit there and say. I am a sinner. I'm a cripple. I'm not worthy. You, Jesus can't do anything. You have that choice to make. when you came in today, you will have got a bit of paper, a little bit smaller than this, but a bit of paper on the one side of it. Is a prayer of commitment or recommitment. I imagine. During the service or during the sermon, you've had a chance to read through that. On the back is what are some next steps that you can take in your journey? Like the disciples going from who is this guy? Jesus? Maybe you're not at the point of like Peter declaring that Jesus is the Messiah. But I want to encourage you with you. You've been a Christian for five minutes or for 50 years, or you're not a person of faith yet to look at. What are those next steps, particularly to do the Alpha course? I've seen so many mature Christians, faith, become alive and fresh, and have a new confidence in being a Christian in their world. From doing the Alpha course and inviting people from their world along. So if you're a Christian, I encourage you to to do the Alpha course, but during the next two songs. Want to encourage you to to privately or if you've been invited along by someone, if you want to pray. Pray this prayer of commitment to pray that prayer. Maybe you're someone that likes to do things physically. there's plenty of space down the front, down the back. If you don't. If you don't want to be seen by people, you know, go down the back, kneel, stand, do something physical in your response to Jesus. But I want to challenge you to have an encounter with the living Jesus today, here, now, that will transform your life. Closing Prayer I'm going to pray, just quickly. And then I'm going to I'm going to sit down the front just in case anyone doesn't want to come down the front. You're not alone. I'll be sitting down here, but let me pray for us. And then, the band is going to lead us in our final two songs. Heavenly father, we thank you for this day. We thank you that you call us friends, that you know each person, you know every person here. You know our hearts. You know our minds. You know how we view ourselves. You know, you know our relationship with you. You know our fears and our struggles and our joys. And I pray, Holy Spirit, that you would speak to each and every person here today to let us know that you know us, that we are loved by you no matter how much we love ourselves or how we value ourselves, no matter how distant we think we are from you. And I pray that we may this day have the faith to reach out to you, to ask you afresh or the for the first time to be our Lord, our Savior and our friend. That we may either begin that journey with you or strengthen that journey with you. But speak to us. Open our hearts, our minds, and our ears as spirits to hear from you this day. We pray this in your mighty and precious name, Jesus. Amen.

The only faith the Bible talks about, the only sort of Faith Jesus talked about was the sort of faith that moves mountains. The sort of faith that conquers the world! The sort that has powerful results.   Conquering Faith There are times in our lives when we have to overcome obstacles. Now not every obstacle is there for overcoming, let me say. Sometimes they're meant to be there at least for a while, and sometimes they're meant to be there as a permanent feature. I don't know if you recall the apostle Paul's prayer to God about the thorn in his flesh that was hindering him, but three times Paul asked God to take it away, and God's answer was no, because that thorn in Paul's flesh was there to keep him humble. Even adversity, especially adversity sometimes, plays an important part in God's plan for our lives. But sometimes it's God's plan for us to overcome obstacles in our lives. Sometimes we need to be more than conquerors over our circumstances, in order to achieve what God's called us to achieve. When we have to conquer an obstacle that's way beyond our power or our wisdom or our strength, then we need to have faith – faith in the One who does have the power and the wisdom and the strength to make things happen. We need the sort of faith that conquers the world, and that's the sort of faith that we're going to chat about again today on the programme – world-conquering faith. So let's go back to Hebrews 11 and see what God has to say to us today about that sort of faith. Hebrews 11:29: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute didn't perish with those who were disobedient because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Sampson and Jephthah and David and Samuel and all the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fires, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Isn't that just one of the most amazing passages? I get a real courage in my heart just reading that passage. So, what's God saying to us through His Word today? When the nation of Israel fled from their centuries of slavery in Egypt, and after they'd wandered for forty years in the wilderness, God finally let them into the land that He promised them through Abraham centuries before. Now you'd think, wouldn't you, that if the land was the land God had promised and He'd chosen and He'd provided, that God could ordain for them that they'd kind of waltz in there and settle down and take over, but that wasn't God's plan. The land was occupied by many nations and kings and tribes, and the Israelites had to take the promised land battle by battle. That's often God's way. That's why so often, life as a Christian seems to be battle after battle. That's why sometimes we think to ourselves: "Why is following Jesus this hard? Why doesn't it all just fall into place? What about the promises of God?" Well, the promises are there, just like the promised land was there for Israel, but they had to be taken (often battle by battle), and those battles, my friend, require faith. Faith pleases God and so those battles are our opportunity to grow in our faith, as we rely on God's promises to take us through, and that's pleasing to God. So Israel took Jericho ... by strength? No, by faith! And Rahab, the prostitute who'd harboured the Israeli spies before that battle, she was saved by faith. And then the writer goes on to list many situations and circumstances in the history of Israel where battle after battle after battle after battle had been won, as Israel God's people stepped into the breach and put their faith in their God. My friend, that's what the Christian life looks like. That's what we're meant to be living, and after each battle and each trial and each beating and each victory, you know what happens? Our faith grows stronger. We don't just become mighty men and women of faith by sitting here in our lounge-rooms watching the television, we become mighty men and women of faith by using our faith – by exercising the muscle of faith, so that it grows stronger and stronger with each battle. And one day we wake up and we're able to face bigger battles for Christ because now we have the faith we need to live through them. Let me share with you a letter I received awhile back from a woman, Elsie – an elderly lady, who used to support Christianityworks by sending some stamps every few months. Listen to the world-conquering faith of this frail old woman. She writes: Although I'm only a very aged pensioner' (those are her words), ‘I have been kept by God's grace through many years. In the last eighteen months, I have had both floodwaters and burning tree-embers over my veranda, but God has protected me through it all. Only last night the bush-fire threatened my home again, and I went to bed knowing that only our Creator could keep me safe. Berni, I'm sending you these stamps in the name of our miracle-working God, who fed thousands with five small loaves and two fishes, who burst open prison-doors, calmed tempests, split rocks and provided water, conquered death and defeated Satan, and who is coming again to take us all to His eternal home in glory. May these stamps help others to enter His peace. And so they did. We used those stamps in our very next mailing to our supporters, and in response to that mailing, I received a letter from another woman, who as it turns out lived just a few kilometres from Elsie, who'd been to the point of suicide when she received our letter, yet God used that letter to save her life. She wrote: "Thank you for saving my life." I believe with all my heart that that miracle was born out of Elsie's world-conquering faith. I rang Elsie, I told her what had happened, and she wept with joy. What an awesome God we serve, that this self-described "aged pensioner" can be filled with that sort of world-conquering faith. And as you receive God's word today, may you be filled with a passion to travel through the battles, through the fires, through the floods of your walk with Jesus, so that day after day He will grow in you the sort of faith that conquers the world.   Unwavering Faith You know the thing that is absolutely the most difficult thing about faith? It's that sometimes when I believe in God for something, He doesn't give me the answer I was believing for. Sometimes when I trust in God to do something, something that's really good – something that's really powerful – something that truly would glorify His name, either He doesn't do it or He delays in doing it, or He does it in a completely different way to what I was expecting. You see, when it comes to faith, I just want it to be simple: I decide what needs to be done, I ask God to do it, and I believe in Him that He's going to do it and He does it! Hey, that's simple enough. How come God doesn't get it sometimes? How come He heads off in some tangent when I can see plain as day what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how it needs to be done? Now, as we've been exploring what Hebrews chapter 11 has to say about faith over these last few weeks, have you noticed that each of the examples so far has focused on successful outcomes of having faith in God? Yippee! But the Bible is nothing if it's not realistic, and so it also talks about those times when God doesn't seem to deliver on our prayers – when we've prayed in faith and He doesn't show up. Have a listen. This first passage follows on from the Abraham story. God had promised Abraham many descendants, even when he and his wife were old, beyond childbearing age, and He promised a land of his own – the promised land, in which his descendants would be like ... well, more numerous than the stars in the sky, and the grains of the sand on the beach. Question: How much of that promise did Abraham actually get to see? Well, only two small parts. Firstly, God gave him a son Isaac – miraculous to be sure, but only one – not the multitude that had been promised, and God fleetingly let him pass through the Promised Land, so what does the Bible have to say about these unfulfilled promises? Hebrews 11:11: By faith he received the 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 in heaven, as innumerable as the 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. People who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land they had left behind, they would have had an 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. So, Abraham didn't even see the outcome of his faith. All but two of the Israelites that finally centuries later left slavery in Egypt, perished in the wilderness and never saw the Promised Land; only their children did, and yet God commends them for their faith. God's plan, God's promises span centuries, right down to the birth of Jesus. God's promise of many descendants is what gave Jesus to us, and you and I today are still being blessed. Because Abraham trusted God, because Israel trusted God, you and I are blessed in Jesus who came through God's promise to Abraham. God's plans span millennia, way beyond Abraham's life! Abraham's life was just one small piece in the overall jigsaw puzzle, and yet God commends Abraham for his faith. See, that's the big picture – that's the truth. You and I, our lives, are just one small part in the overall scheme of things, in God's whole plan for the human race. And sometimes from our narrow perspective, well, we can't see the whole picture. In fact, I'd suggest that our perspective is inherently way too narrow ever to fully comprehend God's big picture. So often, God makes promises and we step out in faith into these promises, and things don't go quite the way we planned, and yet those apparent failures are critical in the overall plan of God. Again, listen to what Hebrews has to say further on, on this very thing. Having regaled us with all the successes of faith that various leaders and kings and prophets had, the writer of this book of Hebrews under the hand of God turns his attention to the apparent failures of faith. Hebrews 11:35: Women received their dead by resurrection, but others were tortured, refusing to accept release in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats – destitute, persecuted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in the deserts and mountains, in caves and holes in the ground, yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better, so that they would not apart from us be made perfect. So, you read that, and it seems to me that having faith in God is more important to God than the outcome of that faith. Stepping into the firing line with a distinct possibility of getting shot, trusting in God, is more important to God than whether or not we get shot. That's what the Scripture is telling us, and it's true. What we're interested in is a narrow form of success – success in our little bit, but sometimes our apparent failure, or what you and I would call failure, is a critical element of the jigsaw in God's overall plan. Just think: What if Jesus had been saved from the cross? Where would you and I be now? But I'll tell you something. I bet you the disciples were praying to God in those final hours that Jesus would be saved – that He'd be spared. I bet you that had you and I been one of those disciples, that's exactly what we'd have been praying, right? It's not always about winning each battle. Sometimes God's got a bigger picture and what pleases Him, and what He commends us for, is a faith that stands an unfailing faith, despite the outcome.   Overcoming Faith Well, we're going to conclude our time together in this particular series by looking at what Hebrews chapter 11 has to say about the sort of faith that overcomes obstacles – the sort of faith in God that'll help us overcome difficult circumstances. Often we hope that if someone is against us that our faith will mean that we'll end up winning, and they'll end up losing. That's a good thing to believe for, isn't it? Do we see something of that in the Bible? Well, yeah, we do. We often see God's people in the Old Testament, whether under the leadership of Moses or Joshua or David or Jehoshaphat or quite a number of judges and kings and prophets, turn to God in times of distress, and God goes out there and fights the battles for them and gives them victory over their enemies. Sometimes that's what the Lord does in our lives, and when we just feel to get out there amongst it and the forces of hell are unleashed against us, there is absolutely nothing wrong with praying in faith for victory, so that the Lord's will can prevail. There's been many-a time in my life when I've been up against it; when it seems that people came against this ministry of Christianity Works and our mission to share the good news of Jesus with many, many people around the world; when our finances have been so difficult that we couldn't really see how we could possibly continue; when people that we relied on failed us, and left us in a difficult spot. Please don't ever think that just because I'm here on the radio proclaiming the good news of Jesus, none of these things happen to us; they do, and the more we preach Christ, the more the enemy unleashes his armies against us. That's par for the course. So, when we're in a tough place, should we turn to God as our first resort instead of our last? Should we rely on His faithfulness to overcome the obstacles and opposition that we face? Absolutely we should, because He's our God, and yet that's not always what He has in mind. Sometimes His victories are so different to what we're expecting. There's something that Jesus said to His disciples in the final days before His crucifixion that must have seemed so outrageous and so plain wrong to them, as they heard it, and as they lived out the next few days. This is what He said. Have a listen. John 16:32-33: Jesus said, ‘The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered each one to his home, and you will leave me completely alone, yet I am not alone because the Father is in Me. I have said these things to you so that in Me, you may have peace. For in this world you will face persecution, but take courage; I have conquered the world'. The first verse speaks of the coming fear and trials that the disciples were already beginning to face. You'll each scatter! You'll flee to your homes! You'll leave me alone! Man! If Jesus had been saying that to me, I wouldn't have been impressed. You'll face persecutions. Zippedy doo dah! There's a promise of God that we can stand on, and yet in the very next breath, He's saying: But I'm telling you these things so that in Me, you might have peace. Have courage! For I have overcome the world; I have conquered the world. Words are cheap. Not so long after this, they see Him arrested, tried, beaten to within an inch of His life – the flesh literally hanging off His back where He'd been whipped, lugging a cross – a huge wooden cross – up to Golgotha, where He's nailed to the cross, and there He dies. And yet this miracle man Jesus had said to them: Take courage! Be of good cheer! I've overcome the world; I've conquered the world. Let me ask you this: When He was hanging there on that cross, did He look like much of a conqueror – much of an overcomer – in the eyes of His frightened, disillusioned disciples who'd fled, who'd left Him in His darkest hour, just as He'd predicted? Not likely, and yet just a few days later, He was raised from the dead – just a few days later, to their absolute disbelief, even though He'd been telling them this would happen. The One whom they'd seen dead and lifeless was alive again. He truly had conquered the world. He'd conquered the grave; He'd conquered death; He'd overcome the very worst outcome of all – the outcome of dying. Do you see how the immediate circumstances of His trial and crucifixion shroud the ultimate victory in the disciples' gaze? And so, my friend, it often is with us. So often we're focused on the short-term victory in this or in that – a victory that all too often involves saving our skins (let's be honest), when all along our Father in heaven is working out His ultimate victory in our lives. And in order to realise that ultimate victory, for a time, we have to suffer. Have a listen to how the apostle John puts it. 1 John 5:4: For whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Ultimately, it's the one who believes Jesus is who He says He is who conquers this world – because in Jesus Christ, you and I have victory over the grave; we have victory over death; we have victory over this world. And as we're travelling through the short-term pain of a lifetime, that's what keeps us pressing on to the end – the truth that in Christ Jesus, we have life eternal. Peter the apostle says this. 1 Peter 1:6: In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while, you have to suffer various trials; so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. To that you and I can shout: "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Through Him, we have victory over the grave." There are going to be times in this life when you and I feel like losers. Peter was writing that to a bunch of people who had been tarred and feathered and burnt on stakes at Caesar's parties. These people weren't just suffering various kinds of trials; they were dying for their faith, but in those moments to them, and in those moments to us, God is faithful. His love is unfailing; His promises are true, and we have all that we need to make it through. For me to be able to serve you with this truth today is such an incredible privilege. As I walk through my trials, as I suffer through my things, I need this word just as much as you do. I need the encouragement and the power of God's Word just as much as you do, so please take this truth; hold it close to your heart; because through your faith in Jesus Christ, as weak and as tenuous as it may feel sometimes, you have already overcome the world. I've said these things to you that in Him, you may have peace.

Sermon Series: “Be Bold & Courageous: The Gospel According to Joshua” Sermon Text: Joshua 13:1-14 Sermon Title: “Canaan: Its Significance for Our Inheritance” Sermon Slides: SLIDE 1 – Sermon Title Slide SLIDE 2 – Today's Big Idea: The Promise Made through Abraham is a Promise Kept through Joshua. Canaan is Israel's Inheritance … But Our Inheritance Goes Beyond Canaan. SLIDE 3 – Point 1: The Significance of Israel's Inheritance … The Land of Canaan. SLIDE 4 – 1st Principle (from Point 1): “Our salvation is always more than being saved from somewhere. It's also being saved to somewhere.” SLIDE 5 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 6 – 2nd Principle (from Point 1): “God keeps His promises … and time always proves it.” SLIDE 7 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 8 – Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” SLIDE 9 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 10 – Joshua 18:1 – “Then the whole congregation of … Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.” SLIDE 11 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 12 – Picture (see attached) SLIDE 13 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 14 – 3rd Principle (from Point 1): “Our salvation is by God's sovereign grace alone, but so is our inheritance. And our inheritance varies by degree.” SLIDE 15 – Luke 19:11-17 – “[Jesus] said therefore, ‘A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come' … When he returned … the 1st came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.' And he said to him, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” SLIDE 16 – 4th Principle (from Point 1): “God rewards the faithfulness of His individual children. But rewards are not earned by our works but are given by God's grace alone.” SLIDE 17 – Conclusion: “The Significance of Israel's Inheritance in Canaan is that God is revealed both as the Sovereign Savior of His Family and as a Generous Father who Gives to His Children as He Pleases.” SLIDE 18 – Point 2: The Significance of Our Inheritance … Goes Beyond Canaan. SLIDE 19 – Hebrews 11:8-16 – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance … By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land … For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God … 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.” SLIDE 20 – Hebrews 4:8-9 – “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” SLIDE 21 – Principle (from Point 2): “Don't go backwards in the story, when God is directing you forward. Therefore, don't try to make your heaven on earth now.” SLIDE 22 – Conclusion: “The Land of Canaan was a type of Heaven on Earth, but it was only the down payment of our inheritance. In Christ Jesus, soon and very soon, a New Canaan will span across the Transformed Earth.”

The Gospel Manifesto in the Book of Romans Pt. 2: The Bad News, Romans 1:18-3:20 By Louie Marsh, 5-4-2025 3 Cartoons,   And Finally…   Doctor: "I have good news and bad news."  Patient: "Go with the good news first."  Doctor: "You have 24 hours to live."  Patient: "What?! How about the bad news?"  Doctor: Um... I forgot to tell you yesterday."   1) God wrath (anger) is stirred when I REPRESS the truth.   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. Romans 1:18-23 (ESV)   2) God honors my free will by allowing me to SIN.   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 1:24-25 (ESV)   26  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; Romans 1:26 (ESV)   HOMOSEXUALITY IN ANCIENT ROME: The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/dominant/masculine and passive/submissive/"feminized". In Roman society the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty and the right to rule both himself and his household. "Virtue" was seen as an active quality through which a man defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant role. Acceptable male partners were slaves, prostitutes, and entertainers, Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off-limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older.   Same-sex relations among women are less documented. The Augustan poet Ovid takes an exceptionally keen interest, but advocates for a heterosexual lifestyle contrary to Roman sexual norms.   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. Romans 1:28-32 (ESV)   Ways We Suppress the Truth:   ·  DENIAL · No one's PERFECT · I was BORN that way.   Dear Dr. Roach: I read your recent column regarding identical twins where one of the two was balding while his twin was not. Within my family, there are identical twin brothers, who also were almost impossible for family members to differentiate. If their DNA genes are “identical,” now that they are adults, how can one be homosexual, while his twin is married with children?   Studies have shown that in identical twins, if one twin is gay (the term “homosexual” is used in clinical studies but is considered offensive, so I won't use it further), then 30 per cent to 66 per cent of the identical twins also will be gay. As this is much higher than the overall rate in the population, this suggests some, but not absolute, genetic influence.   However, an adopted sibling of a gay person is also more likely to be gay (11 per cent in one study), suggesting that the familial environment also plays a significant role.   Some people who are attracted to the same gender can be so afraid of, or put off by, the social stigma against same-sex couples that they marry and have children with a person of the opposite sex despite being primarily or uniquely attracted to those of the same gender.   Some people have found that they may be attracted to a person of either gender; their choice of life partner depends more on the partner's personality and their unique situation than on his or her biological sex.   Sexual identity is not a choice. We cannot choose to whom we will be attracted. I'm afraid many people fundamentally misunderstand this point. *** Dramatic confirmation that the sea ice in the Arctic has been stable for nearly two decades is contained in a recently published science paper from a team led by Dr Mark England from the University of Exeter. The finding is of course obvious to anyone who studies the data but it will inconvenience the activist cranks who continue to promote supposed reductions in Arctic sea ice as an important sign of their imaginary ‘tipping points' and their fake climate crisis. Despite the data showing the ice has been stable over every month in the year since around 2007. ************ Living together before marriage increasing the changes of getting a divorce.   3) When I condemn others I'm really just condemning MYSELF.   1  Therefore 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… 3  Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:1, 3-4 (ESV)   4) I must be PERFECT to be good enough for heaven.   12  For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13  For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Romans 2:12-13 (ESV)   5) I'm just as much a sinner as EVERYONE ELSE.   9  What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10  as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11  no one understands; no one seeks for God…20  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:9-11, 20 (ESV)   6) God's answer to sin is FAITH in Jesus.   16  yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16 (ESV)   11  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12  But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14  so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:11-14 (ESV)                  

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 Addictions. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Self-Control. “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: “Being in Christ, Part 1”,at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

IT IS PRAISE WORTHY TOREMEMBER AND MAINTAIN… BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND! 1 Corinthians 1:4-9  - Thanks theyhave in Christ, what they need to Know, Show and Grow in the Gospel!     Romans 12:1–2 Iappeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present yourbodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is yourspiritual worship. 2 Do not beconformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, thatby testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptableand perfect. UNDERSTAND CHRIST IS THE HEADOF EVERY MANColossians 2:10 …you have been filled in him, who is the head of allrule and authority. Paul's pray for the church in Ephesians 1:15–23  T – Total devotionK – growing in Knowledge O –  bringing life in to Obedience  UNDERSTAND THE HEAD OF A WIFEIS HER HUSBANDSUBMISSION IS FOR EVERY SAINT IN CHRISTTo Christ & His CommandsTo Parents(Proverbs 1:8, 6:20, 23:22,Ephesians 6:3, Colossians 3:20)To Employers and Authorities(Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians3:22-4:1, 1 Peter 2:13-25, 1 Timothy 6:1-2)To Government(Romans 13:1-7, 1 peter 2:3-17,Titus 3:1-8)To Church Leaders(Hebrews 13:17)  SUBMISSION AND HEADSHIP IN MARRIAGE IS A BIBLICAL RESPONSIBILITY Ephesians 5:22–24Wives submit, Husbands loveas Christ, tosanctify, sustain & celebrate her in the GospelColossians 3:18–19Wives submit, Husbands actsin love toward her, not harsh or embittered toward her1 Peter 3:1-Wives submit to honor the Lordaccording to his word.1 Peter 3:7Husbands live in knowledge of Godand His wife, Honor of her, accountable to Christ his head. Proverbs 14:1 (ESV) — 1 The wisest of women buildsher house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. UNDERSTAND THE HEAD OF CHRISTIS GOD… 1.    Headship displaysthe loving unity of the triune God2.    Headshipdoes not declare superiority and inferiority 3.    Headshipdoes  require communication it does notrequire conflict  Philippians 2:5–11 (ESV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours inChrist Jesus, 6 who, though he wasin the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking theform of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becomingobedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the namethat is above every name, 10 so thatat the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and underthe earth, 11 and every tongueconfess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

The Devil Thought He Won • Friday Service   If you'd like to support the ministry, please visit: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Learn more at: www.PastorTodd.org   1. 1 Corinthians 2:8 (NKJV) “Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 2. John 19:30 (NKJV) “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” 3. Romans 8:28 (NKJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 4. Isaiah 53:10 (NKJV) “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” 5. 2 Corinthians 4:8–10 (NKJV) “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 6. Philippians 2:8–11 (NKJV) “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…” 7. Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” 8. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 9. Romans 6:4 (NKJV) “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” 10. Revelation 1:18 (NKJV) “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” CCLI: 21943673

Daily Dose of Hope April 21, 2025 Day 1 of Week 4   Scripture - Mark 8:1-21   Prayer:  Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe.  Even after we have just experienced the glory of the resurrection, we still struggle to keep focus on you.  Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts.  Help us take a moment of silence and remember who you are...Holy Spirit, speak to us today.  We want to hear your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. My prayer is that all of you had a wonderful Easter Sunday yesterday.  Today, we begin Mark 8 and learn about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.  Let's get started!   Mark 8 begins with another abundance miracle.  There were a group of people who had been following Jesus and the disciples for several days.  Jesus is worried about them because he suspects they don't have food.  If he sent them away, Jesus says, they might collapse on their way home.     The disciples are a bit indignant.  They don't have enough food to feed all the people.  I find this so strange.  It wasn't long ago that Jesus fed the 5,000.  Why do they not just look at Jesus and say, “Can you do that thing again?”  But it's as if they have totally forgotten.  How quickly life can get back to normal and doubt or cynicism can kick in.  I feel like I see this sometimes with someone who was terminally sick and receives a healing.  They are elated and grateful.  Some people keep that gratefulness, but others gradually forget.  They become disengaged once again, almost like it never happened.    But Jesus does do his thing.  He takes seven loaves of bread and a few small fish and he feeds the entire crowd of thousands until they are full.  This time, there were seven basketfuls left over.    From this place, Jesus and his disciples head to another town on the Sea of Galilee.  The Pharisees are there and ask Jesus for a sign from heaven.  Jesus won't give them a sign, or the one they want.  The whole thing is ironic.  Jesus has been giving all kinds of signs!  He just fed thousands of people with seven loaves of bread.  He has healed all kinds of people very publicly.  I'm not sure the kind of sign they were wanting, but Jesus is clearly a walking signpost for the Kingdom.    I want to spend some time on the next statement that Jesus makes.  He tells the disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.  Now, what in the world does that mean?  Let's think about yeast.  Just a little bit of yeast can work through a whole lot of dough.  When it comes to bread, we usually think of that as a positive thing.  A little yeast can make a huge amount of bread.  But the yeast that Jesus is speaking of here is more like a contamination.  The yeast of the Pharisees, the religious yeast, or the yeast of Herod, political yeast, can contaminate a large number of people.  It doesn't take much of it to throw us off, to infect a whole crowd, to get people distracted by the wrong thing.  A little bit of this bad yeast can get people focused on religion or politics and away from the bread of life.   This is something we may not want to hear.  But Jesus does not want us to be more religious or more political.  He wants us to be more focused on him.  There is a big difference between being “religious” and being “Christ-focused.”  Religion is not a bad thing at all, until it is.  Likewise, politics is not bad, until it is.  Jesus is making a statement here:  Politics and religion are not the answer to the worlds' problems – he is!  How often do we get this mixed up?   The disciples still don't get it.  They still think he is talking about physical bread.  I read this and think, “Man, these guys are so dense.”  And yet, if I was in their position, I probably wouldn't have gotten it either.  Jesus is turning all they know upside down.  He is saying and doing things that were so foreign to them.  No matter how many miracles they see, they don't get it.  It won't be until after his death and resurrection that any of this begins to make sense to them.    We have the advantage of the whole Gospel story right now.  We can see Jesus' ministry, his miracles, his teachings, the cross, the resurrection, and the beginning of the church.  And yet, how often is the radical nature of the Gospel still lost on us?  How often do we place our own hopes on politics or religion rather than on Jesus? Let's close today with 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 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 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.     Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Palm SundayPastor Clay SmithSermon Notes:· Luke 19:35-36 - 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.· They brought the colt, they put their cloaks on it, they put Jesus on the colt.· They.· You decide whether or not Jesus will be King of your life.· We shift from “Mine” to Thine.· 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:· What have you seen God do? Do you give him credit?· Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! – Philippians 4:4· 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”· How are you doing running your life?· True submission brings joy.· “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”· Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.· 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”· Beware of being religious; be a follower.· Is Jesus my King or my teacher?· 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”· Even the rocks are smarter than you.· Am I dumber than a rock?· To the King!· To the King!· Crown Jesus King each day.· Philippians 2:9-11 - 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.Group QuestionsIntro: Who is the most humble leader you have known?Go Deeper1. Read Luke 19:35-362. What would be God's motivation for not coming as a conquering King the first time?3. Imagine yourself in the crowd. What would it have been like for you?4. Read Luke 19:375. What have you seen God do in your life?6. What is the most natural way for you to praise God?7. Read Luke 19:388. What modern song, Christian or secular, would fit this occasion?9. Read Luke 19:3910. Have you ever met a religious killjoy? What were they like?11. Read Luke 19:4012. In what ways have you seen God's creation testify to his greatness?

Passion Sunday The Gospel Luke 19:28-40 After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it." Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out." The Psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Confitemini Domino 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever. 2 Let Israel now proclaim, * "His mercy endures for ever." 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; * I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord. 20 "This is the gate of the Lord; * he who is righteous may enter." 21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me * and have become my salvation. 22 The same stone which the builders rejected * has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord's doing, * and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 On this day the Lord has acted; * we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! * Lord, send us now success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; * we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; * form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar. 28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; * you are my God, and I will exalt you." 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever. at The Liturgy of the Word The Collect Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament Isaiah 50:4-9a The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear  to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious,  I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;  he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? The Psalm Psalm 31:9-16 In te, Domine, speravi 9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; * my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly. 10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; * my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed. 11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; * when they see me in the street they avoid me. 12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; * I am as useless as a broken pot. 13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; * they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life. 14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. * I have said, "You are my God. 15 My times are in your hand; * rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, * and in your loving-kindness save me." The Epistle Philippians 2:5-11 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. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name  that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father. The Gospel Luke 22:14-23:56 When the hour for the Passover meal came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!" Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me." He said to them, "When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "No, not a thing." He said to them, "But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, `And he was counted among the lawless'; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled." They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." He replied, "It is enough." He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial." While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!" Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" They kept heaping many other insults on him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." He replied, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." All of them asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!" Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him." Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. or Luke 23:1-49 The assembly of the elders of the people rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him." Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

PRINCIPLES YOU NEED TO LIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD INLIBERTYLast Week (v23)  NOTEVERY POSSIBILITY IN LIBERTY IS EQUAL    (v24)  YOUMUST SEEK THE GOOD OF YOUR NEIGHBOR(v25-26) LIVE IN THE FREEDOM OF A CLEAN CONSCIENCE & GOD'SSOVEREIGNTY (v27)USE YOUR LIBERTY/FREEDOM TO BE A LIGHT TO THE WORLD 1 Corinthians 5:9–10 (ESV)— 9 I wrote to you in my letter notto associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning thesexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, sincethen you would need to go out of the world. 1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV) — 11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners andexiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against yoursoul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so thatwhen they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds andglorify God on the day of visitation.  (v28-29a)USE  YOUR LIBERTY TO  LOVE OTHERS WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE UNDERSTANDING THE CONSCIENCE ROMANS 2:12–21the inward faculty of distinguishing rightand wrong, moral consciousness.A sky light that receiveslight… V12-16 THE CONSCIENCE FUNCTIONS -       a witness to man (v12-13)-       as a grace of God (v14-15)-       a witness against man in judgement (v15-16)   V17-21ANINFORMED CONSCIENCE SHOULD HUMBLE NOT EXALT -       awareness of thelaw is increased “light” (v17-20)-       Increased light shouldhumble us…. does it?(v21)  Are you More concerned with being right before men than aboutbeing righteous before God (v28-29a) IN LIBERTY SACRIFICE YOUR RIGHTS FOR THE GLORY OFCHRIST IN LOVE FOR OTHERSPhilippians 2:5–11 (ESV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yoursin Christ Jesus, 6 who,though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to begrasped, 7 but emptied himself, bytaking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, hehumbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on across. 9 Therefore God has highlyexalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus everyknee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that JesusChrist is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ONLY IN CHRIST THECONSCIENCE IS TRULY CLEANSED Hebrews 9:14 howmuch more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offeredhimself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to servethe living God.Hebrews 10:22 letus draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our heartssprinkled clean from an evil conscience…

Sunday, March 30th, is our quarterly "Saturation Service". This special service is a time of worship, prophetic proclamation, and prayer. The theme for this service is "Worthy!" Jesus is our Lord, our Savior, our Deliverer, and our Healer! In Jesus, is everything we need to navigate every season of our lives. Philippians 2:9 says, "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." Revelation 4:11 proclaims, "“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” We are saturated in Christ's presence, declaring that He is worthy of all praise and honor!

2025-03-23 Christ, our Example in Humilityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 2:5-115 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.

2025-03-16 Joy from Humilityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 2:1-11 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.

1 CORINTHIANS CorrectionWith Confidence Because of The Faithfulness Of God Toward  His Saints!       1 Corinthians10:23–26 (ESV) — 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, butthe good of his neighbor. 25 Eatwhatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the groundof conscience. 26 For “the earth isthe Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” PRINCIPLES YOU NEED TO LIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD INLIBERTY  (v23)  NOT EVERYPOSSIBILITY IN LIBERTY IS EQUAL     Notjust lawful…  but Helpful and builds up…     1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV) — 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all thingsare helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated byanything. Ephesians 4:11–16  Romans 15:1–3 (ESV) — 1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with thefailings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.3 For Christ did not please himself,but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (v24) YOU MUST SEEK THE GOOD OF YOUR NEIGHBOR seek, look for; investigate, examine, consider,deliberate; strive for, aim (at), try to obtain, desire, wish (for); ask for,request, demand   “God's love means that God eternally gives of himselfto others” Wayne A. Grudem, SystematicTheology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV) — 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, anycomfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,2 complete my joy by being of thesame mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition orconceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to hisown interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in ChristJesus, 6 who, though he was inthe form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking theform of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becomingobedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the namethat is above every name, 10 so thatat the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and underthe earth, 11 and every tongueconfess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (v25-26)LIVE IN THE FREEDOM OF A CLEAN CONSCIENCE & GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY    Psalm 24:1 (ESV) — 1The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwelltherein,

Transcript:Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. Arguably the most basic thing to a church culture is the shared mindset or attitude of its members. It is not so much the stated mission or strategy of a church that matters as much as the vibe its members give off, especially as they gather. This vibe flows from the shared mindset—the deep often subtle beliefs and feelings that each person has toward themselves, others, and ultimately God. Now, the gospel calls us to have a peculiar mindset. Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi saying “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5). And what is that mindset? To do “nothing out of selfish ambition (politicking for status) or vain conceit (self-glory). Rather, in humility value others above yourselves….” (Philippians 2:3 NIV). We are to understand and value the perspectives and preferences of others above our own. Now, this is deeply counterintuitive and fraught with the challenge of self-justification. We tend to flatter ourselves we are doing the “others-centeredness thing” better than our neighbor—that our self-sacrifice in loving others is greater than their self-sacrifice in having to love us. But, of course, this is the very opposite of the gospel mindset. This is why our minds must be saturated and shaped by Jesus's shocking sacrificial love for us. We need to be daily struck in the gut by this truth (gut could be another possible translation for “mindset”). If Jesus, who is in very nature God, did not think highly of Himself, how in the world can I? And that's something to think about, daily, from The Kingdom Perspective. “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.”~Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)

As we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, we dive into chapters 18 and 19, walking through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as we approach Easter. This season of Lent invites us to engage deeply with a familiar yet profoundly challenging story—the suffering of Christ. It’s easy to skip ahead to the resurrection, but there is so much to learn in these moments of Jesus’ trial, betrayal, and ultimate sacrifice. Key Themes Covered: Human Struggle with Pain & Suffering – As humans, we often avoid pain—whether our own or others’. How do we sit in the reality of Jesus’ suffering without looking away? Jesus & Pilate: A Clash of Power – Jesus stands firm in divine authority, while Pilate sways under pressure. What does true power look like? Pilate’s Search for Truth – When Pilate asks, “What is truth?” is he dismissive or genuinely searching? How does his question reflect modern struggles with truth and authority? Key Verses: John 18:36 – "My kingdom is not of this world." John 19:10-11 – "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." Matthew 28:18 – "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Philippians 2:9-11 – "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow." Takeaways: This week, sit with John 18-19 and ask God to reveal areas in your heart where you struggle to surrender to His authority. Reflect on what it means to have spiritual authority through Christ—how can you walk in power, love, and self-discipline? As Easter approaches, let’s not rush past the cross. Let’s sit with the reality of Jesus’ suffering and allow it to deepen our love for Him. Jesus’ power is unshakable, rooted in the truth of who He is. Unlike the fleeting power structures of the world, His authority stands firm. Whatever you are facing today, know that His power, love, and sovereignty are over it all. Stay Connected: Follow me on Instagram @nicoleunice Questions? Email nicole@nicoleunice.com Find my speaking calendar or make a speaking request: http://nicoleunice.com Share your thoughts and reflections with us—we’d love to hear from you! See you next time as we continue our journey through John and prepare our hearts for Easter! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Philippians 2:1-111 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.

The hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, has been called "the most inspiring and triumphant hymn in the English language" and "the National Anthem of Christianity." It was written by Edward Perronet in 1779 in England. The hymn highlights the praise and honor that Jesus deserves from all of His creation for the work of salvation that He accomplished through the cross. The words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:9-11 serve as the basis for the theme of the hymn: "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." While this hymn does not specifically point to the work of Jesus that is our focus during the season of Lent, it does reminds us of the joy that is ours because of "Him who saves you by His grace," and the praise He deserves because of that work of grace.  Join us for worship this weekend as join our voices to praise the name of Jesus because, as Peter proclaimed: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  May the LORD bless tune your lips to praise the name of Jesus in our worship this weekend!

Wednesday, 5 March 2025   For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,' and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,' and he does it.” Matthew 8:9   “For I also, I am a man under authority, having under me soldiers. And I say to this, ‘You go,' and he goes. And to another, ‘You come,' and he comes. And to my slave, ‘You do this,' and he does.” (CG).   In the previous verse, the centurion showed great humility before Jesus. He noted he was unworthy that the Lord would come under his roof, and rather implored Him to just speak a word and his servant would be healed. Next, he explains how he knew Jesus could do that, beginning with, “For I also, I am a man under authority.”   The KJV inexplicably leaves out the word kai, translated as “also.” It is found in all manuscripts. The centurion is placing himself in the same situation as Jesus. They are both men and they both have powers subject to them. Leaving out the word also destroys the comparison and sets the centurion apart from Jesus, distancing the entire discourse he is about to make from Jesus.   As for his words, the meaning is not that he is under someone else's authority but that he is a man who possesses authority over others. Being a centurion, both were true, but his words refer to those under him. He led a contingent of one hundred men bearing arms. But he would also have servants under him as well.   Understanding this, he explains what his authority entailed, saying, “having under me soldiers.”   A soldier in the Roman army was led by those appointed over him and he was to comply without asking why. His superiors were given the absolute right to make decisions for him and he simply responded with obedience and compliance. He had no right to disobey unless his superior was in violation of Roman law.   This is how militaries are normally run. There is to be adherence to lawful orders without question or complaint. When this structure breaks down, the effectiveness of the unit and the army will be compromised. Therefore, the centurion continues with, “And I say to this, ‘You go,' and he goes. And to another, ‘You come,' and he comes.”   This is the life of an underling in the military. The word that is spoken is to be considered an order. In a word as just mentioned by the centurion, there is no occasion to say, “Why do I have to do that?” or “I will be there in twenty minutes because I am having dinner now.” Rather, immediate and absolute compliance is expected.   The reason for this is that when the time for engagement of an enemy comes, the soldier must be so thoroughly conditioned to obedience that he will not hesitate. Even in the face of death, his responsibility is to the one appointed above him. And this is because the one appointed above him went through the same process of growing through obedience that he is now going through.   Eventually, each higher level was to give the same obedience to those above them until the decision was left at the feet of the emperor, the final and supreme decider who represented the Roman Empire. Understanding this, the centurion continues with, “And to my slave, ‘You do this,' and he does.”   Here is a new word, doulos, a slave or a bondservant. The word can be literal or figurative and the state can be voluntary or involuntary. This is different from the pais, servant, of verse 8:6. That generally signifies a child under training which emphasizes the ongoing development that is needed to attain the height of his destiny.   The doulos may very well be born as a slave, live as a slave, and die as a slave. He may have no destiny to attain. Rather, he was normally considered property and would often even be a part of the next generation's inheritance.   Like the soldier, such a person had no right to question why. He had nothing on which he could base a complaint, and if he were to attempt to escape, he would be subject to intense discipline or even death. As such, their life was one of obedience without question.   Understanding the nature of these two categories, the reason he is saying these words to Jesus becomes evident. This centurion understood that Jesus held authority. His word was a command and its compliance to His word was absolute. If Jesus spoke a word of healing, it would come about as surely as the centurion's soldier or slave would comply with his own directive word.   Life application: This Gentile had heard the word about Jesus, had understood that what he was told was a sign of authority, and had then equated this authority to his own. The miracles that had been told him made him understand that what he had heard meant that what Jesus could do signified power within the spoken word itself.   Therefore, he perceived Jesus was unlike any doctor or physician who had to wield his intelligence, physical stamina, skill with a knife, etc. Rather, the only effort required to accomplish His word was to utter it.   In other words, the centurion was demonstrating faith in Jesus' power without even having seen it with his own eyes. He knew what he heard was true and he accepted that it was so.   Now, with the word about Jesus' fulfillment of the law, death in fulfillment of it, and resurrection from the state of death, we have the chance to likewise participate, by faith, in what Jesus is doing. He is building a church in the presence of His Father. All God asks us to do is believe. Through faith, we are counted righteous before God.   This is the message of the Bible. God sent His Son on a mission. Jesus accomplished that mission, and now He offers us the chance to join Him in what He is doing. The way to participate is to believe that it is so. Believe and receive. Eternal life awaits!   “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Ephesians 2:5-11   Heavenly Father, You have made our reconciliation with You as simple as it gets. You just ask for faith that we accept the word, believing that You have done everything necessary to restore us to You through Christ our Lord. We believe and we receive! Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

Have you ever wondered, “Is it worth it?” Is all the sacrifice and effort for the Kingdom really worth it? Is all the ridicule and mockery for following Jesus worth it?  Well, friends, today we are going to find the answer. And that answer is: Yes. It is worth it!   How do I know? Let's look at Philippians 2:9-11 together. “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.”In the previous episode, we talked about how Jesus climbed down the ladder. From the glories of heaven, he lowered himself and became a human, a servant even, and ultimately gave His life to die on a cross. Was it worth it? Hebrews 12:2-3 indicates that Jesus was able to endure all this because of what He knew was coming. Jesus, for the future joy set before Him, endured the present pain of sacrifice.What is that future joy? Phil. 2 gives us a clue. It points to a coming day when God will: Exalt Jesus to the highest place.The Greek term means “hyper-exalted.” Because of His sacrifice, the Father bestowed on the Son even more rights, privileges, and honors than He had before. Give Jesus the ultimate name. Verse 11 tell us that name: Lord. The Greek is kurios – deity, sovereignty, and authority in the highest possible sense. Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow:in heaven – the angels and the redeemed who've gone before uson earth – those alive when Jesus returns, whether saved or unsaved. under the earth – demonic spirits and those who died without Christ.Jesus' exaltation to the highest place guarantees our vindication. It proves we were right. Jesus really is Lord. We were right to give our lives to Him.I love these words from Jesus Himself in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible:“Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what He has done.” (Rev. 22:12)One day, all who have given up everything, sacrificed, and served for the sake of Christ, will receive a reward from Jesus Himself. So, as Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Cor. 15:58)What's the apostle saying?  Even as a life of sacrifice was worth it for Jesus, it will be worth it for us. Text: Philippians 2:9-11Originally recorded on August 31, 2008, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN

Hebrews 13:13-14 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. With this verse, the author arrived at his final encouragements of his letter. It takes us back to the confession of the heroes of the faith he presented in chapter 11. Let's revisit their confession. 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 the 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. We who believe in Christ confess that we are strangers, foreigners, and exiles on the earth. We are seeking a better country, a heavenly one. We know God has prepared a city for us. We also know that everything in this world doesn't last and is unstable and shakable. Only Jesus, Himself, and His kingdom are unshakable. Our confidence is in Him. His life, His presence, His power, His love, His kingdom, and His Word. Based upon such confidence, the author concluded his argument and called his readers to leave the old covenant, the old city of Jerusalem with its varied and strange teachings. He had told them to fix their eyes on Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in the new Jerusalem, their new home city. The encouragement today is to join those who are on a journey to the heavenly city to come. Most of us aren't being called outside the camp of Judaism, although if that has been your earthly home, consider yourself called out now. We are being called out of the camp of this world. We must turn our backs on the religions and gods of this world and never look back. An exile doesn't seek to return to the country or city that has kicked him out. He's looking for or seeking another country where he can rest and be at home. Notice the encouragement. We are going to Jesus! The location isn't the primary goal. Let's draw near to Him, experience His love, fellowship with the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit's ministry, and allow His love to overflow into the lives of the others who are on a journey with us to the celestial city. 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.

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "An Example of Humility", Children's Time, Choir, Communion, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).       1.  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,  2.  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  3.  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 nothingby 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.       (Philippians 2:1-11 NIV)

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "An Example of Humility".       1.  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,  2.  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  3.  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 nothingby 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.       (Philippians 2:1-11 NIV)

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "An Example of Humility", Children's Time, Communion, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).       1.  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,  2.  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  3.  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 nothingby 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.       (Philippians 2:1-11 NIV)

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "An Example of Humility", Children's Time, Choir, Communion, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).       1.  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,  2.  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  3.  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 nothingby 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.       (Philippians 2:1-11 NIV)

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "An Example of Humility".       1.  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,  2.  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  3.  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 nothingby 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.       (Philippians 2:1-11 NIV)

Many want to be great, but few want to be a servant. Even the disciples spent the final hours of Jesus' life debating who was the greatest among them (Luke 22:24). Jesus showed them true greatness– He washed their feet.  “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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 grasped, 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.” (Phil. 2:4-11) Take-Home Message: If you want to be great, serve. Jesus served His betrayer (1-4). Jesus served His abandoner (5). Jesus served His denier (6-11). Jesus told us to serve (12-17). Message: Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet Scripture: John 13:1-17 Simple. Authentic. Jesus. Prairiebible.org

Chaplain Don Moldstad was preacher for this service. Hebrews 11:13-16: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were 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.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Prayer for the Week: P: Lord God, heavenly Father, in Your divine wisdom and fatherly goodness You cause Your children to bear the cross; C: You send many afflictions upon us to subdue our sinful flesh, and to enliven our hearts to faith, hope and unceasing prayer; P: We beseech You to have mercy upon us and graciously deliver us out of our trials and afflictions, C: so that we may perceive Your grace and fatherly help, and with all the saints forever praise and worship You; All: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. - Hymn 23 - Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now: vv. 1, 2, 4 - Hebrews 11:13-16: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were 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. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 206 - I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Hannah Caauwe (Organist)

Welcome to Day 2560 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2560 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 45:6-11– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2560 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2560 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In today's Wisdom Nugget, we continue exploring the majestic Psalm 45, focusing on verses 6 through 11 from the New Living Translation. Psalm 45 is often called a royal wedding psalm. It was likely written to celebrate the wedding of an Israelite king, but it also holds deeper significance as a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, our eternal King. These verses shift the focus from the king's strength in battle to his righteous rule and the glory of his bride. This passage is rich in meaning, pointing not only to an earthly king's wedding but ultimately to Christ's reign and His bride—the Church. Let's begin by reading the passage together: Psalm 45:6-11 (NLT) 6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. 8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces, the music of strings entertains you. 9 Kings' daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir. 10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. 11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The Eternal Reign of the King (Verses 6-7) Verse 6 begins with a bold and powerful declaration: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.” Here, we see a remarkable transition. The psalmist, who was speaking about the earthly king, now directly addresses God. This shift is significant because it suggests that the king's reign is not merely human—it is divinely appointed and foreshadows Christ's eternal kingdom. The imagery of the throne enduring forever reminds us that God's rule is not temporary. Earthly kings and rulers come and go, but God's reign is everlasting. Unlike human governments that can be corrupt or unstable, His kingdom is built on perfect justice. Verse 7 reinforces this idea: “You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” This passage highlights the King's character—He is not just powerful; He is righteous. He loves justice and hates evil, which is why He is anointed above all others. This verse is directly quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9, where it is applied to Jesus Christ. This confirms that Psalm 45 is not just about an earthly ruler but ultimately points to Jesus, the true King who reigns in righteousness. Illustration: Imagine a...

**Message: God is the Head of All Principalities and Powers** --- Today, I want to remind you of the almighty power of our God. He is the head of all principalities and powers, and there is none like Him. The Bible clearly declares His supremacy and authority over all creation. In Colossians 1:16-17, it is written, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." This passage reminds us that God is the creator and sustainer of everything. His authority is unmatched, and everything exists by His will and for His purpose. In Ephesians 1:21, Paul speaks of Christ's exalted position: "Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." Jesus Christ, our Savior, is above all powers and authorities, both now and forever. His name is above every name, and His power is beyond compare. Furthermore, in Philippians 2:9-11, we read, "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." This passage emphasizes the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ and the submission of all creation to His lordship. As believers, we can take great comfort in knowing that our God reigns supreme over all principalities and powers. No force, no power, no authority can stand against Him. He is our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). --- **Prayer:** Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude and praise. We acknowledge Your supreme authority over all principalities and powers. We thank You for Your creation and sustenance of all things. Lord, we declare that You are above every name, and we bow our hearts in worship to You. Strengthen our faith and help us to trust in Your power and sovereignty. Guide us, protect us, and let Your presence be our comfort and strength. We place our lives, our families, and our futures in Your hands, knowing that You are in control. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Pst Leke Toba www.hallelujaheveryday.org +2348023319436 +2348067013664

Jeremiah 17 The Quest for Happiness (vv. 5-6) Deserted Distracted Dry The Quest for Truth (vv. 7-8) Refreshed Ready Restful The Core of Our Quest (vv. 9-10) The heart of the problem The problem of the heart More to Consider The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart, and the human heart is deceitful (Jacob in the Hebrew) and incurable. We often say, Well, if I know my own heart, but we dont know our own hearts. God does. He searches the heart and mind and knows exactly how to reward each person. If we want to know what our hearts are like, we must read the Word and let the Spirit teach us. The hearts of the Jewish leaders were turned away from the Lord and His truth. Consequently, they made unwise decisions and plunged the nation into ruin. Warren W. Wiersbe If the ways of blessing and cursing are so clear (vv. 58), why would anyone choose the path of sin? The cause for such action is in the heart. It is so deceitful that Jeremiah wondered who could even understand it. God answered by informing Jeremiah that He can search the heart and examine the mind. God knows those innermost thoughts and motives that an individual might hide from all others. Therefore God could justly render to each person what his deeds deserve. Charles H. Dyer Many passages of Scripture teach that God judges people by their deeds, while others indicate that He judges people by their motives. There is no inconsistency, as this verse points out, because ones heart and actions are closely connected. Other passages clearly teach that God evaluates people based on their hearts (1 Sm 16:7; 1 Kg 8:39; Lk 16:15), but actions reveal what is in peoples hearts (1 Sm 2:3; Mt 7:1516; 12:3335; 15:1819; Jms 2:18). Whether one is judged by inward motivation or outward acts makes no difference. What a person actually does reveals where his or her heart lies (Mt 21:2831). Douglas R. Groothuis

Like the psalmist, let a noble theme come alive in the heart, overflowing with expectation and passion! "My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever." - Psalms 45:1-2 If you would like to partner with us, please visit: https://myloh.church/give

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.John 1:14 Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Jubilate (Psalm 100)Alleluia. To us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *serve the Lord with gladnessand come before his presence with a song.Know this: The Lord himself is God; *he himself has made us, and we are his;we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving;go into his courts with praise; *give thanks to him and call upon his Name.For the Lord is good;his mercy is everlasting; *and his faithfulness endures from age to age.Alleluia. To us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 68:1-191Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *let those who hate him flee before him.2Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.3But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *let them also be merry and joyful.4Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *Yhwh is his Name, rejoice before him!5Father of orphans, defender of widows, *God in his holy habitation!6God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom; *but the rebels shall live in dry places.7O God, when you went forth before your people, *when you marched through the wilderness,8The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *at the presence of God, the God of Israel.9You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *you refreshed the land when it was weary.10Your people found their home in it; *in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.11The Lord gave the word; *great was the company of women who bore the tidings:12“Kings with their armies are fleeing away; *the women at home are dividing the spoils.”13Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,whose feathers are like green gold.14When the Almighty scattered kings, *it was like snow falling in Zalmon.15O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!16Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,at the hill which God chose for his resting place? *truly, the Lord will dwell there for ever.17The chariots of God are twenty thousand,even thousands of thousands; *the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.18You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;you have received gifts even from your enemies, *that the Lord God might dwell among them.19Blessed be the Lord day by day, *the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsGen. 28:10-22A Reading from the Book of Genesis.Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Heb. 11:13-22A Reading from the Book of Hebrews.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.By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. John 10:7-17A Reading from the Gospel According to John.So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages AV. Show us your mercy, O Lord;R. And grant us your salvation.V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; R. Let your people sing with joy.V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;R. For only in you can we live in safety. V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.V. Let your way be known upon earth;R. Your saving health among all nations.V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   The CollectsCollect of the DayAlmighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Hebrews 11:16. 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 a city for them. We are encouraged today by what God thinks about everyone who calls themselves foreigners and exiles on the earth. This is what is meant by “as it is.” As strangers on the earth who have been kicked out by the world system, they desire a heavenly country. In the heavenly country, God has prepared a city for them that they can call home. The Holy Spirit tells us something about what God thinks about those who consider their home in heaven to be better than their home on earth. He is honored to be called their God. Let's notice the implied contrasts between those who are happy citizens of Earth and these strangers and exiles. They have different gods. When we talk about gods, we must talk about love. Let's see how God connects idolatry and love in His condemnation of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord GOD, “Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD. Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with all your detestable idols,” God said He would destroy them with their gods to whom they looked. Those who are home on the earth have gods that are on the earth. God is ashamed to be called the God of people who love the things and people of the earth more than they love Him. In contrast, God is not ashamed to be called the only God of those who are strangers and exiles on the earth. They are strangers and exiles primarily because they love, and therefore seek, God, Himself. They consider God's word, will, and promises as better than what the world has to offer. They desire a better country, God's city and country. That's exactly why they are exiles. They have been kicked out because they won't worship the gods of the people of the earth. That makes them vastly different from everyone else on earth. God is the object of their love and the source of their love. Therefore, He's not ashamed to be called their God. My encouragement today is to consider living our lives in such a way that God is not ashamed to be called our God. If we live to glorify God by living to love with Jesus, God is honored to be called our God. We will honor Him like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah did. More than likely if we live like that, people will say to us, “You're not from ‘round here, are you?” Who and how we love will be strange to them, but God will not be ashamed to be called our God. So press on in love with Jesus toward the heavenly city whose builder and maker is God.

Merry Christmas! Perhaps you're gathering with family to open gifts and eat great food, or maybe it's a quiet day for you. However you are celebrating today, the team here at The Christian Working Woman is here to wish you a blessed day. We just want to send you words of joy, reminding all of us of the miracle we are celebrating today. I'll begin with this passage from Mary's Magnificat, the amazing words she spoke as she visited her cousin Elizabeth. Here she is, a very young woman who will bear the Son of God, and she said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name (Luke 1:46-49). Here's a familiar passage from the prophet Isaiah: 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 greatness 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 (Isaiah 9:5-7). And the Apostle Paul said this: Who, [Jesus Christ] 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 (Philippians 2:6-11). Remember—you are deeply loved by the Savior of the world who came to sacrifice himself for our sake. Let me close with this reminder that what we are truly celebrating today is Jesus is our salvation: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Merry Christmas!

An Undignified Arrival Luke 2:1-7 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.   Humility Luke 2:6-7 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.   Philippians 2:5-8 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 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!   Jesus' humility brought hope.       Vulnerability  Luke 2:7 . . .she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Jesus' vulnerability led to victory.  Philippians 2:9-11 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.     Simplicity  Luke 2:8-12 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”   In Jesus' simplicity, He brought salvation.       Luke 2:13-20 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Differently      Jesus' undignified arrival was not an unforeseen accident, but rather an unparalleled announcement of good news.

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:Watch, for you know not when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning; lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.Mark 13:35, 36 Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 45Eructavit cor meumBCP p. 647My heart is stirring with a noble song;let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; *my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.You are the fairest of men; *grace flows from your lips,because God has blessed you for ever.Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior, *in your pride and in your majesty.Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth *and for the sake of justice.Your right hand will show you marvelous things; *your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.The peoples are falling at your feet, *and the king's enemies are losing heart.Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, *a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom;you love righteousness and hate iniquity.Therefore God, your God, has anointed you *with the oil of gladness above your fellows.All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, *and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.Kings' daughters stand among the ladies of the court; *on your right hand is the queen,adorned with the gold of Ophir.“Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; *forget your people and your father's house.The king will have pleasure in your beauty; *he is your master; therefore do him honor.The people of Tyre are here with a gift; *the rich among the people seek your favor.”All glorious is the princess as she enters; *her gown is cloth-of-gold.In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; *after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.With joy and gladness they are brought, *and enter into the palace of the king.“In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; *you shall make them princes over all the earth.I will make your name to be rememberedfrom one generation to another; *therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.” Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsIsa. 9:1-7A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.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.    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.    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.    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.    For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult        and every garment rolled in blood        will be burned as fuel for the fire.    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.    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. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. 2 Pet. 1:12-21A Reading from the Second Letter of Peter.Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Luke 22:54-69A Reading from the Gospel According to Luke.Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.  Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.  When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God.Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages AV. Show us your mercy, O Lord;R. And grant us your salvation.V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; R. Let your people sing with joy.V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;R. For only in you can we live in safety. V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.V. Let your way be known upon earth;R. Your saving health among all nations.V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   The CollectsAdvent 3Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:Watch, for you know not when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning; lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.Mark 13:35, 36 Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 37: Part INoli aemulariBCP p. 633Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; *do not be jealous of those who do wrong.For they shall soon wither like the grass, *and like the green grass fade away.Put your trust in the Lord and do good; *dwell in the land and feed on its riches.Take delight in the Lord, *and he shall give you your heart's desire.Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, *and he will bring it to pass.He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *and your just dealing as the noonday.Be still before the Lord *and wait patiently for him.Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, *the one who succeeds in evil schemes.Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; *do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.For evildoers shall be cut off, *but those who wait upon the Lord shall possess the land.In a little while the wicked shall be no more; *you shall search out their place, but they will not be there.But the lowly shall possess the land; *they will delight in abundance of peace.The wicked plot against the righteous *and gnash at them with their teeth.The Lord laughs at the wicked, *because he sees that their day will come.The wicked draw their sword and bend their bowto strike down the poor and needy, *to slaughter those who are upright in their ways.Their sword shall go through their own heart, *and their bow shall be broken.The little that the righteous has *is better than great riches of the wicked.For the power of the wicked shall be broken, *but the Lord upholds the righteous. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsIsa. 7:1-9A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.  And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” thus says the Lord God:    “‘It shall not stand,        and it shall not come to pass.    For the head of Syria is Damascus,        and the head of Damascus is Rezin.    And within sixty-five years        Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.    And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,        and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.    If you are not firm in faith,        you will not be firm at all.'” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. 2 Thess. 2:1-12A Reading from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians.Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 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. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages AV. Show us your mercy, O Lord;R. And grant us your salvation.V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; R. Let your people sing with joy.V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;R. For only in you can we live in safety. V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.V. Let your way be known upon earth;R. Your saving health among all nations.V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   The CollectsAdvent 2Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Joy to the world the Lord is come / Let earth receive her king / Let every heart prepare Him room / And heaven and nature sing Let earth receive her king He rules the world with truth and grace / And makes the nations prove / The glories of His righteousness / And wonders of His love Matthew 2:1-12  //  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Jesus is King over ALL the Earth Luke 1:31-33  //  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Matthew 1:1-17  //  This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. Jesus has ALWAYS been King Matthew 2:2  //  “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? King Jesus was fiercely opposed Myrrh / Incense / Gold Every Knee will bow before our King Matthew 2:9-11  //  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Philippians 2:6-11  //  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. Where is Jesus NOT King in my life?

The Bible makes it clear the name of Jesus is to be honored and respected above all other names. 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 (Philippians 2:9-12). The President of the United States is called President, Leader of the Free World, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Head of a Political Party—and other titles that are given to him because he was elected President. Those titles represent his authority in various areas. Similarly, but in a much more important way, Jesus has been given names by God the Father that represent his authority, and as Christ-followers, we have access to the power of his name. I want to focus on five of the many names in the Bible that describe Jesus, and I want to encourage you as a Christ-follower to claim his name for whatever need you are facing—to “claim the name.” In Isaiah 7:14 we read the Messiah will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” This is a name of Jesus you can claim. This means in the midst of whatever you're facing, you stop and claim the truth that Jesus is “God with you.” You are not alone. He will never leave you or forsake you. It means in the middle of your pity party, when you are feeling sorry for yourself because you're facing something all alone and you feel as though nobody cares, you can claim the name of Immanuel and know God is with you. For those times when you feel forsaken or abandoned, when all your friends seem to have vanished, when the person closest to you doesn't seem to understand what you're going through, learn to tap into the power in the name of Jesus Immanuel—God with you. It's true, but you must claim it for yourself—claim the name of Jesus Immanuel today and be encouraged because God is with you.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“I wonder if one of the sins we are entertaining beneath all other sins is discontentment, a lack of gratefulness, a lack of thanksgiving. What if when the serpent came, instead of entertaining him, [Eve] thanked God for what He gave her thus far? ‘I've got God and I'm thankful! I've got all these other trees and I'm thankful!'”~Jackie Hill Perry, writer, poet, and hip-hop artist “The thing at bottom is, that men have low thoughts of God, and high thoughts of themselves; and therefore it is that they look upon God as having so little right, and they so much.”~Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) New England minister and theologian “Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love.”~John Bunyan (1628-1688), writer and preacher “A madman is not someone who has lost his reason but someone who has lost everything but his reason”~G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), author and literary critic “Time and again, studies have shown that performing simple gratitude exercises, like keeping a gratitude diary or writing letters of thanks, can bring a range of benefits.…. [T]he more practice you give your brain at feeling and expressing gratitude, the more it adapts to this mind-set ... a sort of gratitude ‘muscle' that can be exercised and strengthened.” ~Dr. Christian Jarrett, British cognitive neuroscientist “Remember that this God in whose hand are all creatures, is your Father, and is much more tender of you than you are, or can be, of yourself. “Consider solemnly, that though the things you fear should really happen, yet there is more evil in your own fear than in the things feared…. Fear is both a multiplying and a tormenting passion; it represents troubles as much greater than they are, and so tortures the soul much more than the suffering itself.”~John Flavel (1627-1691) in Keeping HeartSERMON PASSAGEselected passages from Proverbs and Romans (ESV)Proverbs 35 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce… Romans 1 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.

Romans:  “The just shall live by faith” (1:17).  “God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17). “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (4:20-21). “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (5:3-5). “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (8:1).  “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace… So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (8:5-8).  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (8:11).  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father'. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (8:14-17).  “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with perseverance” (8:24-25).  1 Corinthians:  “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are” (1:27-28). “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (2:14). “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (3:1-3). “If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness,' and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'” (3:18-20). “For all things are yours: whether… the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's” (3:21-23).  “For the form of this world is passing away” (7:31). “But I discipline my body and bring it under subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (9:27). “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (13:12).  “Whatever is not of faith is sin” (14:13).  “There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being.' The last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (15:40-44).  2 Corinthians:  “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (1:20). “But their (the children of Israel's) minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (3:14-18). “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (4:18).  “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked” (5:2-3).  “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (5:7).  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (5:17). “That though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (8:9).  “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when you're obedience is fulfilled” (10:3-6).  Galatians:  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (2:20).  “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”(3:2-3). “therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (3:5).  “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (3:9).  “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (3:13-14).  “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (3:29).  “Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman through promise, which things are symbolic… so then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” (4:22, 31).  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (5:1).  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (5:6).  “I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (5:16-18).  “Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (5:22-25).  “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (6:8-9).  Ephesians:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (1:3-6).  “that… the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (1:18-19).  “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (2:6).  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (2:10).  “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (3:17-19).  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph 3:20).  “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ” (4:14-15): so this kind of being “tossed about” and easily led astray or deceived is a trait of children in the faith “you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (4:17-19). “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (4:20-24).  “For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (5:8-10).  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (6:12-18). Philippians “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (2:12). “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (3:3-9).  “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14).  “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (4:6-7). “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (4:8).  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (4:13). “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (4:19).  Colossians “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (1:15-17). “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:27). “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (2:6-7).  “If then you were raised with Christ. seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (3:1-3).  “you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all" (3:9-11). 2 Thessalonians “that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:11-12).  Hebrews:  “upholding all things by the word of His power” (1:3). “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (2:11). “they could not enter in (to the Promised Land) because of unbelief” (3:19).  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it… for we who have believed do enter that rest” (4:1, 3). “the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (4:2).  “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (4:9-11). “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (4:12).  “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16).  “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (6:11-12). “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.' And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (6:13-19). “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (8:1-2).  “For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain'” (8:4-5).  “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (9:24). “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh” (10:19-20) “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (10:23).  “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (10:35-36).  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (11:1).  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (11:3).  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (11:6). "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going… for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (11:8, 10).  “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore” (11:11-12).  “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” (11:16). “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (12:1-2).   “now He has promised, saying ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.' Now this, ‘Yet once more' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (12:26-29).  “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (13:2).  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8).  “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (13:15).  James “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (1:2-8).  “For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its lower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits” (1:11). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (1:17). “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (5:7-8).  1 Peter “though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1:6-9).  “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (2:24). 2 Peter  “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (1:3-4). “for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound. you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:5-8).  “saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.' For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (3:4-7). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (3:10-13).  “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (3:14).  1 John “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (2:15-17). “If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (3:21-22).  “as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (4:17-18).  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (5:4-5). “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (5:14-15). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Grab your FREE Narcissist Survival Guidehttps://krisreece.com/narcissist-survival-guide/Ever wonder where God is when you're up against a narcissist's nasty, toxic behavior?Whether your battle has been going on for 10 weeks or 10 years, narcissists always wreak havoc in the lives of their victims. What's worse is that they seem to get away with everything:No punishmentsNo consequencesNo justiceNot even so much as a slap on the wristThis can leave you wondering if they will ever be held accountable for their actions.Five Things God Always Does to a NarcissistThat's why in today's episode, we're going to dive into the five things God ALWAYS does to a narcissist. Once these five truths are revealed, you will never again doubt God's righteous justice.So before you start thinking they might get away with what they've done to you, stick with me. Not only will I show you how God ensures justice is served, but I'll also provide you with one practical step to restore your faith and see that justice is done in a timely manner.Before we dive in, be sure to grab a copy of your FREE Narcissist Survival Guide. This is my free gift to you. https://krisreece.com/narcissist-survival-guide/So, let's dive into the 5 things God ALWAYS does to a narcissist.  This can best be demonstrated through gardening. Gardening is a process that, when done right, yields beautiful results. However, the process may not always make sense, especially to the inexperienced. But whether you have prize-winning begonias or can't tell a weed from a flower, this breakdown will cultivate your trust and certainty in God's righteous justice.In gardening, there's a process to go from an overgrown, ugly garden to a beautiful, flourishing one. Sometimes that process doesn't seem to make sense, especially if you're like me and don't know the first thing about gardening.Step 1: He Leaves the Narcissist to ThemselvesThe first step may seem to happen all on its own, but remember, nothing falls outside of God's purview. In the case of the garden, it's overgrown, and the weeds seem to have gotten out of control. An outsider looking in might wonder, "How could someone let this happen?" But God, in His infinite wisdom, will leave a narcissist to themselves. In other words, He's going to allow those weeds to grow.This is where it feels the most frustrating, the most unjust, like God doesn't care about you and He's just like some spaced-out parent letting this little brat get away with murder. But the truth is, this is the most crucial phase. Without this phase, it makes the steps to come less just. He will let them wreck relationships, burn bridges, and do whatever it takes to bring them to rock bottom.Romans 1:24 reminds us of what God did to those who didn't want to follow Him and instead followed after their own sinful, selfish desires: "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another." This may seem like God has forgotten what they've done to you, but hang with me because He actually has a plan. This is also the phase where you have to recognize whether your actions towards them are truly loving or entirely enabling.Romans 1:24 said, God handed them over... in other words, He didn't try to change them, He didn't stop them, He didn't just ‘love' on them. He let them be to themselves. That's why it isn't always the most loving thing to tolerate their toxic behavior.Step 2: Provides an Opportunity for RepentanceBecause that can actually prevent the next step—and they REALLY need the next step. In fact, it reminds me of when I was younger and saw one of our neighb