Podcasts about when christ

Send us a textPaul's opening words to the Galatians pack a theological punch that resonates far beyond their ancient context. By declaring himself "an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ," he establishes the divine authority behind his message while simultaneously defining what true apostleship means.Contrary to popular misconceptions, apostles weren't merely influential religious leaders. They were directly commissioned by the risen Christ, spoke with divine authority, and performed miraculous signs to authenticate their message. This has profound implications for today's church: since the apostolic office required a post-resurrection calling from Jesus himself, the age of apostles ended with John's death. Anyone claiming apostolic authority now is, by definition, a false apostle.The foundation of our faith rests on what these apostles taught, alongside the prophets of old. Together, they represent God's complete revelation—the Old Testament anticipating Christ, the New Testament revealing Him. This unified foundation creates a unified people. As Paul explains in Ephesians, believers from every tribe and nation form one household of faith, with no distinction between Jew and Gentile in God's family.This unity extends to our fundamental understanding of salvation. Abraham, the father of faith, believed essentially the same gospel we embrace today—he simply looked forward to what we now look back upon. The sacrificial system God established through Moses served as spiritual training wheels, preparing His people to recognize Christ as the ultimate sacrifice. Every lamb slain pointed to the Lamb who would take away the sin of the world.When Christ declared "God so loved the world," He wasn't indicating universal salvation but rather demolishing national boundaries. His love extends without distinction to people from every nation who believe. His sacrifice was specifically for His church—those who would believe in Him from every tribe and tongue.Ready to deepen your understanding of these foundational truths? Join us as we continue our verse-by-verse exploration of Galatians, unpacking the transformative power of the one true gospel.Personalized Cancer Treatment Center in USAWe treat you—not just your illness—with personalized, integrative care, love, and support.Support the show

BURNT: The Sacred Center of Christ Leviticus 1 “All the offerings taken together give us a full view of Christ—as many mirrors arranged to reflect in various ways the figure of that true and perfect sacrifice.” —C.H.M. (C.H. Mackintosh)   A Story of Pure Devotion My mind recalls a young, dark-haired Canadian girl, whose beauty lay not so much in her features as in the quiet creativity of her words. She was a writer of poetry and prose, able to describe a moment with the grace of a Victorian novelist. My eyes would often drift to the tattered journal she carried—the weight of it owed not to its binding, but to the sheer volume of ink pressed upon its pages. She never parted with it. Its contents, I am certain, were treasures untold. One random Saturday turned quietly unforgettable when I asked why she had left her cherished treasury behind. “I burnt it,” she said. I gasped at the waste. “Why?” She looked directly into my eyes. “Some things,” she whispered, “are for Him alone.” The hours, thoughts, pains, sorrows, joys, and life lessons she penned rose to His eyes alone. Her ink became incense. Her intent was to give her most cherished work to Him—and this, she did.   What Is Burnt Is Gone When something is truly burnt, it passes beyond possession. It can no longer be handled, owned, or used. It is consumed. Surrendered to the flame, it becomes smoke ascending, curling upward— beyond the reach of man, beyond sight of man, beyond the control of man. It cannot be claimed by anyone but the heavens to which it ascends. This fully and finally.   The Burnt Offering Such is the burnt offering of old. It is an offering for God alone. Unlike the other sacrifices, it is laid upon the stones for one purpose only: to rise to God. It is the first of the offerings described in Leviticus. When the animal is burnt, it passes beyond possession. It can no longer be handled, owned, or used. It is consumed. Surrendered to the altar, it has become smoke—ascending, curling upward— beyond the reach of man, beyond the sight of man, beyond the control of man. It cannot be claimed by anyone but the God to whom it ascends—fully and finally.   Christ, the Sacred Burnt Offering This is a divine type and shadow, revealing to us the sacred center of Christ's heart— the sacred center of His manifold sacrifice. When Christ was laid on the altar of the cross, He could no longer be handled, owned, or used. He was, in a real sense, consumed by death. Surrendered to God, He became a sweet-smelling savor, curling upward— beyond the reach of man, beyond the sight of man, beyond the control of man. He could be claimed by none but His Father, to whom He ascended fully and finally. Christ, the final burnt offering—an obedience to God, just for God. Ephesians 5:2 — “…a sacrifice to God.”   Commentary from the Saints C.H. Mackintosh writes: “It was exclusively for God. God alone was the object of Christ in the burnt offering aspect of His death.” “Here is the deep-toned devotion of the heart of the Son presented to, and appreciated by, the heart of the Father.” In the burnt offering, Christ's charms shine bright through His unshakable devotion to His Father. Spurgeon notes: “The burnt offering was all for God. So was Christ. His death was above all things God-ward.” The Holy Spirit reveals to us in this shadow that Christ loved the Father before the church. What excellency! What beauty and perfection! Surely His love to the Father is sufficient to rouse love in our hearts. Mackintosh continues: “The true believer finds in the cross that which captivates every affection of his heart… There are heights and depths in the doctrine of the cross which man never could reach.”   Christ's Willing Offering The offering of Himself to His Father was voluntary. He was not forced or coerced. He revealed: “No one takes My life from Me. I lay it down of My own initiative.” (John 10:18) Matthew Henry writes: “Voluntary. What is done in religion, so as to please God, must be done by no other constraint than that of love.” His offering was not laborious duty but loving devotion.   The World Sees Waste—Heaven Sees Worship The natural mind calls this—not cooked but burnt—a waste. But Christ's loving devotion to His Father transforms what the natural man sees as waste into worship. John 14:31 — “So that the world will know that I love the Father.” The sacred center of His sacrifice was this public display of affectionate devotion to His Father. He didn't merely accept God's will—it was His intention, His motive, His reason. (See Hebrews 10:5–10; John 6:38–39; 10:17–18; Luke 22:42) John Owen describes it: “The free act of love to the Father.” Spurgeon echoes: “He came not with sigh but a song to do His Father's will.” Owen again: “The greatest demonstration of the love of Christ unto the Father is His giving Himself up to the death of the cross, to manifest what love and accomplish His will.”   The Burnt Sacrifice Was Innocent The burnt sacrifice, as the chapter foreshadows, had to be an innocent other. Christ was not only innocent—oh, much more—He was without defect. He fit the foreshadow perfectly. He alone is clean inside and out. Mackintosh: “No one had ever perfectly, invariably, from first to last, without hesitation, without divergence, done the will of God.” “It was no surface work with Him… The more the depths of His being were explored, the more clearly was it manifest that pure devotion to the will of the Father…”   Every Part of Him Aflame I mean to exalt Christ's burning love for God and His voluntary offering of Himself to God alone as the sacred center of our revelation of what Christ is actually like. Every part of Him aflame to God. Oh, how unlike us is Christ. By this, we know what love for God looks like: the surrender of our whole selves. Romans 12:1 — “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Though our love is but the flicker of a faint flame, His sacred center quickens our hearts. For He exemplifies a love that stands apart from all others—ascending to God in fragrant flame. No portion eaten. No fragment withheld. No part left over. Every sinew of His sacred humanity—thoughts, deeds, motives, breath, blood— all offered up to God.   A Few Notes from Leviticus 1 The offering was made morning and evening. He is this both day and night. In the noonday sun and in the blackest night. No shade of life would alter His surrender. The offering could be an ox or a bird. He is this in the great and the small. No action was too small to be wholly surrendered to God. The bird was plucked and unsevered. Christ had His beard plucked in mockery—and yet His divinity was never severed from His humanity. He died as the God-Man. The sinner laid his hand upon the sacrifice, symbolizing imparted guilt and acknowledgment of deserved death. A foreshadow of the One upon whom the Lord laid the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53). The Subtle Trap of Looking to Ourselves Henry Martyn, a missionary to India, once wrote that when he tried to find comfort by examining his life and searching for evidences of grace, he actually lost the brokenness of spirit he longed to keep. The more he looked to himself, the less he could rest simply at the foot of the cross. Many of us try to find peace by measuring our own faithfulness: Have I prayed enough? Have I served enough? Have I conquered this sin consistently? We think that if we can point to enough evidence of our devotion, we will feel secure. But here is the irony: the more we look to our own performance, the more we lose humility, dependence, and the sweetness of simple trust in Jesus. It is a subtle trap. Even good things—prayer, ministry, obedience—can become props we lean on to feel worthy, rather than gifts that flow from grace. Martyn only found peace when he stopped searching for comfort in himself and began to pray as a dying man—helpless and needy—resting on Christ alone. This is the lesson: Our comfort never comes from our own faithfulness, but from Christ's faithfulness for us. Brokenness of spirit and assurance of love thrive best when we lay aside self-scrutiny and fix our gaze on the cross.   Christ in the Burnt Offering As a burnt ox – He gave all His strength and labor to God. As a burnt sheep – He meekly followed God to death, patient and quiet in suffering. As a burnt goat – Though sinless, He was thought to be a sinner, sent in the likeness of sinful flesh. As a burnt dove – He was pure, single-eyed, plucked, unsevered, and holy.   The Preacher's Duty The priests were to arrange the wood and position the sacrifice. John Gill sees this as a type of the preacher's duty: “Evidence given of Him in the gospel, in which He is clearly set forth in His person, nature, and offices.” Trapp agrees: “The minister must rightly divide and dispose the Word of God, and evidently set forth Christ crucified.” Trapp also writes of the fire consuming the sacrifice: “Typifying the scorching wrath of God upon Christ—or the ardent love of Christ to God.”   The Sweet-Smelling Savor In all this, we see the “sweet-smelling savor unto God.” Christ as the burnt offering: the perfect Man, without defect, pure in and out, in action and thought, motive and deed, great and small—voluntarily offering Himself in love and devotion to His Father. To miss this is to reduce the gospel to a scheme for man's relief. If we fail to see this, we are but a step away from shaping the gospel into a man-centered escape plan, robbing God of His rightful glory in the work of His Son. Spurgeon wrote: “Christ did not die out of mere pity for man, but first of all out of love for the Father.” The salvation of man was the love song of the Son to the Father.   Three Effects on My Soul Adoration of such a lovely individual A desire to receive Him as my own A longing to surrender myself As Matthew Poole writes: “To serve the Lord with all singleness of heart, without self-ends, and to be ready to offer to God wherein we ourselves should have no benefit.” God has graciously met our need— and may He give us an enlarged capacity to enter into and enjoy His provision.

From the archives - it's the best of “Growing in Perseverance" podcast - summer edition:When Christ's church is united, it is unstoppable. Yet churches are notorious for losing focus on their purpose and the race they are running. In a year full of so much divisiveness, let's not forget the mission we are on...together.

NOTAS DE ELENAMaterial complementario de la escuela Sabática para adultosNarrado por: Patty CuyanDesde: California, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchJUEVES, 10 DE JULIOLA CIRCUNCISIÓNCuando Moisés se dirigía a Egipto, el ángel del Señor salió a su encuentro y adoptó una postura amenazadora, como si fuera a matarlo. Temía por su vida. Había cedido a la negativa de su esposa de circuncidar a su hijo y, en cumplimiento de sus deseos, había dejado de obedecer a Dios. Su esposa, temerosa de que su marido fuera asesina-do, se sobrepuso a sus sentimientos de afecto indebido por su hijo y realizó el acto ella misma. Después de esto, el ángel dejó marcharse a Moisés. En su misión ante el Faraón iba a ser colocado en una posición peligrosa, en la que su vida quedaría expuesta a la voluntad del rey, si Dios no lo salvaguardaba con su poder, mediante la presencia de sus ángeles. Mientras Moisés viviera en la negligencia de uno de los claros mandatos de Dios, su vida no estaría segura, pues los ángeles de Dios no podrían protegerlo mientras estuviera en la desobediencia. Por eso, el ángel le salió al encuentro en el camino y le amenazó de muerte. No explicó a Moisés por qué asumía ese aspecto amenazador. Moisés sabía que había un motivo. Iba a Egipto en obediencia al mandato de Dios, por lo que el viaje era correcto. Inmediatamente recordó que no había obedecido a Dios al cumplir con el rito de la circuncisión de su hijo menor, y que había cedido a las súplicas de su esposa para que pospusiera la ceremonia. Después de haber obedecido el mandato de Dios, era libre de presentarse ante el Faraón, y no había nada en el camino que impidiera la ministración de los ángeles en relación con su obra. En el tiempo de angustia, justo antes de la venida de Cristo, las vidas de los justos serán preservadas mediante la ministración de los santos ángeles. Aquellos que lleguen a ese tiempo de prueba, negligentes en la obediencia a los mandamientos de Dios, no tendrán seguridad. Los ángeles no podrán protegerlos de la ira de sus enemigos mientras vivan en negligencia de cualquier deber conocido, o mandato expreso de Jehová (Spiritual Gifts, t. 3, pp. 195, 196). The Lord desires us to rest in Him without a question as to our measure of reward. When Christ abides in the soul, the thought of reward is not uppermost. This is not the motive that actuates our service. It is true that in a subordinate sense we should have respect to the recompense of reward. God desires us to appreciate His promised blessings. But He would not have us eager for rewards nor feel that for every duty we must receive compensation. We should not be so anxious to gain the reward as to do what is right, irrespective of all gain. Love to God and to our fellow men should be our motive (Palabras de vida del gran Maestro, p. 398). VIERNES, 11 DE JULIO: PARA ESTUDIAR Y MEDITARLa historia de la redención, "Preparación especial para dirigir", pp. I 11- I I 4. Historia de los patriarcas y profetas, "Moisés", pp. 246-261. 

John 5:41 I do not receive glory from men; reason with me for a few minutes, please. Jesus lives in those who are His, and He hasn't changed. He is life. As Paul wrote to the Colossians in 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life…” As we abide in Christ, we are empowered to live to love with Him. We abide in Christ as we identify with and embrace Jesus' life. We can be encouraged by a couple of things from this verse. First, notice His humility. Even though men may give Him glory and praise Him, He doesn't receive it. The glory of man isn't on His radar because the only glory He is interested in is the glory which comes from His Father. Humility is recognizing that everything we have comes from God. When we look to our Father in heaven as the source of our everything in our lives, we are abiding in Christ, and that's when the love of God can flow through us. Second, there is within all of us a desire for significance and glory from men. It's fleshly, natural, and demonic, as James noted in James 3:14-16. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” The context of this verse is the various witnesses to who Jesus is. There's been John the Baptist's testimony, which is the witness of men. Then the witness of the works the Father gave Him to do, which testify that He is from God. Also mentioned are the witnesses of the Father and the Scriptures. The only glory Jesus received was that which was from God, revealed in His works and the Scriptures. We also then, as we abide in Christ, should only find our significance in the witness of the works Jesus does in and through us, being testified to in the Scriptures. Our significance in life comes from Jesus' life revealed in us. We must be on guard against loving for the glory of man. We should also say that we don't receive glory from men. I'm reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 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.

✣ Free Neville Goddard PDF: manifestwithneville.com✣ God Mode 2025 Retreat: https://godmoderetreats.com✣ God Mode Course: https://unlockgodmode.org----------------------In this lecture, Neville Goddard explores the profound meaning of Jeremiah 15:16: "Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me the joy and delight of my heart; for I am called by Thy name, O Lord, God of hosts."Neville explains that to "eat" God's words means to assimilate and embody them, transforming one's entire understanding of reality. Once fully absorbed, these words reveal a staggering truth: you are God in human form—the creator of all things.Key Themes:The Power of God's Name – "I AM"God's name is not a word to be recited but an identity to be realized: "I AM."When Moses asked for God's name, the answer was "I AM THAT I AM." (Exodus 3:14).Every time we say "I am," we invoke the creative power of God within us.The Name That Answers Every CallMany pray in the name of Jesus or Jehovah but receive no answer because they misunderstand the nature of the name.Neville clarifies that the true name of God—the only name that responds—is "I AM."Whatever we assume about ourselves using "I am," we become.The Law in Action – A Testimony of ImaginationA man from the Midwest attempted for years to help his ailing mother and brother by sending them metaphysical books, but they never read them.After learning Neville's teachings, he stopped sending books and instead imagined holding a letter from his brother stating that both he and their mother were healthy.Within three weeks, he received the exact letter he had imagined—word for word.Imagining Creates RealityWe are not at the mercy of external conditions; rather, our inner world dictates our outer experience.If we assume something to be true and persist in the assumption, it must externalize in the world.The Revelation of Christ WithinThe Bible is not a historical account but a spiritual revelation unfolding within every individual.Christ is not a man external to us but our own divine imagination awakening within.When Christ fully awakens, we recognize our divine nature as the Father—revealed through the Son, David.The Inevitability of Spiritual AwakeningGod, having given Himself completely to man, must ultimately bring man to the realization that he is God.This revelation happens through a series of mystical experiences, culminating in the recognition of David as one's Son—confirming that the individual is the Father.Faith in Action – Living by the LawNeville urges his audience to test the Law by assuming the feeling of their wish fulfilled."Live by faith" means to assume and trust that your imaginal act will harden into fact.Conclusion:This lecture is a powerful reminder that God's name—"I AM"—is our true identity. By consciously assuming and living from the state of our desired reality, we prove that imagining creates reality. The ultimate realization comes when we see David and recognize ourselves as the Father, fulfilling God's promise to give Himself fully to us. ***Download the free Neville Goddard PDF Guide at manifestwithneville.com - Discover the transformative power of Neville Goddard's wisdom with this FREE 60-page guide on his 12 timeless principles of manifestation and reality creation.★ Follow the podcast for daily lectures from the mystic Neville Goddard ★FREE RESOURCES:• Join the FREE Neville Goddard newsletter• Join the FREE Telegram Channel• Feeling is the Secret • Full Audiobook* * *The James Xander Trip Podcast:• Listen on Spotify• Listen on Apple Podcasts• Listen on YouTubeDIVE DEEPER:• The Unlock God Mode Course• The Infinite Wealth Guided Meditation* * *ABOUT NEVILLE GODDARD:Neville Goddard (1905-1972), was an English writer, speaker and mystic. He grew up in Barbados and moved to the United States of America as a young adult. Neville Goddard was perhaps the last century's most intellectually substantive and charismatic purveyor of the philosophy generally called New Thought. He wrote more than ten books under the solitary pen name Neville, and was a popular speaker on metaphysical themes from the late 1930s until his death in 1972.Possessed of a self-educated and uncommonly sharp intellect, Neville espoused a spiritual vision that was bold and total: Everything you see and experience, including other people, is the result of your own thoughts and emotional states. Each of us dreams into existence an infinitude of realities and outcomes. When you realize this, Neville taught, you will discover yourself to be a slumbering branch of the Creator clothed in human form, and at the helm of limitless possibilities.Neville's thought system influenced a wide range of spiritual thinkers and writers, from bestselling author Dr. Joseph Murphy to Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer.He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of readers around the world.* * *SOCIALS:• Neville Goddard Newsletter• Neville Goddard Telegram• Neville Goddard Instagram• Neville Goddard Threads• Neville Goddard Twitter• Neville Goddard YouTube* * *...

Send us a textLife's most profound reality stares us in the face, yet many refuse to acknowledge it: once born, you will exist forever. This isn't about spiritual metaphors or religious theories—it's the stark biblical truth about human existence. The only question remaining is where and how you'll spend that eternity.The Bible speaks with unmistakable clarity on this matter. Whether Christian or non-Christian, your soul's existence will never end. For believers, this means eternal glory in Christ's presence. For those who reject Him, it means eternal punishment in what Scripture calls "everlasting fire." No middle ground exists, despite growing voices within Christian circles claiming otherwise.A troubling trend has emerged among self-proclaimed believers who teach that hell is temporary or merely results in annihilation. These falsehoods contradict Jesus' explicit teaching in Matthew 25, where He describes eternal punishment using the same Greek word (aiōnios) that describes eternal life for believers. Logic demands consistency—if heaven is forever, so is hell. When Christ said it would have been better for Judas had he never been born, He confirmed hell's eternal nature, for if universal salvation were true, temporary suffering followed by eternal bliss would still constitute a worthwhile existence.God's perfect justice requires proportionate punishment. If all sinners simply ceased to exist regardless of their sins' severity, how could God be considered just? Scripture declares "whatever a man sows, that he will also reap"—a principle that demands varying degrees of eternal punishment, not a one-size-fits-all annihilation.This sobering reality should motivate our evangelism and deepen our gratitude for salvation. The magnitude of Christ's sacrifice corresponds precisely to the severity of what He saves us from. Why would Jesus endure such suffering if hell were merely temporary or if souls simply disappeared?Have you settled your eternal destination? The decision you make about Christ in this life determines your forever. There are no second chances after death, no purgatorial cleansing, no eventual universal salvation. Today remains your opportunity to choose everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ.Support the show

Series: Encouragement for Pilgrims on the WayScripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Speaker: Pastor David HallettDeath is a painful reality that touches every life. Even for followers of Christ, the sting of losing a loved one is deeply felt. Grief is not unspiritual—it is human. And yet, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Paul reminds believers that our grief is not like the world's grief. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. Why? Because our hope is anchored in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus truly died, and He truly rose again. That means death has been decisively defeated. And because Jesus rose, those who have died trusting in Him will also rise. When Christ returns, the dead in Christ will be raised, and those who are still alive will be caught up with them. Together, we will meet the Lord, never to be separated again. This is not wishful thinking—it is resurrection hope grounded in the finished work of Christ. It is the promise of a future reunion in glorified bodies with each other and, most importantly, with our Saviour. As we face the loss of fellow believers, we can and should mourn, but we do so with hearts full of hope. This is the truth that comforts and strengthens us in our sorrow.

When Christ called His first disciples to join Him on His mission, they immediately changed their focus toward God. Immediately they made their entire life about serving God and sharing His Gospel with the world. With the constant reality of violence and war in the world, it is an opportunity for us to live as followers of Jesus Christ with the same dedication as the Disciples. Now is our chance to use our life to preach, teach and heal the world, through the peace and grace of God.

SUMMARY: The Challenge of Understanding - Kim and I acknowledge and discuss, that many Christians (me included) struggle to truly love like Jesus without feeling like they're compromising biblical truth with regard to the LGBTQ community, and Kim shares her journey with her LGBTQ child. It's a genuine complexity to understand how to find balance and Kim sets the marker at the foot of the cross. Judgment vs. Discernment - Parts of the conversation focuses on the difference between judgment and discernment. Kim stresses the importance of building relationships and understanding individual stories because we can't expect to be heard if we don't first invest, aka listen. The Role of the Church - The conversation touches on the importance of allowing space for questions and struggles without fear of judgment or ostracism. Invite difficult conversations and differing viewpoints for the purpose of discovering and revealing God's truths and His heart about the matter for both the one struggling with identity issues as well as the believer who may have a heart posture that God wants to bring a deeper revelation that aligns with His truth, love, character and nature. Embracing Both Faith and Love - As Kim reveals, it's possible to hold onto faith while loving an LGBTQ child. Kim emphasizes that understanding doesn't mean affirming every choice but involves listening, empathizing, and walking alongside them. Tools and Resources - Kim's journey led to the creation of resources like "Pride and Promises," aimed at helping families navigate these complex dynamics. Final Reflections - The conversation ends with a powerful reminder of God's scandalous grace — a grace that doesn't discriminate and a love that is unwavering. Kim's story is a testament to the transformative power of love and the importance of reflecting Christ's love in all interactions. We can lay down the weight of judgement, which enables us to share God's truths without feeling responsible for the outcome and relax in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit is qualified to do His work. In navigating these challenging waters, may we all strive to embody the empathy, compassion, and love that Kim so beautifully advocates for. PODCAST INTRO: My guest is Kim Stlip and she is the founder of Pride and Promises, a beautiful ministry she created that equips believers to hold on to their Christian faith and their LGBTQ+ kids. But I want any parent listening to know, no matter how your child identifies you'll find great wisdom in the biblical discernment that Kim shares. Kim doesn't have any 3 letter adjectives behind her name or lofty degrees that declare her worthy but she is a mom with the courage to stand in the gap between God's truth in the holy scriptures and God's heart for humankind. Kim is motivated by the fact that many Christians struggle to truly love like Jesus without feeling like they're compromising biblical truth. When I think about the phrase of investing blood sweat and tears, surely Kim's picture is next to that description…actually, any mom who has been willing to be the punching bag (my words not Kims) for truth in the very context of a broken world and their children trying to find their way in it. I want to share my personal take away from our conversation because I could really relate to every bit of the relationship aspect of our conversation and relationships beyond my children. I do not have children who struggle with same sex attraction but relationship (across the board) is hard, complicated and layered. I used to think that the hardest part of raising children was when they were young and I was trying to bend their will to the things that would bring them reward, benefit, health. In my heart I was trying to equip my sons to contribute to the world in meaningful, purposeful ways. But no one told me it would be more difficult when they were adults and you have to watch them struggle with the complexities of life as it gets weightier and responsibility after responsibility is added to their years. Here's a quote from Kim “And the hard part is when we hold on so tightly to our right and your wrong, and we don't take one another's stories with empathy, then that's where we hold our fist up and we don't end up coming back together. And so you always diffuse anger with empathy and understanding. And truly, anger is almost always love disappointed.” That my friend hit me in the heart. I had a powerful reminder of the finished work of the cross when Kim brought us back to the cross….and it always comes down to this for any human being (and not just in the context of this topic, it's all of humanity)….if the opportunity to have direct access to God again was going to be a possibility then it was necessary for Christ to go to the cross. For me, my sins. Imagine yourself as the only person alive and Christ goes to the cross for you. He endured the horrific process of crucifixion, the bloody, beaten beyond recognition, publicly stripped naked, disfigured in every way; and I've read some commentary that pointed out you would not have been able to tell if he was male of female.  When Christ hung on the cross He had no guarantee that any of us would choose Him. Now, God knows our heart, the condition/character/nature and because of that He knows which one of us will choose Him but that does not negate the fact that our gift of choice is still a real thing. He doesn't man-handle our gift of choice. There's enough evil in the world to see that He does not intervene with our ability to choose. In other words, He doesn't remove that ability because we refuse to use it in a responsible, wise, healthy way but it is worth remembering He is capable of healing anything this broken world does to us via other peoples choices or the places we find ourselves in because of our own choices. Kim has such courage to have this delicate conversation pointing out that the core of where the conversation should be grounded is in the person of Christ versus where the church and most people, myself included focus on, and that is sexuality. I get it though, the world has made it a sexual issue but as believers we're to look through the lens of God's heart at the world around us. And that's what Kim does at Pride and Promises. A wealth of information that is honest, straightforward biblical truth and presented with the same compassion that Christ provided for each and every one of us on the cross. As Kim and I agreed, at the foot of the cross is level ground for sinners. When you hear Kim's heart behind her encouraging message, I hope that you have breakthrough in your personal life and personal relationships on every level. All of what she shares can be applied to any relationship we can experience because again, our conversations and heart motive should be grounded in the person of Christ. Let's get into the beauty, the hope, and the heart of God by listening to what Kim has to share! Live Loved and Thrive! @alifeofthrive.com Sherrie Pilk Other Episodes and Blogs that pertain to this subject of God meeting us in broken places: -Joining Jesus Christ In His Pursuit of Your LGBTQ Identified Child, with Melinda Patrick: https://alifeofthrive.com/2024/08/28/joining-jesus-christ-in-his-pursuit-of-your-lbgtq-identified-child/ -No Longer in Bondage to Sexual Addiction, with Logan Hufford: https://alifeofthrive.com/2024/07/17/sexual-addiction/ -Christian Mom Whose Child has Same-Sex Attraction, with Melinda Patrick: https://alifeofthrive.com/2021/05/16/same-sex-attraction/ -A Porn Free Marriage is Possible, with Rosie MaKinney: https://alifeofthrive.com/2022/05/11/porn-free/ Connect with Kim: Website: https://www.prideandpromises.com/ Free Resource - 31 Conversation Starters to engage your child after they come out: https://www.prideandpromises.com/conversation-starters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569053302851 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prideandpromises/ Kim's Bio: My sweet spot has always been in coaching and mentoring young women, moms and wives, offering encouragement and guidance through everyday life and its challenges. Driven by a profound dedication to my family, a gratitude for people, and a love for the one-anothers, my heart is to encourage other families in navigating the tangled up circumstances that don't have linear solutions. We haven't done it perfectly…read the blogs.   My favorite people are my husband, Pete, our son & two daughters, and the guys they took the names of and brought into our family. Beyond treasuring my family, I'm a curriculum and freelance writer, ministry volunteer, and fellow encourager.

Crystal Rivers | Open Book | Jun 17, 2025 Your spiritual journey begins the moment you enter into covenant with God through Jesus Christ. This covenant isn't merely a transaction—it's the starting point of a transformative process designed to take you from spiritual infancy to full sonship. Understanding how sonship, priesthood, covenant, God's word, and the Holy Spirit work together is crucial for your spiritual development. ## The Foundation: You Are Spirit, Not Flesh You must first understand a fundamental truth: when you became a believer, you became a spiritual being. The Old Testament law was spiritual, but it was given to people who were spiritually dead—carnal beings who couldn't fulfill spiritual requirements. This is why the law failed to produce the righteousness God desired. However, through Christ, you've been given the Holy Spirit, enabling you to fulfill what the law demanded but couldn't accomplish in carnal humanity. The moment you received Christ, you entered a river of spiritual development. This river has one direction—toward the Father. Jesus declared He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. Your entire Christian journey is this movement toward the Father, guided by His word and His Spirit. ## Stages of Spiritual Growth Your spiritual development follows a pattern similar to natural growth. You begin as a spiritual baby, feeding on the milk of God's word—learning basic doctrines, understanding right from wrong, and developing spiritual discernment. During this stage, you may still exhibit carnal behaviors: envy, strife, quarreling, and divisions. These are evidence of spiritual immaturity, not spiritual death. As you continue in God's word and yield to the Holy Spirit, you progress through spiritual adolescence into young adulthood. Each stage requires you to put away childish things—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. This isn't automatic; it requires conscious effort and daily practice. Eventually, you reach spiritual maturity where you become what Scripture calls a "son." In ancient Israel, though someone might be born into the priesthood, they couldn't function as a priest until they reached a certain age and maturity. Similarly, though you're born again into God's family, true sonship comes when you've gained the knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual authority of your Father. ## The New Creation Reality The most transformative truth you must embrace is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." This isn't merely positional truth—it's your actual spiritual reality. When Christ died, you died with Him. When He was raised from the dead, you were raised with Him as a completely new creation. The old person who could be sick, defeated, fearful, and sinful is dead. You now possess the same resurrection life that flows through Christ. However, experiencing this reality requires more than intellectual understanding—it demands daily practice and declaration. You must exercise yourself in this truth until it becomes your conscious and subconscious reality. ## Moving Beyond Carnal Thinking One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual maturity is continuing to regard yourself and others "according to the flesh." This means viewing circumstances, challenges, and people through natural, worldly perspectives rather than spiritual truth. You must identify areas in your life where you still think and act like a natural person. Do you fear financial loss? Do you respond to sickness as if you're merely human? Do you harbor unforgiveness or operate in pride? These are areas where your flesh is still loud and your old nature appears alive. The prescription is clear: daily meditation on and declaration of your new creation identity. Just as someone might declare healing over sickness for years until it becomes reality, you must declare the truth of who you are in Christ until your mind, body, and circumstances align with spiritual truth. ## Practical Application Begin each day declaring: "I am in Christ. I am a new creation. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new." Don't wait for feelings to confirm this truth—feelings follow faith, not the other way around. Identify specific areas where you've been living according to flesh rather than spirit. Create a conscious plan to "eat up" these carnal strongholds, just as Joshua declared the giants in the Promised Land would be devoured rather than feared. Remember, the just shall live by faith. Your new creation identity isn't activated by emotions or circumstances—it's activated by your agreement with God's word through consistent, faith-filled declaration and action. The goal isn't merely to know these truths intellectually but to become them practically. As you exercise yourself in this reality, you'll move from glory to glory, eventually operating in the full authority and nature of your spiritual inheritance as a son of God. Your journey toward sonship isn't optional—it's your destiny. The word of God and the Holy Spirit are your guides, the covenant is your foundation, and your new creation identity is your present reality waiting to be fully experienced through faithful practice. Facebook Cave Adullam : / caveadullam.org Ministers Rest : / ministersrest Preparing His bride : / phbfellowship #STNG : / securingthenextgeneration Instagram Cave Adullam: / caveadullam #STNG : / securingthenextgeneration

What did Jesus actually believe about the age of the earth? When Christ said humans were created “from the beginning,” He directly contradicted billions-of-years timelines. Yet many Christian academics now claim Jesus was simply mistaken about science. One prominent professor shocked with his response: “Jesus didn’t know as much science as we do today.” Dr Carl Wieland and Dr Jonathan Sarfati explore these profound questions about biblical authority.

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:13–14Every Christian has two primary duties in life. First, we must strive for personal holiness. And second, we must work to help others achieve this same degree of holiness. This is what it means to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”Consider salt. Salt is a preservative, and it also adds flavor to food. It does so by entering the food and, in a sense, disappearing. So it must be with us. First, our Lord must enter our lives and preserve us from the corruption of sin. But as He does so, He will also bring out our goodness in a way that the “flavor” of holiness is evident to others. In this way, we will be used as salt for others. This is especially done by our works of charity.Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said in her autobiography, “I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of their virtue.” She believed that this was especially the way we act as salt and light to others. We help to preserve others from sin by being merciful to them when they are weak. We enrich their lives by seeing their goodness and rejoicing in it. And we do so in a hidden way. By our gentleness and compassion, our kindness and mercy, we preserve others and help them to grow in God's abundant grace. And we do so, many times, without them even realizing how God used us.Consider, also, light. The world in which we live is oftentimes quite dark and despairing. There is corruption all around us and temptations abound. Thus, the light of Christ must be made manifest far and wide. Those all around us need to see clearly the path to holiness and happiness. Again, this is possible if we first work to become light itself. Christ, the true Light of the World, must so permeate our lives that we find it almost automatic to shine brightly in a fallen world. When Christ is alive in us, we will radiate joy and peace, calm and conviction, moral goodness and determination. And when we live this way, we will not have to “impose” the Gospel on others; rather, God's light will simply shine and be a beacon of hope to those who come into our presence.Reflect, today, upon these two missions in life. First, ponder your call to holiness. How does God want to bring light into your own life, preserve you from all sin and add spiritual flavor for holy living? Second, who does God want you to love with His love? Who needs hope and joy, mercy and kindness, words of wisdom and encouragement? Be holy and then allow that holiness to shine forth to others and you will indeed be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.My Jesus, the true Light of the World, please shine brightly in my life so that I will see clearly and will be preserved from the darkness of sin. As You fill me with Your light, please use me as an instrument of Your love and mercy to a world filled with chaos and confusion. Dispel the darkness, dear Lord, and use me as Your instrument as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Messiah gives the New Law by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Dating | Week 2Our dating lives, like every other aspect of our walk with God, must be firmly anchored in Him. When Christ is the center, everything else falls into its rightful place. Today, we'll delve into what it means to date with Christ at the forefront, guided by His Word.Learn more at cccfamily.com

When Christ is your everything, even death becomes a victory.

When we're born, we're instantly surrounded by brokenness because this world is full of sin. Today, Pastor Ken says we can only overcome the world through Christ. When Christ becomes all we know and see, we're freed from the things that enslave us. Sin's rampant in the world, but God has given you the power to say no to sin and yes to victory through the death and resurrection of Christ. He loves you so much that He sent His Son as a ransom for all sins committed in the past, present, and future.

Working for the Lord transforms our approach to our careers, shifting our focus from pleasing people to honoring God. Scripture instructs us to work 'heartily as to the Lord,' meaning with our entire being. This perspective helps us maintain excellence even under difficult bosses or in jobs we dislike. When Christ becomes our true boss, we find the strength to either endure challenging situations or make necessary changes. Ultimately, whether digging ditches or running corporations, our work finds meaning when done for God's glory rather than human validation.

Due to some audio issues the scripture reading was not recorded for this sermon. Here is the passage (Colossians 2:20–3:17):Colossians 220 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations– 21 "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)–according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.Colossians 31 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ruahchurch.com

What happens when we bury our talents instead of investing them? Are we like the wise virgins with oil in our lamps, or the foolish ones caught unprepared? This powerful episode examines Jesus's parables about readiness and stewardship that speak directly to our modern lives.The Parable of the Ten Virgins serves as a wake-up call for believers who've grown comfortable in their faith. Jesus warns us that we don't know the day or hour of his return – are we living with that urgency? When Christ appears, will we be among those ready to meet him, or scrambling to prepare at the last minute? The stakes couldn't be higher, with eternal consequences hanging in the balance.Similarly, the Parable of the Talents challenges us to honestly evaluate how we're using the gifts God has entrusted to us. Whether you've been given five talents or just one, the question remains: are you multiplying what you've been given for God's kingdom? Each of us will someday give account for how we've invested our abilities, resources, and opportunities. The faithful servants who doubled their master's investment heard "Well done," while the fearful servant who buried his talent faced judgment.Beyond these spiritual reflections, we explore a fascinating historical connection through Fisher Ames, who helped write the First Amendment yet believed "the Bible should be the principal text of our schools." This stark contrast with today's educational approach raises important questions about our national foundations. We also examine how America's founders warned against "imperceptible taxes" that gradually enslave populations – a warning that resonates powerfully in today's complex tax environment.Whether you're interested in spiritual growth, American history, or the connection between faith and freedom, this episode offers thought-provoking insights that will challenge and inspire you. Take a moment to consider: Are you ready for Christ's return, and how are you investing the talents he's given you?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) When Christ suffered on... More...

Wisdom For The Weary   #Nightlight #RTTBROS Wisdom For The Weary   #Nightlight #RTTBROS Above All Else: The Focus That Changed Wilberforce If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in gloryWilliam Wilberforce stood at the window of his London home, staring across the Thames with weary eyes. For twenty years, he had fought to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire, and for twenty years, he had failed. Stacks of parliamentary papers cluttered his desk, and letters from both supporters and fierce opponents filled his drawers. His health was deteriorating, and doubts clouded his mind.Throughout his life, Wilberforce was deeply influenced by Scripture broadly. His 1797 book "A Practical View of Christianity" revealed his theological foundations, while his journal entries and letters demonstrated how biblical principles regarding human dignity and justice guided his political career. He was especially moved by passages about loving one's neighbor, caring for the oppressed, and the equality of all people before God.As a young, ambitious politician with wealth and social connections, he had experienced a profound spiritual conversion at age 25. His old friend, former slave-ship captain John Newton, now a minister and author of "Amazing Grace", had counseled him not to abandon politics but to use his position for God's purposes.Though he never specifically cited it, the powerful truth in Colossians 3 perfectly summarizes Wilberforce's transformed focus in life. While his peers pursued political power, wealth, and status, he set his mind on higher things, the dignity of every human being created in God's image. This heavenly focus made him willing to endure earthly scorn.Year after year, he introduced anti-slavery bills. Year after year, they were defeated. His political opponents mocked him as a religious fanatic. Business interests slandered him as an economic saboteur. Even some friends suggested he choose a more achievable cause."Perhaps I should focus elsewhere," Wilberforce confided to his journal one night. "Twenty years of failure wears on a man's soul."Many times when he opened his Bible. Those words renewed his resolve. His focus wasn't meant to be on immediate results but on faithfulness to his calling. He wasn't working primarily for earthly approval but for heavenly purposes.With refreshed determination, Wilberforce continued the fight. His heavenly focus gave him earthly perseverance. In 1807, the Slave Trade Act finally passed, abolishing the slave trade throughout the British Empire. Twenty-six years later, just three days before his death in 1833, he received news that slavery itself would be abolished across the British colonies.Wilberforce's life embodies the wisdom of Paul's words in Colossians. By setting his mind on things above, he changed things on earth. By living as though his true life was hidden with Christ, he found courage to face opposition. By focusing on heavenly glory rather than earthly acclaim, he left a legacy that transformed millions of lives.Like Wilberforce, we face choices daily about where to set our minds. When we focus on things above, we gain the perspective and perseverance to fulfill our calling below.Prayer: Lord, like Wilberforce, help me fix my focus on heavenly values rather than earthly validation. Remind me that my true identity is hidden with Christ, giving me courage to pursue Your purposes even when progress seems slow. May my heavenly focus produce earthly faithfulness. Amen.#WilberforceWisdom #PerseverantFocus #HeavenlyPerspectiveBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Forgiveness is not just something we offer when it feels convenient—it is a command rooted in the character of Christ. In marriage, where two flawed people walk intimately and closely together, forgiveness is not optional—it's vital. It is the lifeblood of lasting covenant love.Our springboard for today's discussion is:"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32Marriage reveals both the beauty and brokenness in each of us. And because of that, there will be moments—sometimes many—when you will hurt one another. Sometimes it will be unintentional. Sometimes it won't.But forgiveness is not about justifying the hurt. It's about releasing it.When Christ forgave you, He didn't wait until you deserved it. He didn't require you to fix yourself first. He extended grace freely, fully, and without condition. That same grace is what you've been called to offer within your marriage.Forgiveness doesn't erase the wound—but it removes the weight. It's not a denial of pain—it's a decision to surrender the right to hold it against your spouse.This doesn't mean we avoid hard conversations or overlook repeated patterns that need healing. But it does mean we refuse to become prisoners of resentment. Because unforgiveness doesn't only distance us from our spouse—it distances us from God.The world says hold on to offenses. God says release them. And when we choose His way, we make room for healing, reconciliation, and restored trust.Question of the Day:What offense have you been holding on to that God is asking you to release?Mini Call to Action:Take a moment today in prayer. Name the offense. Then release it to God, even if you need to do it in tears. If appropriate, speak words of forgiveness to your spouse—or start by writing them down.Let's Pray:Lord, teach us how to forgive as You forgave us. Break the grip of bitterness, and heal what has been broken. Fill our hearts with grace, and help us walk in the freedom of forgiveness. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!Forgiveness isn't weakness—it's the strength to choose love over offense.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

We're all on a journey to build relationships that stand on solid ground. When Christ's love becomes our guiding light, it creates a shared identity that brings us together, encouraging us to show up authentically. While our faith journey is deeply personal, it ripples outward into our communities. The grace we've received comes with responsibility—we're called to share it freely with others. There's something profoundly beautiful about living peacefully with one another. When we offer ourselves as a gift, inviting others into our lives and creating space to connect on this foundation of grace, we breathe value into each other. This exchange of love requires trust, but it opens the door to an experience of peace that transforms how we see ourselves and those around us.

Today's Passage: Colossians 3: 1-4If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.Today's Prayer: Father for some reason you've called us into a relationship with You.You want us to be with You, where You are, and about what You are about.Your eternal decree is too marvelous to comprehend.Yet, you've also placed us at Your table to be not only servants but also friends.Here, we are protected and fully alive.Help us today to reflect on the things you are about.Your word says in Philippians 4:8 to think on eight things: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and anything worthy of praise.Lord, as we are not guaranteed tomorrow, will you help us today to hide in the shadow of Your wings—free to be with You and about Your Kingdom.NOTES & LINKS:Information about the Women's Summer StudyInformation about the Men's Summer StudyReach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

Growing In God Podcast Web Description: How do we bring the healing that we need and that the world today needs so desperately? The example of healing at Bethesda is a lesson for all of us to apply. When Christ asks us, “Do you wish to be healed?” Our answer needs to be an emphatic, “Yes!” And not, “We are waiting for someone to carry us.” Christ is the source of our healing. He is always willing. And we pick up our own bed and walk in what He has provided.   Show Notes: During the first church service of Bethesda Ministries and the ordination of Silas as pastor, a message came about the ministry of healing. At the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Yeshua (Jesus) asked this man a question: “Do you want to be healed?” The man answered by giving the reasons why he had not been healed so far. Yeshua did not listen to the man's complaints. He simply said, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” This story shows us something about our own responses to the Lord.   The Lord had already decided to heal the man at Bethesda. Christ was standing there as this man's healing. But he had to be brought to the place where Christ was positioned as the manifestation of God's healing for him. The same is true for us. The Lord is not here to listen to our troubles, our excuses, and all our reasons for why things have not worked. He is here to bring us into the place where the answer already exists for the healing and ministry that we need.   There must be a drive in you to fulfill the will of God in your life. Someone else will not do it. It is never someone else's responsibility. It is always your responsibility to get up and walk with God. Christ is always there for us. He already said to the Father, “I am willing,” and He went to the cross for us. Now the fulfillment of that cross is always available to us. We just need to go to Him and say, “I already know You are willing because You have already done it. And I am coming to You to receive everything that I need.”   Key Verses:   •       John 5:2–8. “Do you wish to get well? … Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” •       Matthew 8:1–3. “And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” •       Matthew 26:39. “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”   Quotes:   •       “There's going to be a way that you find, in the anointing of the Lord, to have people really take responsibility for the will of God in their own lives, for the will of God in their own community, for the will of God in their own churches.” •       “I don't want a lot of preaching. I want a lot of learning to do it. Christ was pretty simple here: ‘Pick up your bed and walk.' We can do it if we do it.” •       “Do you know what's available on that cross? Everything. That's the point at which nothing is impossible. Any one of our needs—any one of the possibilities that exist for us—is right there.”   Takeaways:   1.    Yeshua asked the ill man at Bethesda, “Do you wish to be well?” However, the man answered by saying, “No one will take me to the water to be healed.” The correct answer would have been, “Yes! You are the source of my healing. And I want it!” That is how we need to answer the Lord. 2.    At Bethesda the Lord did not listen to the man's reasons for why he was not healed. He simply told the man to pick up his pallet and walk. God does not listen to our excuses. It is always our responsibility and never someone else's to walk in what God has given us. 3.    We have to see that Christ is the source of all that we need to accomplish His will in the earth. And He is always willing. We lay aside our excuses and our waiting for someone else to do it and take what He is giving us now.  

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21That powerful truth from Jesus captures the heart of FaithFi's mission and vision.If money issues are ultimately heart issues, then we need more than financial tips—we need a heart change that helps us see God as our ultimate treasure. Today, Taylor Standridge joins us to explore the deeper purpose behind FaithFi and how you can partner in that mission.Taylor Standridge is the Production Director of FaithFi: Faith & Finance and the co-author of Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety.When Your Peace Rises and Falls with the MarketIt's pretty ironic that the stock market graph sometimes looks like a heart rate monitor. The point? Many people's emotions—and even their sense of hope—are tied to their financial situation. When the market dips, so does their peace.But Scripture offers a better way: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).If your peace mirrors the market, it may be a spiritual warning light. Scripture calls us to set our minds on things above, not on the volatility of our savings accounts.Why Our Mission at FaithFi MattersAt the core of FaithFi is a calling to help people glorify God through wise financial decisions. But our vision shapes how we do it: to see every Christian view God as their ultimate treasure.In Jesus's words during the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:21 tells us, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Christian finance is about more than avoiding debt or giving to good causes. Those are great goals, but Jesus is calling us to something deeper: to reexamine what we treasure in the first place.It's not about giving more, it's about loving God more. That's why even the Pharisees, who gave plenty, were still rebuked—because their hearts weren't surrendered. When Christ becomes our greatest joy, giving becomes cheerful, not dutiful.The Daily Struggle: Trusting God or Trusting in WealthOne of the biggest struggles we see on the show frequently is the tension between trusting God and trusting in financial security.The culture says to get more and upgrade everything. But the gospel calls us to steward our resources for God's Kingdom. Ultimately, money can never define our worth—it can only serve as a tool when our identity is rooted in Christ.Wisdom Over Wealth: What Ecclesiastes Teaches UsThis book reminds us that wealth, possessions, and even success are fleeting. Apart from God, they're meaningless—just vapor, or ‘hevel' as Ecclesiastes puts it.But when we view money as a gift from God, not the goal, its purpose becomes clear. Ecclesiastes invites us to stop chasing what won't last and start investing in what will.That's why we're excited about the release of our latest study, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money, authored by John Cortines. Ecclesiastes speaks so much to our modern struggles with wealth, showing us both the futility of placing our hopes in riches and the true path to a life grounded in God's wisdom. You'll find that this study will challenge you to rethink your relationship with money and inspire deeper trust in God's provision and sovereignty.To get your copy, you can either pre-order it at FaithFi.com/Shop or request a copy to be sent to you when you make a gift of $35 or more to the ministry of FaithFi at FaithFi.com/Give. Practical Tools for a Biblical Approach to FinancesFaithFi isn't just about biblical theory—it's about real-life application. There are several ways we equip people to live out God-honoring stewardship:The FaithFi App—A budgeting tool built on biblical values like generosity, margin, and contentment. It even includes a vibrant in-app community with Certified Christian Financial Counselors (CertCFCs) and Certified Kingdom Advisors (CKAs).  Radio + Podcast—Daily encouragement and wisdom for wherever you are on your financial journey. Devotionals & Studies—Tools like Look at the Sparrows and Wisdom Over Wealth are helping individuals and churches connect their faith and finances. Faithful Steward Magazine—A quarterly, beautifully designed resource full of rich theology, practical advice, and real-life encouragement—exclusively for FaithFi Partners.Join the Movement: Become a FaithFi PartnerThe best way to support FaithFi's work is to become a FaithFi Partner—someone who gives $35 a month or more, or at least $400 a year. In return, partners receive early access to our Bible studies and devotionals, full access to the FaithFi Pro App, and quarterly issues of Faithful Steward. But more importantly, they help millions of people discover how to treasure God above all else.If this vision resonates with you, visit FaithFi.com/Give and join us.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I want to know if charities have to follow minimum wage laws in Florida or the United States.I have about $130,000 between two IRAs, I owe about $125,000 on my mortgage, and about $15,000 on an auto loan. I have a $250,000 term life policy that ends in 2027. I'm shopping around and want to know how much life insurance I should buy, and if you're in favor of life insurance.What's the difference between a Roth IRA and a regular IRA? And can an individual open a 401(k) without being an employee?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

You weren't called to reflect the room—you were called to set the tone. When Christ is on the throne of your heart, your soul flourishes. You don't want to miss this powerful message as we wrap up our sermon series: Flourish. STAY CONNECTED Website: www.oasisphx.comFacebook: Oasis Community ChurchInstagram: @oasisphx

The adventure begins in a clockwise direction in every Hero's Journey. The Plan of Salvation is our heroic journey, with God standing at the top of the circle. That means we exited out of His left side when we left Heaven to come to earth (along with a few others

"The Treasure of the Kingdom" | Matthew 13:44-46 We explore the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13. Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is worth giving up everything with joy because of the surpassing value of knowing Him.This sermon invites us to examine what we treasure most and challenges us to see Jesus as our greatest joy and ultimate treasure. From the examples of Peter, John, Matthew, Zacchaeus, Mary, the early church, Paul, and Stephen, we see what it looks like to joyfully give up everything for the sake of Christ.Key points:Joy is found in seeing Jesus as the treasure.The kingdom of God is not a loss, but pure gain.Earthly treasures fade, but Jesus remains forever.When Christ is our treasure, fear, anxiety, and burdens lose their grip.Whether you're burdened, anxious, or longing for more, this message is a reminder that Jesus is the treasure that never fails.

MSOP | May 8, 2025 | Melchizedek School of Priesthood Your Christian journey isn't about adopting spiritual oddities or peculiar behaviors. It's about authentically embodying Christ through divine revelation. You cannot become what you haven't seen, which is why revelation is essential to your spiritual growth. ## The Purpose of Revelation God uses tangible examples throughout Scripture to illustrate spiritual truths because He is deeply committed to your transformation. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ not as a distant figure, but as One manifesting within you. This revelation occurs through: - The Word of God illuminating your understanding - The Holy Spirit's direct teaching - The proper interpretation of Scripture in community Your ability to discern true revelation is critical. Many teachings sound appealing but lack the seed of Christ that produces genuine transformation. Test every spirit, for not all that claims to be from God actually is. ## The Seven Churches and You The churches in Revelation represent aspects of the church throughout history and within your own spiritual journey. Christ walks among these churches, evaluating their condition: - Are you maintaining your first love? - Do you test teachings against Scripture? - Are you patient and persevering? - Do you tolerate what is evil? - Is your faith growing or diminishing? When Christ finds areas needing improvement, it's not for condemnation but for restoration. His goal is your completion. ## Understanding the Seals The seals in Revelation aren't fearsome judgments but necessary processes that mortify your flesh and form Christ within you. The "horsemen" represent spirits sent by God to build His temple—not a physical building, but within your heart. This transformation involves: 1. Death to self-will and fleshly desires 2. Surrender to God's purposes 3. Acceptance of divine discipline 4. Perseverance through trials As each seal is broken, something within you changes. Pride, self-sufficiency, worldly attachments—all must yield to Christ's nature forming within you. ## Your Divine Assignment You have a specific purpose to fulfill before your earthly journey ends. This encompasses: - Coming into personal spiritual maturity - Executing your ministry assignment The true mark of maturity is when your love for God surpasses your fear of death. Some are appointed to martyrdom, others to continued service, but all must complete their course. No sickness, persecution, or obstacle should prevent you from fulfilling your divine assignment. ## The Path Forward Your time on earth should be maximized toward fulfilling God's agenda. Focus not on preserving physical life but on allowing Christ to be fully formed within you. The transformation process requires: 1. Regular immersion in God's Word 2. Testing every teaching against Scripture 3. Submission to the Holy Spirit's work 4. Perseverance through spiritual warfare 5. Dying to self-interests Remember, the purpose of all revelation is to transform you into Christ's image. When you truly see Him as He is, you will become like Him. This is the ultimate goal of your Christian journey—not just to know about Christ, but to embody His nature and fulfill His purposes in the earth. Facebook Cave Adullam : / caveadullam.org Ministers Rest : / ministersrest Preparing His bride : / phbfellowship #STNG : / securingthenextgeneration Instagram Cave Adullam: / caveadullam #STNG : / securingthenextgeneration

Exodus 33:18-23 — In this sermon on Exodus 33:18–23 titled “Revival Sermon: Glory Concealed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener of what the ultimate motivation should be for revival as Christians. It should never be for the sake of a large number of converts, or fame and glory, but for the glory of God. Moses asked the Lord to reveal His glory to him and in response, God revealed Himself in His own way. As Moses is hid within the cleft of the rock, God both reveals and conceals, blesses and protects. He is always doing these four things when He reveals Himself to His people. In Christianity, God reveals His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, a Christian is someone who grasps the fact that God has revealed His glory in the face of Jesus Christ and all those who are called by God have beheld His glory. When Christ came to earth, He was concealed in the flesh, and yet He did not leave any of His glory behind. He was not any less God. Believers can be encouraged and filled with great hope in remembering that like Moses, they are in the cleft of the rock, which is in Christ Jesus.

Exodus 33:18-23 — In this sermon on Exodus 33:18–23 titled “Revival Sermon: Glory Concealed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener of what the ultimate motivation should be for revival as Christians. It should never be for the sake of a large number of converts, or fame and glory, but for the glory of God. Moses asked the Lord to reveal His glory to him and in response, God revealed Himself in His own way. As Moses is hid within the cleft of the rock, God both reveals and conceals, blesses and protects. He is always doing these four things when He reveals Himself to His people. In Christianity, God reveals His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, a Christian is someone who grasps the fact that God has revealed His glory in the face of Jesus Christ and all those who are called by God have beheld His glory. When Christ came to earth, He was concealed in the flesh, and yet He did not leave any of His glory behind. He was not any less God. Believers can be encouraged and filled with great hope in remembering that like Moses, they are in the cleft of the rock, which is in Christ Jesus.

Exodus 33:18-23 — In this sermon on Exodus 33:18–23 titled “Revival Sermon: Glory Concealed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener of what the ultimate motivation should be for revival as Christians. It should never be for the sake of a large number of converts, or fame and glory, but for the glory of God. Moses asked the Lord to reveal His glory to him and in response, God revealed Himself in His own way. As Moses is hid within the cleft of the rock, God both reveals and conceals, blesses and protects. He is always doing these four things when He reveals Himself to His people. In Christianity, God reveals His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, a Christian is someone who grasps the fact that God has revealed His glory in the face of Jesus Christ and all those who are called by God have beheld His glory. When Christ came to earth, He was concealed in the flesh, and yet He did not leave any of His glory behind. He was not any less God. Believers can be encouraged and filled with great hope in remembering that like Moses, they are in the cleft of the rock, which is in Christ Jesus.

Exodus 33:18-23 — In this sermon on Exodus 33:18–23 titled “Revival Sermon: Glory Concealed,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds the listener of what the ultimate motivation should be for revival as Christians. It should never be for the sake of a large number of converts, or fame and glory, but for the glory of God. Moses asked the Lord to reveal His glory to him and in response, God revealed Himself in His own way. As Moses is hid within the cleft of the rock, God both reveals and conceals, blesses and protects. He is always doing these four things when He reveals Himself to His people. In Christianity, God reveals His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, a Christian is someone who grasps the fact that God has revealed His glory in the face of Jesus Christ and all those who are called by God have beheld His glory. When Christ came to earth, He was concealed in the flesh, and yet He did not leave any of His glory behind. He was not any less God. Believers can be encouraged and filled with great hope in remembering that like Moses, they are in the cleft of the rock, which is in Christ Jesus. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

Send us a textWho were the people Jesus came to save? The angel's instruction to Joseph was clear: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." But who exactly are "His people"? In this thought-provoking exploration of limited atonement, we dive deep into one of Christianity's most challenging doctrines.Many Christians casually assert that "Jesus died for everyone," but Scripture presents a more nuanced picture. When Christ says "I never knew you" to some at judgment, He's not claiming cognitive ignorance—He's declaring the absence of covenant relationship. This understanding transforms how we interpret beloved passages like John 3:16, revealing that God's love extends to people from every nation (without distinction), not necessarily every individual who has ever lived (without exception).The Jewish understanding of Gentiles as "dogs" without hope of salvation forms the backdrop for Jesus' revolutionary teaching that God's redemptive plan includes people from all nations—a truth foreshadowed when God changed Abram's name to Abraham ("father of many nations"). This realization should dramatically affect how we approach evangelism. If people are truly perishing without Christ, shouldn't we approach gospel proclamation with the same urgency as rescuing someone from a burning building?Whether you're new to this concept or have wrestled with it before, this episode will challenge you to examine Scripture more carefully and consider the profound implications for your understanding of God's sovereignty, Christ's accomplishment on the cross, and our mission as His ambassadors. Share this episode with someone who enjoys theological discussions that go beyond surface-level platitudes.The Balance of GrayGod, doubt, and proof walk into a podcast... it goes better than you'd expect!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Proverbs 8 tells us that God has kindly revealed his wisdom to all people in all of creation. The result is that every person has an awareness of God. But God and his wisdom have been rejected, bringing disorder to the world God wisely ordered. God so loved the world that he sent his Son Jesus Christ to atone for sin and to reconcile us to himself. When Christ is received we find life, and we return to the wisdom of God for the way to live. Grace Community Church exists to build spiritually healthy people for ministry in the world. One of the ways that we pursue this mission is by gathering each Sunday for corporate worship, prayer, and biblical teaching. The corporate nature of this gathering is both edifying to the believer and a witness of God's grace to the world. Sermon speaker is Scott Patty unless otherwise noted.

When Christ first appeared alive with His Apostles after his resurrection, Thomas was absent. The Apostles said, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas needed to see for himself. Eight days later Thomas saw Christ with his own eyes and believe. Christ said, “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who believe but who have not seen.” The Church has spread through the centuries because the Church stands in the world as eyewitness to the Resurrection of Christ. With our faith and courage, and God's grace many more will believe in the Resurrection of Christ because of our eyewitness to them. We believe because others share their eyewitness. The Church will continue only if we share our eyewitness. It is up to us.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we wrapped up our Resurrection week by discussing the renewal we receive through Christ. When Christ died on the cross, He took our sins with Him, and now we have salvation through Him. We turned to Romans 6:6-7, which says that our old selves were crucified with Jesus on the cross, making us no longer slaves to sin. What have you left at the cross? We also had Rachel Faulkner Brown join us today. Rachel founded Never Alone Widows, the largest Christian widows' ministry, after tragically losing two husbands before she was 31 years old. She also hosts the “There is More Podcast” and co-wrote an eight-week Bible study, Father’s House. Rachel has authored several books, including “Widow’s Might: 365 Days of Strength for Grief and Loss– Find Comfort, Hope, and Healing.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we wrapped up our Resurrection week by discussing the renewal we receive through Christ. When Christ died on the cross, He took our sins with Him, and now we have salvation through Him. We turned to Romans 6:6-7, which says that our old selves were crucified with Jesus on the cross, making us no longer slaves to sin. What have you left at the cross? We also had Rachel Faulkner Brown join us today. Rachel founded Never Alone Widows, the largest Christian widows' ministry, after tragically losing two husbands before she was 31 years old. She also hosts the “There is More Podcast” and co-wrote an eight-week Bible study, Father’s House. Rachel has authored several books, including “Widow’s Might: 365 Days of Strength for Grief and Loss– Find Comfort, Hope, and Healing.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we wrapped up our Resurrection week by discussing the renewal we receive through Christ. When Christ died on the cross, He took our sins with Him, and now we have salvation through Him. We turned to Romans 6:6-7, which says that our old selves were crucified with Jesus on the cross, making us no longer slaves to sin. What have you left at the cross? We also had Rachel Faulkner Brown join us today. Rachel founded Never Alone Widows, the largest Christian widows' ministry, after tragically losing two husbands before she was 31 years old. She also hosts the “There is More Podcast” and co-wrote an eight-week Bible study, Father’s House. Rachel has authored several books, including “Widow’s Might: 365 Days of Strength for Grief and Loss– Find Comfort, Hope, and Healing.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we wrapped up our Resurrection week by discussing the renewal we receive through Christ. When Christ died on the cross, He took our sins with Him, and now we have salvation through Him. We turned to Romans 6:6-7, which says that our old selves were crucified with Jesus on the cross, making us no longer slaves to sin. What have you left at the cross? We also had Rachel Faulkner Brown join us today. Rachel founded Never Alone Widows, the largest Christian widows' ministry, after tragically losing two husbands before she was 31 years old. She also hosts the “There is More Podcast” and co-wrote an eight-week Bible study, Father’s House. Rachel has authored several books, including “Widow’s Might: 365 Days of Strength for Grief and Loss– Find Comfort, Hope, and Healing.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Paschal Candle is first lit from the first fire struck of the Resurrection, we pray "May the light of Christ gloriously rising scatter the darkness of heart and mind." When Christ our God willingly gave up His ghost on the Cross, He immediately descended into the dark prison of Hades where every soul from Adam and Eve to that moment were held captive. He broke the gates of Hades open and bound Satan, crushing the serpent's head as prophesied in Genesis. There He revealed Himself in all of His glory and preached to all of those souls. The light dispelled the darkness. When light meets darkness, light always wins. If the light of Christ our God did this in Hades, do we not see what He can do in each and every soul He created? His light has descended into our Hades so that we may see Him and ascend with Him as well.

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. SUMMARY: In this day, the sons are called to be one, as the Father and the Son are one. Since the first-century church Christ has provided the way for oneness. To the extent that we are open in our hearts to one another, the fullness of Christ creates the oneness. Every part of the Body of Christ is needed to contribute to that flow of oneness. We open our hearts to be perfected in this oneness. SHOW NOTES: The will of God for us is that we all may be one. When Christ said, “It is finished,” He was pointing to the fact that everything had been given for His believers to become one. The provision of Christ's presence to be one has not been perfected or the world would have believed in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures reveal that the provision for oneness is in the earth, we just need to believe by faith and make the commitment to become one. Our relationships should be the practical application of this oneness as we relate and function in our families, churches and other connections. The first-century church was an example, as they were of one heart and soul. (Acts 4:32). Thousands were brought into the church, because they witnessed the fullness of oneness in those believers. In every instance that we see barriers to the oneness, we need to determine to break down those barriers in ourselves and in our brothers. Christ's final prayer before His resurrection was that we be one—let us answer that call with all our hearts. QUOTATIONS: The fullness of Christ is already in the earth—in the Body of Christ. To the extent that we are open in our hearts to one another, that creates the oneness. God has already put His fullness the Body of Christ, but because of schisms, division, or whatever, we're not receiving. The hard hurdle is to be open to your brother with all his faults, “problems.” If we're not walking in it—not by theory, not by faith, but by actual experience—we have to look to ourselves, because the problem is not in Christ; the problem is within us.

Reading 1Acts 10:34a, 37-43Peter proceeded to speak and said:“You know what has happened all over Judea,beginning in Galilee after the baptismthat John preached,how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and power.He went about doing goodand healing all those oppressed by the devil,for God was with him.We are witnesses of all that he didboth in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible,not to all the people, but to us,the witnesses chosen by God in advance,who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.He commissioned us to preach to the peopleand testify that he is the one appointed by Godas judge of the living and the dead.To him all the prophets bear witness,that everyone who believes in himwill receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”Reading 2Colossians 3:1-4Brothers and sisters:If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ your life appears,then you too will appear with him in glory.GospelJohn 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him.”So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peterand arrived at the tomb first;he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.When Simon Peter arrived after him,he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head,not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.Then the other disciple also went in,the one who had arrived at the tomb first,and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the Scripturethat he had to rise from the dead.

Galatians 2:20I 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.When Christ died on the cross he not only died for you, but He died as you. The power of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is that YOU were crucified, buried and rose with Him. In this week's message, Pastor Chuck Maher teaches on the power of the resurrection and the life we now get live as a result. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkC7SsObaEA

Son-Rise Service Worship Folder Son-Rise Service Worship Folder Pastor John Melke and Paul A. Tullberg Sermon text: Colossians 3:1-4 3 Therefore, because you were raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Take a Moment to recall something from today's message. Ask Jesus to create for you opportunities to use your words, activities and thoughts to glorify Him this week. We value your friendship and the opportunity to share the love of Jesus together with you!

Follow us on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube (manhood neat podcast) Reach out to us manhood.neat@gmail.com or Insta and X @manhoodneat Bourbon Review: Jim Beam Black 7 years. Show Notes: Topic: God's Righteousness and Atonement   Divine righteousness refers first and foremost to the perfection and uprightness of the divine nature. For God to be righteous principally means that God measures up to Himself and is always all that He ought to be as God. While righteousness usually implies conformity to a standard, God simply is the righteousness or justice by which He is righteous and just. This is not so much conformity as it is identity. We might even say that in willing His own being as His highest good, God gives Himself His due. This is the original and uncreated justice of divine self-love. Righteousness is not a state of being God acquires through long practice or exercise. Rather, righteousness denotes the essence of God. Psalm 119: 137-144 Hebrews 10:19-39 Deuteronomy 32:3-4   Talk about righteousness vs Justice and their intersection (both with God and with each other)   Break down Agustine's comments (we will take this segment by segment and discuss, focus on Justice and atonement, and hope in our salvation):   The passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson in patience.   What may not the hearts of believers promise themselves as the gift of God's grace, when for their sake God's only Son, co-eternal with the Father, was not content only to be born as man from human stock but even died at the hands of the men he had created?   It is a great thing that we are promised by the Lord, but far greater is what has already been done for us, and which we now commemorate. Where were the sinners, what were they, when Christ died for them?   When Christ has already given us the gift of his death, who is to doubt that he will give the saints the gift of his own life? Why does our human frailty hesitate to believe that mankind will one day live with God?   Who is Christ if not the Word of God: in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God?   This Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. He had no power of himself to die for us: he had to take from us our mortal flesh. This was the way in which, though immortal, he was able to die; the way in which he chose to give life to mortal men: he would first share with us, and then enable us to share with him. Of ourselves we had no power to live, nor did he of himself have the power to die.   In other words, he performed the most wonderful exchange with us. Through us, he died; through him, we shall live.   The death of the Lord our God should not be a cause of shame for us; rather, it should be our greatest hope, our greatest glory. In taking upon himself the death that he found in us, he has most faithfully promised to give us life in him, such as we cannot have of ourselves.   He loved us so much that, sinless himself, he suffered for us sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins. How then can he fail to give us the reward we deserve for our righteousness, for he is the source of righteousness? How can he, whose promises are true, fail to reward the saints when he bore the punishment of sinners, though without sin himself?   Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory.   The apostle Paul saw Christ, and extolled his claim to glory. He had many great and inspired things to say about Christ, but he did not say that he boasted in Christ's wonderful works: in creating the world, since he was God with the Father, or in ruling the world, though he was also a man like us. Rather, he said: Let me not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It's Good Friday, April 18th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus and Jonathan Clark Chinese Communists sentence Christians for Bible distribution Chinese Communists gave nine Christians prison sentences and large fines for re-selling and distributing Bibles in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia located in North China, reports International Christian Concern. On April 10th, the religious freedom magazine Bitter Winter reported their prison sentences were four years long and their fines ranged from $68 to more than $136,000. The sentences stem from charges and arrests in 2021, where the Christians bought legally published Bibles in Nanjing but ended up re-selling and distributing them at much lower prices as they wanted to share God's Word as a means of evangelism. These Chinese Christians will be inspired by 2 Corinthians 4:16-17. It says, “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Salvadoran President: Deported man will not be sent back to US When Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele came to the White House on April 14th, CNN host Kaitlan Collins asked a question about an illegal alien El Salvadoran man from Maryland, named Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been deported back to his country on March 15th. TRUMP: “Let's hear the question from this very low rated anchor.” COLLINS: “Do you plan to return him?” To be clear, Garcia was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland on March 12 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Attorney General Pam Bondi explained that he is a member of MS-13, a gang, which Trump has now designated a terrorist organization. BONDI: “In 2019, two courts, an immigration court and an appellate immigration court, ruled that he was a member of MS-13 and he was illegally in our country.” In response to Kaitlan Collins' question, Salvadoran President Bukele laughed, reports The Epoch Times. BUKELE: “The question is preposterous. How could I smuggle a terrorist to the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.” Later, outside the White House, Stephen Miller, Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff, schooled reporters who seem to be more concerned with illegal alien MS-13 gang members than they are with the laws of our country. MILLER: “A judge has said he must be deported from the country. He has no right to remain here any longer. He must be removed from the country. So, his only options are to be deported to his home country or another country. That's it. There's no other option. He doesn't get to stay here. He doesn't get to live here. He has no future here. He has no right to be here. He's an illegal alien. “So, when you keep saying ‘return' because you've been spun up by the Open Borders advocates, you all seem to be operating under the illusion that he would be able to come to United States and just continue to live here illegally. That's not an option available to him. His only choices in life are to live in El Salvador or to live in another country. That's it. There's no other option, legally or otherwise, because he came to our country illegally. Do you understand that?” Trump administration examines negative impacts over "transgendering" The Trump administration ordered the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of so-called “gender transitioning.” A leaked memo indicates the agency must investigate the “chemical and surgical mutilation” of children and adults.  In particular, the Trump administration wants to identify negative impacts on physical and mental health caused by such practices. The investigation will also look into “regret and detransition” by people who have pretended to be the opposite sex.  Trump hosted an Easter prayer service On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump hosted an Easter prayer service dinner at the White House, reports The Associated Press. He affirmed the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Listen. TRUMP: “Nearly 2,000 years ago, during the sacred week, the living Son of God entered Jerusalem in triumph. Soon after, the Savior of mankind, who brought truth and light into the world, was betrayed, arrested and tried, beaten and nailed to a cross and crucified. “For our sake, He gave up His life and, as the very great Reverend Billy Graham once said, ‘God proved His love on the cross. When Christ hung and bled and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.' “The death and resurrection of Jesus are the essence of the Christian faith. Whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, young or old, or in times of peace or war, Christians everywhere find solace and hope in the knowledge that Christ died for them and that they could be united with Him in Heaven. And that's what we want. That's what we all want.” Luke 24:6 says, “He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee.” 2 killed, 6 wounded at Florida State University shooting On Thursday, two people were killed at Florida State University in Tallahassee and six others were wounded by Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old political science major, as he opened fire from an orange Hummer.  The son of a Leon County Sheriff's deputy, he used his mother's handgun in the campus rampage, reports the Miami Herald. Appearing on Fox News Channel, FSU student Owen Girard described what he witnessed. GIRARD: “Sounded like a jackhammer, of these repetitive beats going on in the distance. Thought it was construction. Next thing you know, you have all of these students running at you, yelling that there's a shooter, so you just drop everything and run. That was our experience. We ran. We hid on the outskirts of campus.” Florida State University President Rick McCullough spoke at the press conference. McCULLOUGH: “This is a tragic day for Florida State University. We are absolutely heartbroken by the violence that occurred on our campus earlier today. Two have died. Five other innocents are being treated for their injuries. We're working to support the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this traumatic event.” Texas school choice passes the state House Texas lawmakers are one step closer to approving a $1 billion private school voucher program hours after passing a bill to allocate $7.7 billion in funding for public schools, reports The Christian Post. The voucher proposal, known as Senate Bill 2, passed the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday by a largely party-line vote of 85-63, in which all Democrats and two Republicans voted against it. Illinois bill hostile to homeschooling dies for now And finally, an Illinois bill, hostile to homeschoolers as well as private schools, missed a procedural deadline in April, reported Capitol News Illinois.  If it became law, homeschoolers could face penalties for not filling out government paperwork. However, the bill's main sponsor, Democratic State Rep. Terra Howard, has requested an extension to keep it on life support. On March 19th, 8,000 homeschooling parents and kids traveled to the Illinois state capitol where they packed the committee room and extended into the hallways and the Capitol Rotunda, reports HSLDA. Close And that's The Worldview on this Good Friday, April 18th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

When Christ was raised from the dead, we were raised with Him. (Col. 3:3) Living from a resurrected pespective means viewing our lives from God's priorities. Love and gentleness supercede pride and personal rights. Let God's Word breathe life into you today and see from a new perspective.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this podcast, please consider supporting us.Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser

When Christ died and rose again, Satan was defeated. Jesus struck the decisive blow at Calvary.