Podcasts about yes god

Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Dr. Paul Hall, Stefanie Thayer, Dr. Craig Thayer, Pastor Ron Greer Guest, Janet Price, President of Golden State Republican Women Friends, Thanksgiving is this week and we all have things we are thankful for in our lives. However. as we consider these thoughts, is there a time of difficulty in your life that plunged you into fear and despair that you came through with God and grew in wisdom and understanding deep inside- resulting in growth and thankfulness to God? Isn't it amazing to reflect back on the simple truth” God is in control” and be reminded just how powerful He really is “when He is ready” to show you! Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying “ Everything that occures Teaches and prepares you for the next stage of life. Nothing is lost!” Yes God has a plan… The Bible says in John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world". Isnt it wonderful to walk with God and experience the life and steps He has prepared just for you…even when we may not understant it at first- We experience and know its reason, truth and power later on! Please join us as Janet shares and leads the discussion with our RE Team! Share your thoughts with us as God speaks to you as we are all family Don't forget to check out Janet's website at: GSRW.org You can also find the video on Ron's speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTG7ovrqIsA The Team! Pastor Joe Schofield,  Dr. Paul Hall,  Stefanie Thayer,  Dr. Craig Thayer,  Pastor Ron Greer.

Title: “Not An Empty Visit” Part 1 Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 FCF: We often struggle boldly giving the gospel without allowing in worldly influence. Prop: Because the gospel is God's power unto salvation, we must boldly give the unaltered gospel of God. Scripture Intro: CSB [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we'll read from the Christian Standard Bible starting in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. I realize that it has been over two years since we have studied a New Testament letter. When we study this genre, it usually consists of 2 or 3 thoughts that are being conveyed, not in story, but in logical exposition. This requires us to simultaneously zoom in to individual thoughts while continuing to keep the broader picture in mind. So, with that being said – let's review what Chapter one talked about before we move into chapter two. Chapter 1 began with a greeting to the Thessalonian church and then immediately Paul expressed his and his companions' thankfulness to God for them – and for the cardinal Christian graces that they continue to demonstrate. Of course, the reason that they are thankful for the Thessalonian church is because the evangelists know that they are God's elect. How do they know that? First, because of the way the gospel came to them in the power of the Spirit. Second, because they have observed how the Thessalonian church has become imitators of Christ and are setting a good example for all believes both in how they receive the Word in joy amid persecution and how they shared their testimony. Paul will now turn his attention to the evangelists' example when they were among them. So, let's read Paul's next thought, starting in verse 1 and going to verse 12 of chapter 2. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: All Powerful God, we come to you today to revel in what You have done. You have rescued us from Your Holy Justice. You have placed on Christ our just reward for our sin. You have given us His righteousness by which we can, by faith, walk worthy of our holy calling. I pray that You would use Your Spirit to open our eyes to what we must be for Your glory. And Lord, give new hearts to those who need them so they too can respond to the gospel of light and life. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “We do not evangelize because we expect results. We evangelize because we are sent men.” Joe Blinco “Every single believer is a God-ordained agent of evangelism.” R.B. Kuiper “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” C.H. Spurgeon Let these ideas roll over you as we set into the text this morning. I.) The gospel is God's power unto salvation, so we must boldly preach the gospel of God in spite of opposition. (1-2) a. [Slide 3] 1 - For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. i. The word “for” obviously beckons us to look backward. 1. This conjunction explains something mentioned previously. 2. Since Paul goes on to explain how he and his companions came to Thessalonica and how they were received, we should see this entire section as an explanation of the statement from verse 9. 3. Which itself is a further result from what was stated in verse 5, how the Thessalonians knew what kind of men the evangelists were by how they conducted themselves in Thessalonica. 4. Verses 1-16 of chapter 2 is an explanation or an elaboration from the evangelists' point of view on those same events. 5. The more perplexing question is, why is Paul reviewing this content if the Thessalonians got it right? If they accurately remembered all of this information – why say it again? a. Some scholars believe that Paul is explaining how they were different from other traveling teachers and their sordid practices. b. Some scholars insist that Paul is merely reemphasizing their example to the Thessalonians so that they and their leaders could continue to imitate them. c. Still others think that Paul is addressing accusations against the evangelists raised by unbelieving people in Thessalonica, in an attempt to dissuade the Thessalonian church from abandoning their lifestyles. 6. It is my point of view that all of these can be true all at once. And most likely – they probably are all true to some degree. ii. Paul again uses the word “know” and Paul again says they know. They know what? iii. Specifically, Paul says that they know that it was not without result. 1. The words “without result” is also much debated. 2. If you want a full explanation on all the options, you should come to Thursday Night Bible Study where we always take a behind the sermon look at the text. 3. But it seems best to me to think that Paul is saying that their time with the Thessalonians did not prove to be without fruit. iv. So how was their ministry there fruitful? b. [Slide 4] 2 - On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, i. Part of the proof of the fruitfulness of the mission was is in the humble and tumultuous beginnings of the Thessalonian mission. ii. Paul and his companions didn't ride into Thessalonica with groupies and with pomp and fanfare. iii. They didn't come into the city having grown accustomed to overwhelmingly positive responses to their presence. iv. In other words – they know a poor reception when they see one. v. And it doesn't get much poorer of a reception as it did in Philippi. vi. As a reminder to us – what happened in Phillipi? 1. While going down to the river to pray, a demon possessed girl who was being used by men for the spirits' fortune telling capabilities, came against the apostles. The spirit did so, so frequently, and so obnoxiously, that Paul eventually grew irritated and cast the demon out. 2. The men who prostituted her for her sad condition were furious because their source of income had dried up. 3. They brought Paul and Silas before the city magistrates. They were beaten and thrown in prison without a trial. 4. Of course, God freed them from the jail, which led to the conversion of the Philippian jailer. But eventually they were forced to leave. vii. Paul, to the Thessalonians confesses that this treatment was outrageous, even by gentile standards. viii. So, the Thessalonian mission did not begin with an expectation of the evangelists to be received well. ix. But what did happen that made sure their entrance was not in vain? That it produced results? c. [Slide 5] we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. i. After they arrived from Philippi, they did not come in gun shy. ii. They didn't come timidly. iii. They came emboldened by God. They were given courage by God to speak His gospel to them. iv. Now what might Paul mean “in spite of great opposition?” v. This is most certainly referencing the opposition in Thessalonica itself. vi. We know that only 3 weeks into the mission in Thessalonica, Paul had to abandon his teaching in the synagogue, since the Jews had, for the most part, rejected the message of the gospel. vii. Over the next few weeks, the Jews became increasingly more and more jealous of the success of the gospel to persuade many gentiles to receive Christ. This is when they raised up a mob. viii. In spite of this, the evangelists were given boldness by God to preach His message and because of God, the results bore much fruit. d. [Slide 6] Summary of the Point: In these first two verses Paul demonstrates quite clearly that the courage to preach the gospel, the message of the gospel, and the results of the gospel are always sourced in God Himself. In the book of Romans, Paul puts this succinctly when he says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. And let's imagine that these evangelists are humans like you and I. Do you think the evangelists, in their flesh, arrived in Thessalonica and were a little hesitant about preaching the gospel? Do you think they'd rather teach something else or at least do it quietly at first to make sure they weren't immediately booted out of Thessalonica too? Do you think they were tempted to use the gospel to serve themselves and care for themselves? Most likely they arrived in Thessalonica still bearing bruises and cuts from their beatings in Philippi. Do you think they were not tempted to keep a low profile or even to alter their message so it wasn't as offensive? Maybe they should focus on befriending everyone first and then worry about preaching the gospel. Instead, Paul says that the courage, the message, and the results are all of God. So, like the apostles, we too must boldly preach the gospel of God in spite of opposition. Transition: [Slide 7 (blank)] So, we see the positive side of why their mission was not vain, empty, or fruitless. It was emboldened by God, with His message and therefore He produced the results. But if you are thinking, ok, what was there to succumb to? What were the apostles tempted to replace the boldness and message of God with? What would have rendered their mission there, empty? In the next four verses, Paul identifies 6 fleshly motives they did not bring with them to preach to the Thessalonians. These 6 motives would have rendered their mission there fruitless and in vain. So, what are they? II.) The gospel is God's power unto salvation, so we must preach the gospel in accordance with His will. (3-6) a. [Slide 8] 3 - For our exhortation didn't come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. i. This word “for” is again an explanatory conjunction. ii. But what is it explaining? iii. It is explaining how they know that God emboldened them to preach his message in spite of persecution. And the evidence is in what they did not do. iv. Paul doesn't tell them what they already know happened. He tells them what they know DIDN”T happen. Which is probably to counter things that are being spoken against the evangelists. v. So what are Paul, Silas, and Timothy being accused of? 1. Paul says that their exhortation, their appeal, their plea for them to receive the gospel, did not come from error. 2. Error here carries with it the idea of unintentional ignorance. Paul and his companions did not come, begging them to receive Christ, because they were delusional or ill-informed or doctrinally imprecise. 3. Paul says they did not make their appeal from impurity either. 4. Impurity is often used to describe sexual sins, but here in the context it seems that this isn't what Paul intends. 5. More likely Paul means the more general idea that is to mix something pure with something impure. 6. And so Paul is saying that their gospel appeal was not made with their mouths while they had ulterior motives in their hearts. It isn't a bait and switch. It wasn't given to them in order to accomplish some selfish goal. 7. Finally, Paul says they did not make their appeal by way of deceit or as the CSB translates it, with intent to deceive. 8. The CSB helps us here to understand that this is by far the most egregious accusation. That the evangelists came with skillful treachery to intentionally lead them astray. vi. Paul denies all these claims and goes back to his original point. b. [Slide 9] 4 - Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts. i. The source of their message and even their commissioning is God Himself. ii. God approved them for this work and entrusted them with the gospel. This word entrusted is the same word we use when we talk about belief or faith. God trusted them, His apostles, and by extension, His church, with His gospel message. iii. Therefore, they don't have the low aspiration with their appeal to woo people to themselves or to tell people what they want to hear. iv. Paul even warns in a later letter that in the last days people will gather to themselves preachers who tickle their ears. Who tell them what they want to hear. v. Indeed, part of the reason such preachers are popular is because they'd never be caught teaching anything that might offend someone. 1. Joel Osteen was on a Larry King once with John MacArthur. The question was raised concerning homosexuality. 2. Of course, John MacArthur articulated well the ancient teaching of the scriptures regarding the sinfulness of the lifestyle. 3. But Osteen, who today has a church attendance of around 52,000 people on average, did all he could to avoid taking any stand at all on the issue. He bumbled his way through trying desperately to say nothing at all. 4. Why? 5. He is an ear tickler. He tells people what they already think. He tells them what they want to hear. And if he wants to keep the 52,000 congregation… he'll continue to do just that. vi. The evangelists did not try to tickle the ears of the Thessalonians and preach something that would please them or confirm what they already thought. vii. Why? viii. Because the evangelists will not stand before the Thessalonians someday to give an account for how they handled the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, they will stand before God Himself. ix. Why? x. Because the gospel is GOD'S! It is God's power to salvation. It's message and Its effect all belong to HIM. And Him alone. We do not have the liberty to alter it or use it for selfish ends. xi. And here is the great warning to us… xii. God EXAMINES the thoughts and intentions of the hearts of every evangelist. Despite our best efforts to hide, if we have these motives, God would see right through us. xiii. Instead, the Evangelists endeavor to please God and fulfill the commission that He has given them. c. [Slide 10] 5 - For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives—God is our witness— i. So, the evangelists did not make their appeal to them because they were ill-informed, had ulterior motives, wished to deceive them or wished to please them and gain popularity. ii. They also NEVER wished to flatter them in order to extort them. iii. We should see this flattery of speech and greedy motives as connected and not two separate things. iv. They never used buttery language set in honey to fleece them. v. It was quite common for traveling preachers to pop into a city for a short time and sell their snake oil. vi. Cults continue to make unseemly amounts of money off of people primarily by crafting their message around what people want to hear and flattering them with only positive language. vii. Before you know it, you are writing checks for the ministry. Big checks too. Why? viii. Because big gifts = big rewards. ix. But the evangelists never wished to get anything from the Thessalonians. They didn't peddle the gospel for money. Paul worked hard as a tentmaker to ensure that his expenses were paid so that he did not have to live by those who received the gospel. x. As he mentioned earlier – God sees their hearts… so God can bear witness to the fact that they did not do this to make money. xi. How else did the evangelists NOT come to Thessalonica? d. [Slide 11] 6 - and we didn't seek glory from people, either from you or from others. i. Sometimes traveling teachers would not come in for money, or for popularity, but in order that they would make a name for themselves. ii. That they would be renowned as an excellent speaker. iii. But Paul assures the Thessalonians – that isn't us. iv. May Christ increase and we decrease was their motto. v. They wished to spread the fame of Jesus' name – but not their own. vi. Paul, Silas, and Timothy, were blameless in their giving of the gospel. Because they wanted nothing from the Thessalonians other than for them to hear about God and His Christ who died to save sinners from the wrath to come. vii. They preached this message boldly, not for their hearer's sake, but primarily to please God who had approved of them and entrusted them with the gospel. e. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Paul once again, in different words, makes the same point. He says in no uncertain terms that God approved and entrusted the gospel to these evangelists. And God continued to examine their hearts too as they took His gospel wherever they went. By extension we can say that God approves and entrusts His church with His gospel as well, and continues to examine our hearts as we take it to the nations. What does this mean? Essentially it is the same point as before. The gospel is God's power unto salvation. What does that mean we must do? It means that we must not appropriate the gospel for selfish ends, and we must not alter the gospel or dilute the gospel to please those to whom we preach it. Since it is God's gospel and His power and His results which He entrusts to us, we should be very careful that our message, methods, and motives all align with His will. And we would do well to recognize that He sees our motives all the time. Conclusion: So CBC, what basic concepts have we learned today that informs and corrects our faith and shapes and guides our practice? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 13] The Gospel belongs to God. It is His. Its message, its power, its effect, its calling, its distribution all belong to God. It is His power unto salvation for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. Because, beginning to end it all belongs to God, full stop. Because of this, we have some explicit warnings in this passage that we would do well to heed. First, we should preach it with confidence, even in the midst of great opposition. He will give us boldness to preach His message. Why? Because it belongs to Him. And so, by the way, do we. We are not given the luxury of preaching the gospel only when it is convenient, comfortable, or pleasant. A second application we can draw from the fact that the gospel belongs to God is that we must be abundantly careful that we do not succumb to the temptation to dilute the gospel's message and/or use worldly methods to preach it, in order to pursue selfish motives. But let me rail on this a little. Because if you think that American Christianity doesn't have a problem with this – you have been living under a rock. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the Gospel is God's power unto salvation. a. In 1741 in Enfield Massachusetts, Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” b. Enfield was known as a fairly sinful community and was at this time host to various preachers coming for the week. c. It is said that during his sermon people interrupted him several times. But the interruptions were not rude or antagonistic. Instead, they were weeping, rolling on the ground, grabbing hold of the pillars of the church building, crying out to God for mercy and to spare them His wrath. d. This sermon became famous for officially beginning the Great Awakening in the American Colonies. e. Now if you hear this Historical record and your first thought is that Jonathan Edwards must have been a very powerful speaker. Well, there are two things wrong with you. First, you haven't listened to the sermon up to this point and second you know nothing of Jonathan Edwards. f. Jonathan Edwards had somewhat of a weak voice. He read/memorized his sermon. He was not a boring man but he was by no means an entertainer or an exceptionally gifted speaker. g. And perhaps you think – well perhaps he wasn't an especially gifted speaker but gifted writing even in the hands of poor speakers can still have great impact. h. Ahh, two problems again. First, you haven't listened to the sermon up to this point. Second, This wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last time Jonathan Edwards would preach this sermon. i. If it were an especially excellent homiletical work, we might expect it to render results on everyone who sees it or hears it. Afterall, especially gifted pieces of art fascinate most from the connoisseur to the ignorant. Though you know nothing of musical composition, to sit and listen to Brahms, Beethoven, Bach, or Vivaldi, you cannot help but be in awe of the way the notes weave themselves together. j. And yet, history records for us that although others responded to the same sermon, it was never as powerful as it had been that day in Enfield. k. All this proves the point which Paul so masterfully drives home. l. The gospel is God's message. He gives it power and persuasion as He brings its truths to bear upon the hearers. He also gives His preachers the boldness to preach such a message. He approves and entrusts the gospel message to them while examining their hearts to be sure they are empty of self. m. The gospel is God's power unto salvation. n. Not only should men not take and meddle with it – ultimately, they cannot. o. The real power of the real gospel belongs exclusively to God. p. What does this mean for us? q. Well positively we must conclude that.. 2.) [Slide 15] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must preach the gospel boldly even amid great opposition. a. Now think about this. If the gospel's power relies on our power of persuasion. If we are responsible for convincing and drawing and wooing men to the gospel… b. How might opposition and severe persecution hinder the gospel? c. If God has entrusted the gospel to us, to the extent that the conversion of every person relies on our excellence in preaching the gospel… d. Then my friends – we are sunk. e. You might say – No Chris! I'm not afraid of persecution! They can do anything they want to me. I'll still preach the gospel with the same power and vigor. f. My friend, you are either a fool or a liar. g. In your flesh, you would crumble and succumb. Were it not for the emboldening of God, Paul, Silas, and Timothy would not have preached the gospel in Thessalonica. h. But the message of the gospel, the power of the gospel, the boldness to share the gospel, the results of the gospel, the commissioning of the gospel, the entrusting of the gospel, the examination of the gospel… is all from the Eternal and Omnipotent God of the Universe. i. Oftentimes our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. But the Lord has approved us and entrusted us with the gospel. He has sent us into this world to be His representatives. To take His gospel to the nations. To make disciples. j. We can go and do this with confidence – not trusting in our own resolve or ability to stay cool under pressure or amid threats against us – but rather trusting in His strength to sustain us and to equip us. k. Despite having just come from terrible persecution and stepping into more – Paul, Silas, and Timothy boldly shared the gospel in the strength and power of God. l. We too must do this. m. But what negative application does this truth have on us? 3.) [Slide 16] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop preaching the gospel with a diluted message, worldly methods, and selfish motives. a. If the gospel is God's message, and He gives us boldness to speak it, infuses it with power so it renders results upon those whom He is calling to repentance and faith, and He entrusts us with it while examining our hearts as we take it to others… b. What makes us think that we can be innovative in how we share His gospel? c. Imagine you have a desk job. You have your own cubicle and computer with which you do your job every day. Or perhaps you work in a shop and you have your own station with your own tools which you come into every day to accomplish your tasks. d. But you go on vacation. And you approve and entrust your work station and your work to another person at your workplace. e. Now imagine when you return to your job you find that all your desktop icons have been moved and some of them are no longer there. There are programs missing from your computer. The computer has been moved next to the coffee maker and now shares the outlet with it. In the shop, your tools are rearranged and some of them are missing. Some tools have been modified, with portions filed off for some unknown reason. f. Would it be safe to say that you might be a little angry about this? g. What was your expectation? Is it reasonable that your expectation would be that they would change nothing and simply do the job to the best of their ability but in the same manner with the same tools that you did the job? h. I think it is abundantly reasonable to expect exactly that. i. How ludicrous is it then that the God of the universe has given us His message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, has entrusted it to us, and promised to give us boldness to preach it, promising that He will empower it to render the results He desires… and then we change it. j. We think – well, it isn't exactly popular for people to hear that they are sinners, that their prized habits and pastimes, identities and orientations are wickedness before God. And that these sins will condemn them to suffer the eternal wrath of God. i. So why don't we just chop off that part of the gospel? ii. Let's just talk about how God loves everyone and has a wonderful plan for their life. iii. Let's just talk about how He sent Jesus to start a relationship with each of us. iv. God sent His most prized possession because we were worth it! v. That is much less offensive. vi. That actually makes people feel good. vii. We should preach that instead. k. Or we think - It isn't exactly pleasant to hear that we are condemned before God and there is literally nothing we can do, say, or think that will change that. i. So, let's preach that we can do something. ii. Let's preach that we can get baptized, go to church, take communion, give to the poor, confess our sins, pray a prayer, invite Jesus into our hearts – and at the end of the day one of these things is bound to save us. iii. Or because God says that salvation is by faith that must mean that we all have some pretty remarkable faith inside us and if we'd just use it God would give us salvation. iv. That is much better for us! We aren't completely hopeless. We have our human gumption and innate faithfulness that will get us there. l. Or we observe that It isn't exactly pleasant to hear that in salvation Christ not only rescues us from the wrath of God on sin, but He also cleanses us from unrighteousness and makes us into the righteousness of God whereby we become slaves to righteousness and live holy lives in order to see God. i. So, let's just preach that all you have to do is make 1 choice to believe a list of things about Jesus and then you'll go to heaven. ii. Don't want to go to church often? No problem. You decided Jesus was real. That's all that really matters. You probably don't need other people around you who did the same. And they certainly don't need you. All you need is Jesus right? Maybe you can just attend online. Or maybe you can just come for the children's church. That should be enough. iii. Don't want to love your neighbor? Sure… that's ok, I don't either. Remember – God loves YOU. That's what is important. iv. Don't want to turn from sleeping with someone who isn't your spouse? I get it! Don't worry about it. God will forgive you! v. Don't want to submit to your authorities in the church, the home, or the government? No problem. You are just fiercely independent. Jesus was a rebel too. vi. Don't want to be part of a church in order to serve other believers? That's totally fine. After all – what about your needs right? You are special after all. At least that is what mommy told you. m. Or we notice that It is very difficult to warn people that there is a cost to following Christ. That they may be hated and maligned for it. That the world will reject them just like they rejected Jesus. i. So instead, why don't we tell them that God wants them to be wealthy and healthy. ii. God always desires to heal and bless. iii. And when they come to Jesus their life will be great. iv. We can even tell them all the celebrities that have claimed to be Christians. v. Don't you want to be just like Chris Pratt and Kanye West and Kat Von D? vi. Man, that will really get them excited. They can join the club that these folks are in! Awesome! n. Or we lament that It isn't exactly compelling to hear that we need to go preach the gospel to please God. God is invisible and it is tough to be highly motivated to go out and preach the Word primarily for His glory. Especially when we see little results. i. So why don't we talk about how everyday people are going to hell? ii. Yeah, that is a great motivator – guilt. iii. Let's really lay it on thick and tell people that the only reason that people go to hell is because we never shared the gospel with them. iv. This goes perfectly with our gospel message that never mentions sin. v. Let's tell them that the fate of their friend's souls rests on whether or not they share the gospel with them. vi. That will really light the fire under them. vii. Afterall, the only thing stopping people from receiving the gospel is that they have never heard it… right? o. Do you see what happens my friends. When we meddle with the gospel: its message, or our own methods and motives in preaching it? What happens? We no longer have the gospel. Just like you no longer had your work station. It has become something else entirely. p. The gospel is the power of God. He emboldens us to speak it. He gives it power. He produces results through it. He has entrusted us with it and He will continue to examine our hearts as we preach it. q. It is best to not tamper with what isn't ours. r. But as a believer perhaps you are quite upset by this. Perhaps you are afraid that you are going to mess it up inadvertently. Maybe you'd never do it on purpose – but what if you mess up God's gospel on accident? 4.) [Slide 17] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God makes the gospel fruitful, sometimes in spite of us. a. Despite all these philosophies of evangelism and these truncated and bastardized versions of the gospel floating around today… b. People are still, by the grace of God, coming to Christ. People are still sharing the gospel to save people from hell rather than to please God. It is a great humanitarian effort rather than an act of worship and obedience. c. They still take the message of praying a magic prayer and that somehow changing you. And yet – people still come to Christ through that. d. Is that proof that Paul is wrong in this passage? e. No my friends. That is proof that God is abundantly gracious. f. In Philippians Paul comments on a group of preachers who are going around and accurately preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. But they are doing it to make money, gain popularity, and steal popularity from Paul. g. Do you know what Paul's comments are on this? h. He praises God that the gospel still goes out despite these wicked motives. i. How can this be? How can the message get garbled, the methods be odious, and the motives be wicked and people still receive Christ? j. Friends have we forgotten already? k. Answer me these questions so I know you haven't forgotten! l. Who does the gospel belong to? And whose power is in the gospel? Who gives the results of the gospel? m. Yes… God alone. n. If God can use disobedient and delinquent preachers to call His people to Himself… I'm sure He can use your bumbling words to save His own too. o. It doesn't give us an excuse to not be as zealous and accurate as we can be… but it does give us comfort that we can't prevent, by our weakness, who God is drawing to Himself in His strength. It doesn't work that way. p. And finally – we've talked a lot about the gospel this morning. Around it mostly. What does this text teach us about the gospel message? 5.) [Slide 18] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The gospel is not a talking point of which you need to be convinced. The gospel is the power of God to take something dead and make it alive. a. The definition of what is a Christian is a fairly muddled mess today. b. Many people simply assign it to a particular religious affiliation. c. It is an organization. It is an identity. d. It is interesting to me that some who would complain about a woman identifying as a man yet looking nothing like a man, have no problem identifying as a Christian yet looking nothing like Christ. e. We see Christianity as another religion in a long list of religions. Even if it is the one that makes the most sense or lines up with our values – when we do this, the gospel is little more than the elevator pitch to join the movement. f. It is the marketing mechanism to get butts into the pews. g. It is the talking point to join at the grass roots. h. Because the gospel is misunderstood or misarticulated in this way, it is possible to convince people in their heads of the truth of the gospel without them actually getting a new heart from God and receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. i. My friends the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners, risen, and coming again is not a sales pitch. It isn't a talking point. It isn't the path to getting in on the ground floor. j. In fact, it isn't a mechanism that you can access by any human means. k. The gospel is something that happens to you more than it is something that you do. You don't go and get the gospel… it falls in your lap and you receive it. l. You can intellectually understand the Jesus died on a cross for sinners and rose again the third day and is coming again. But until God closes the loop for you and you realize that i. YOU are the sinner who rebelled against a Holy God ii. You are the one Christ came and was tortured, bloodied, bruised, ripped open, spilled out, hung up and asphyxiated for. iii. YOUR Sins are the ones that Christ endured the cup of wrath from God for iv. You are the dead one that Christ's resurrection promises life for v. You are the one He has entrusted His Work to. vi. You are the one who will suffer for His name vii. You are the one that will live a holy life viii. You are the one who will be saved one day by His return ix. You are the one who will reign with him in the New Kingdom... m. Until GOD DOES THIS IN YOU… you are still dead in your sins. n. In short, there is a difference between knowing the facts of the gospel… and experiencing them. o. So, has God made you experience these truths this morning? Then I'd invite you to repent of your wickedness before Him. And trust that He has done this… For you. p. And would you tell an Elder, myself or another, that you have experienced His gospel today? We'd love to rejoice with you and guide you on your next steps. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer from the Puritan Joseph Alleine. For those who do not know you yet, Lord, grab on to them now, and do your work. Take them by the heart, overcome them, and persuade them, until they say, "You have won. You are stronger than I." Lord, did you not make me a fisher of men? We have worked all this time and caught nothing. Have we spent our strength for nothing? We will cast our net one more time. Lord Jesus, stand on the shore and show us how and where to spread our net. Give us the words to enclose the souls YOU seek, that they will have no way out. Now, Lord, for a multitude of souls. Now for a full portion. Lord God, remember us, we pray, and strengthen us, O God. Amen. Benediction: May the One who sent His Son with power to save From guilt, and darkness and the grave, Whose ways are mercy and truth; May He never stop doing you good; May He inspire you to fear Him so that you will never turn aside from Him. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Do you ever wonder what God is up to? When there is a path forward that seems to be logical, rational, and reasonable, yet God takes another path? What is God' doing? Where is He taking us? These are questions we all ask. But here is a better question for  us to consider: Will we trust God's plan? Will we trust our lives to a sovereign God who sees and knows all things?Main Points:1.Our decision to trust God comes down to our belief in his goodness. If you truly believe God is good, that his is loving, and that what he does is always right, you are more likely to trust him.2. The longer you serve God, the more you realize that God's ways don't always make sense to us. He knows and sees what what we do not. If you are waiting for God to make sense to you, it's not likely you will trust Him. This is a faith journey. Will you believe? Will you put your complete trust in him? 3. Whatever you are facing today remember that God knows and that He has a plan. Decide to trust Him. Let His plan for your life unfold. Today's Scripture Verses:Mark 4:37-38 - “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

God's will doesn't just happen. Yes God created everything and is sovereign, but it takes Christians taking authority to enforce the will of God.

God's will doesn't just happen. Yes God created everything and is sovereign, but it takes Christians taking authority to enforce the will of God.

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Thursday October 9, 2025 Main idea: There is no other way to enter the kingdom of heaven other than responding positively to the invitation. for full notes: https://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=3209

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Won't He do it!

Ephesians 2:1-10 - From Sinner to Saint: The Free Gift of SalvationThe gift of salvation is the greatest gift humanity could ever receive. It is the gift we have always needed but it isn't always the gift we have wanted. Tonight we will see in scripture a description from Paul of the work of God when he saves a man or woman. What happened to Chris Harding when he was saved at 16 years old? When I was in an evening church service at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, going through a sense of despair, and by faith, I asked Jesus to save me, what was God doing? What was the supernatural work of God to transform me from sinner to saint.Acts 16:31 Similarly, we can wonder about the thief on the cross. Many of us have seen the profound sermon clip from YouTube of Alistair Begg preaching about the how we are saved and his recounting of the Thief on the Cross. Alistair's point is the only Way the thief is in heaven is completely the invitation and work of Jesus Christ. We will see that the way you and I come to the cross to be saved is through the loving gift of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. From yesterday's devotion from his website Truth for Life “God could let us drown in our wretchedness. Instead, through Jesus, He grants us peace and gives us hope. We are justified; Jesus has taken our condemnation so that now, when His Father looks at us, He sees Jesus and all His perfection.”The Spiritual Condition of Humanity. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.After Paul's powerful and moving doctrine and prayer in Chapter 1, we come to a shocking contrast as he describes the spiritual state of humanity. This description of utter sinfulness - that is spiritual death - can be very difficult for us to accept and acknowledge. The reality of our sinfulness is overwhelming and the world often attempts to deny the depth of depravity that every human being carries. Situationally, people know how bad humanity can be. We will identify straw men, so to speak, that we can then hold up as pictures of evil, but rarely do we want to accept the reality of sinfulness and spiritual death that Paul describes.We are dead - spiritually dead - in our trespasses and sin. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Colossians 3:5–10 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” We were going in the wrong direction. We were not walking with God or following Jesus. We were actually following Satan. Here Paul refers to him as the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit of the day, the sons of disobedience.Ephesians 6:12 We lived in the passions of our flesh and did the desires of our flesh and our mind. (Some of you were in very restrictive environments and could not “live out” our desires but the still burned within our hearts. For some of us, it was merely the lack of opportunity that kept us from carrying out these desires. The Pharisees are a picture of this level of hypocrisy.We were children of wrath. In this dead, spiritual state - we are here because of our sinful nature and our sinful desires and actions - we are at war with God but for the believer we must be at war with sin. Either way we must fight a battle, but the unbeliever fights against God.“God's wrath is his revulsion against everlasting, his settled displeasure with sin and sinners.” Yes God loves. Yes God has mercy. But the wrath of God, the justice of God must be satisfied. The Love of God at Work through Jesus Christ.Ephesians 2:4–7 Perhaps the most hope-filled worlds in the Bible “But God” In our darkest hour, God showed his love and compassion for us. Romans 5:6–11; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Deuteronomy 3:24; Daniel 2:27–28 Let's look at what God provided for our salvation and who he is . . . Rich in mercy . . . Great love . . .Resurrected us with Christ . . . Ephesians 1:19–20 Colossians 3:1 Immeasurable riches of his grace . . . Kindness in Christ Jesus . . . Hebrews 2:14–17. Salvation is an act of mercy.Salvation is an act of love.Salvation is resurrection.Salvation is the grace and kindness of God.The Results of Receiving the Gift of God. Ephesians 2:8–10 Saved. by grace. Our condemnation has been removed. Romans 5:1 Humility. This is not your own doing. God is most glorified. Because it is the work of God, we give God all of the praise honor and glory.We are sanctified - to be like Christ - and do good works. James 2:14–17 v.23 -Abraham believed God.We are enabled to do God's work, and the work is laid out before us by God. Spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities for the glory of God.One New Man, the Body of Christ, Made Possible through Sacrifice of Jesus.Jews had the law but it had to be fulfilled. The gentiles had nothing but Creation. Through the cross we are brought together into one fellowship, one church, the body of Christ.Ephesians 2:22 “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Colossians 1:11 “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” 

A Careful study of Romans 9:15 reveals a giant understanding of many passages about grace or favor. Paul quotes Exodus 34:19 where we can see what God told Moses in Hebrew and God did not say Mercy or compassion, God did say – Grace, Grace, Grace. Yes God expressing Himself says He will Be Gracious to whom he picks as His Favorites. 

Yes God Cares John 11:17-21 John 11:32 John 11:33-38 God Feels God Suffers Alongside Us God Joined Our Cry of Abandonment

Whether you've been hit with the news that you have cancer, or you're suffering through a disease like Diabetes or Parkinsons, it's important to know that God cares about you and what you're going through. And it just may be in His plan and will to heal you! Today on Abounding Grace we'll spend some time talking about the gifts of healings. Yes God does heal today, but pastor Ed Taylor cautions us not to make the mistake of thinking the Lord will heal everyone who has faith. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

You know, I wish I could tell you that God is primarily concerned about our comfort and convenience, but that's just not true. He's much more interested in our character and maturity and so He often calls us into radical, uncomfortable faith.   Radical faith Have you ever felt God asking you to do something that is so radical so counter-intuitive that you felt that you were going mad? I have on more than one occasion, and as I speak with great men and women of God as I interview them as I meet them and get to know some of the giants of faith that I go to church with, that I work with, here's what I've discovered listening to their stories. The more open we are to God the more we spend time in prayer, the more we take God's word to heart as though it's true and as though it's actually meant for us, the more God asks us to do crazy things. I have a dear friend who against every personal desire and aspiration that he had for himself and his family, moved across the other side of the world to take on a job for years that God had called him to do. Now most days were a struggle, most days he was homesick, most days he didn't really understand why God had called him into that place. But four years on, as he was heading back home again, can I tell you the impact that his presences, his skills, his wisdom, his insight and energy and persona has had, not just on the organisation that he worked for but in the lives of tens of thousands of people that organisation ministers to, is just enormous. And the more we listen to God, the more we find Him asking us to do crazy things. Radical things, things we wouldn't consider doing if it was left up to us. And that's exactly what happened to Noah. We're looking today again at faith in this series I've called simply, "Having the Sort of Faith that Conquers the World". It's a phrase you find a lot throughout the bible and no where more so than in the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 11. It's a chapter that talks a lot about faith, the sort of faith we need to make it through the trials and the temptations of life. The sort of faith we need to see the big picture, to get life into perspective. The sort of faith that we need to please God, because without faith, without the assurance of things we hope for and the rock solid of evidence of faith in our hearts of the things we can't yet see. It's completely impossible to please God. Now, I want you to put yourself for a moment in Noah's shoes. You're living a happy life. Okay, the world around you is a bit corrupt but there is nothing new or surprising about that. You, your wife, your family, you're having a great little life there and God says to you, "Hey Noah, I know you live miles and miles and miles away from the nearest lake or ocean, but I want you to build a hulking great big boat. A big one! We're going to call it an ark because I'm going to flood the world, kill everyone, and you and your family and two of every species of animal are going to be the only ones that survive. So get to it. Start building this boat." Now you and I know what happened. We know how the story turns out. But, poor old Noah had none of the benefits of the 20/20 hindsight that you and I have. He didn't even have the Bible that we have to believe in God through, he'd never even heard of Jesus. All he knew was that this God came along and told him to build a boat in the middle of nowhere. Talk about feeling stupid. Imagine going home to the little misses that night and she asks, "How was work Noah?" "Well? I was chatting with God and we've come up with this great plan, we are going to build a boat. A big one! An ark!" She says, "A boat? Are you crazy?" And not just the little misses, imagine what the neighbours had to say? "Hey have you seen what Noah's up to? He's really flipped his lid this time. He's building, wait for it … an ark!" "Nah, not even Noah's that crazy!" "Yeah, really an ark, 300 cubits long!" The laughter, the ridicule that must have gone on down at the local pub each night as Noah and his sons built that ark! What does God tell us in Hebrews chapter 11 about this? What's God's summation of Noah's craziness? Look verse 7: By faith, Noah warned by God about events yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household. By this he condemned the world and became an air to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith. What Noah needed to do this extreme thing was extreme faith, and he yielded extreme results. I've had some times in my life when God has called me to do the craziest things. "Berni … leave your secure high paying consulting career and become involved in this media ministry that's stopped doing what is meant to be doing. That's almost broke and ready to shut it's doors! Berni, go and start broadcasting your Australia programs in Africa when there was only one guy I even knew in Africa! Berni going and hire a man in India to start broadcasting your programs over there, even though there isn't a single door open to start doing what I'm calling you to do! Berni…." Yeah ok, today it's a thousand radio stations airing these programs, today its millions of listeners each week, today it seems like the obvious thing to have done. But each time God called me to do something crazy … it was just that dead set crazy. Maybe not as crazy as Noah's gig, but that didn't help me at the time. So when was the last time God called you to do something crazy? Something happens in that place that I can't quite explain. There are many times that I've listened to sage advice from mature men and women around me and that's been the right thing to do. But at those major turning points, the truly crazy ones, there's been a pull in my heart from God that was as scary as it was unmistakable. And at those turning points, the "Noah" points, I've pretty much had to ignore the sage advice that I was getting from the people that I trusted and just go with the call in my heart. At those times it's been scary and at those times I've made some mistakes. Not everything always worked out the way that I'd planned it in my head. We didn't always get everything right the first time. Things didn't always happen as quickly as I wanted them to happen. It was 8 years from when I felt the call to go and tell people about Jesus until I took on the role that I'm doing now. It was almost 3 years between when we hired that wonderful man in India and when God actually opened the doors to a weekly radio audience on a major secular network of 30 million people each week. It never felt much like faith, it was uncertain, it was murky, it was unclear, but often when with this dream in our hearts, and with a certain reality that we'd rather look like idiots, that we'd rather fall flat on our faces and fail, rather than miss out on what God was doing. At times I'm prepared to admit to the people around me, that I looked like an idiot. But then, so did Noah. And the God that Noah served and the God that I serve and the God that you serve, never ever chastises us for having too much faith. Sometimes, not everyday, but sometimes faith is doing scary crazy, counter-intuitive things that God calls us to do: By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected that warning and built an ark to save his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with that faith. So what are you waiting for?   Uncomfortable faith We've been chatting over these past few weeks about faith, not in a theoretic sense but in a "rubber hits the road" sense. Because faith is that thing we need to get through the things that we can't handle on our own. Faith is what we need to move that great big obstacle that's blocking our way when its way to big for us to climb over, or crash through or walk around. Faith is what we need to overcome that one nagging sin in our lives that keeps on coming back to rob us of the joy and peace that Jesus came to give us. And faith is what we need to go and do the difficult things that God sometimes calls us to do. The inconvenient things, the uncomfortable things, the things we rather not have to do thanks very much Lord. So that's the sort of faith we're going to chat about right now – uncomfortable faith – because no one ever had an impact in this world by playing it safe right? When Jesus calls us into a place to make a difference in someone's life, it's often because that persons life is, well, a bit of a mess and it's going to hurt us to have to be in that place with that person. When Jesus calls us out of our nice safe comfortable existence to go and do something for him, I can guarantee you it's not going to be convenient and it's not going to be comfortable. It requires faith. People sometimes ask me, "Berni why is it that even though I believe in Jesus, I don't know, somehow it doesn't feel real. There's no passion, there's no fire. There's no excitement." And my response is always the same. I ask them two questions. Question 1: How much time do you spend quietly each day alone with Jesus, with the door closed and the bible open? Question 2: What are you doing with your faith? How are you living it out? Now Question 1 is really important because, unless we're spending that time alone with Jesus each day, growing in a dynamic relationship with Him, well, shazam shazam there's not going to be much of a relationship. But today I want to focus on Question 2, What are you doing with your faith? And when I meet someone who has that vague unsettled feeling about their faith, the sense there should be something more, there should be power, there should be impact, I can almost guarantee you that in effect they're a spiritual couch potato. And by that I mean, they're not living out their faith. They're not getting out there and making a difference in this world, taking risks, putting it all on the line for Jesus. And just like someone who spends their life sitting on the sofa, channel surfing cable TV, drinking soft drinks, eating chips is going to end up feeling lethargic, the Christian who isn't exercising their faith is going to feel precisely the same. Don't believe me? Well, it's exactly what the Bible tells us. In James chapter 2 verse 26 says: For as just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. So as we come to look at faith again today, we're going to do so from the perspective of Abraham, a man who was called out of the comfort of his ancestral home in Ur, which is around about where modern day Bagdad is today, have a listen. Hebrews chapter 11, beginning at verse 8: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he set out not knowing were he was going. By faith, he stayed for a time in the land which had been promised to him, as in a foreign land living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob who where the airs with him of that same promise. But he looked forward to the city which had foundations, who's architect and builder is God. By faith, he received the power of procreation. Even though he was too old and Sarah herself was baron. Because he considered him faithful who had promised, therefore from one person and this one as good as dead descendants were born. As many as the stars of heaven and innumerable as the grains of the sand by the sea shore. Now, perhaps you remember that story. Abraham is the father of Israel the nation. He and his wife Sarah in their mid seventies were childless, a source of great anguish and shame that equated God's blessing with having lots of children and having your own land to live in. And so what was God's solution? To promise Abraham and Sarah many, many of descendants if only they'll leave their safe and comfortable ancestral home behind and go out on a journal thought the wilderness, though all sorts of strange and weird and wonderful places only God knows where. A familiar story to many I suppose. And yet what we often miss is the context, let me say it again the definition of God's blessing in that time and in that culture – in fact you see it over and over again in the Old Testament – is firstly that you had lots of children. And secondly you own your own land to live in. If you had both of those things, then you were considered to be blessed of God. The more children, the more land you had, the more quiet openly God was in the business of blessing you. But if you didn't have them, then you were considered to be cursed of God. Obviously you'd done something wrong. Obviously you must have been a bad person. That was the thinking. Now Abraham, was a wealthy man. He had lots of flocks of animals which means he had a lot of land. So when God called him out of that and onto his journey with this promise of many children, do you see what God was asking him to do? God was asking Abraham to give up that one half of the blessing that he already did have, in order to get the other half, which was lots of descendants. And what made this so crazy was that he and his wife were in their seventies, way pass the age where Sarah could bare children. Abraham and Sarah had to let go of this blessing and step out in faith, God knows where, in order to get that blessing. My friend that is so often how God works. So long as we think our lives are about being comfortable and safe, no risks, no need for faith, no need to rely on God for food and shelter and provision. So long as we make our comfort and our safety the priority, our faith is going to be dead. God's main aim isn't to make you and me comfortable; His main aim is to grow our character, by making us part of his plan, to touch and reach a lost and hurting world with His love. God's plan isn't that we should have a huge superannuation or pension fund so that we can spend our retirement indulging our senses in food and travel and luxuries and relaxation. His plan is to use us to reach out to our neighbour with His mercy and grace and love. And so the solution for the spiritual couch potato … the answer to getting rid of that lethargy and bringing a new vigour and anticipation to our faith? It's always the same. The one who would live a vibrant exciting faith, a life where the power of God is manifest before their very eyes, is the one who goes to God and pleads: Lord show me where you want me to go! Want to you want me to do? What sacrifices do you want me make? What risks do you want me to take so that the name of Jesus would be lifted up in this world. Oh Lord wherever you call me, and whatever it will cost me, I want to go! Give me the courage, fill me with your spirit. Show me where and how and when I can loose my life for you dear Jesus in order that I might find it. Friends, start praying prayers like that one, and I guarantee you that God won't take long to answer you. I guarantee you that before you know it you'll be at a place where you see God's power in action because frankly without it, you'd be in trouble!   Ditching comfort and convenience God's word stands in such contrast to our hopes and our desires and our ambitions for comfort and convenience doesn't it? Yes God is a God of outrageous blessing, but it's a blessing that follows along behind our obedience to Him. You and I want to put the cart before the horse, so often! Because we've been taught over and over again that it's all about us. I come first. I'm the most important one. You know my parents immigrated to Australia from Europe just after World War 2. They brought us into this world, in this great new land of opportunity that they made their home. This land of freedom and of plenty that embraced them as new migrants, and what they wanted for my sister and myself was a better life than the one that they'd had. They'd worked so hard, they'd sacrificed so much so that we could have a great education, so that we could learn and study and grow and have all the things that they missed out on during that terrible world war. But the easiest thing for me as a recipient of their sacrifice, was to take all their serving of me, and misinterpret it to mean that it's all about me. But that is not what they meant at all! I mean, they taught me a very strong work ethic. But because I had parents who loved me and sacrificed for me the natural selfishness that we all have, that selfishness that was in me, twisted that around and so I lived most of my early adulthood in this belief that it truly was, all about me! In fact, the term "the me generation" was invented for my generation – The Baby Boomers. We were all pretty much like that. And that mistake is exactly the mistake that so many times we make as we misinterpret the love and the grace and the blessing of God in our lives. Jesus talked about this very thing, our tendencies to put the cart before the horse; to put our comfort and convenience before the will of God in our lives. Have a listen to what he said. There's every chance you're quite familiar with this passage. He was talking about our natural desires for enough food to eat and clothes to wear and all those physical needs that we seem to worry so much about. He was saying, "Look, don't worry about those things. Your father in heaven knows everything you need. And you're worth so much to Him, of course He's going to provide all your needs!" And the punch line, the executive summary of all that, went something like this. Mathew chapter 6, beginning at verse 33: Jesus said, look don't worry about these things, instead strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be given unto you as well. In other words, put God first. Put God's will first. But obedience to God first, sacrifice first, follow Him where He calls us first, and all those other things which by the way, aren't the main things, they'll follow along behind as surely as night follows day. Friend, He's not saying here that we shouldn't have our needs met, He's not saying we shouldn't have clothing or food, or shelter, Jesus is simply saying, "people get your priorities right". And getting our priorities right, putting Him first, takes faith. It does! When our funds are limited, and running low, it takes faith to take the first fruits of our income and give them to God to support his work. When there's been a global financial crisis, it takes faith to step out and use all our resources for the glory of God. When people are being critical when their being obnoxious, you know something … it takes faith to love them with the love which Jesus loved us. It takes faith to forgive them; it takes faith to hold them. And when it's hurting like hell, when the pain of our sacrifice for Jesus is more than we really want to take, it takes faith to say, "Father, not my will but let your will be done." Exactly what Jesus did for you and me in that garden called Gethsemane just before He was handed over to be nailed to that terrible, terrible Cross. My friend, Jesus isn't looking just for believers He's looking for disciples. He's looking for men, women and children who are prepared to lay down their lives and take up their cross each day to follow Him. He's looking for men, women and children who aren't in the business of saving their own skins for those who'll surely loose it, but who are in the business of laying down their lives for Him by faith, knowing that that's how they'll discover real life. By faith. Strive ye first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, get your priorities right. Put God first and all these other things will be given to you as well. You know why it takes faith? Because at the very time it feels like we're loosing something, at the time it feels like we're in a dangerous place, at the time I feels unfair, at the time it hurts, but truly I tell you, when we take up our cross, when we follow after Jesus with our cross on our shoulder, prepared to lay down our lives, that's when we discover true satisfaction. I think sometimes we spend way too much effort standing up for our rights so that we forget that we should be laying down our lives for Jesus. May God bless you as you live out your faith.

Isaiah 6:8

Jeremiah, often called the “weeping prophet” because of his sorrow over the persistent message of God's judgment, prophesied to the nation of Judah from the reign of King Josiah in 627 b.c. until sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586. He dictated his prophecies to a scribe named Baruch (36:4, 32). Jeremiah's task as a prophet was to declare the coming judgment of God. However, throughout the book we also see God's concern for repentance and righteousness in individuals as well as nations. This dual focus is seen in God's instructions to Jeremiah: he was “to pluck up and to break down” but also “to build and to plant” (1:10). Jeremiah sees a future day when God will write his law on human hearts, and “they shall all know me,” and “I will remember their sin no more”.FaithLife Christian Ministries:Download our Free App:https://get.theapp.co/hghqPodcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faithlife-christian-ministries/id1606442323Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/faithlifecmInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/faithlifecm?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X:https://x.com/faithlifecmLinkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/faithlife-christian-ministries-82ab77191/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@FaithLifeChristianMinistriesWebsite:https://faithlifecm.comDonate: https://subsplash.com/u/faithlifechristianminist/giveTable Talk with Yvette Gallinar:https://www.instagram.com/yvette_gallinar/https://www.facebook.com/yvettegallinarhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/table-talk-with-yvette-gallinar/id1729036339https://rumble.com/user/tabletalkwithyvettegallinarhttps://x.com/Yvettegallinarhttps://www.youtube.com/@tabletalkwithyvettegallinar

Afro Wave 2025 is a compilation of some of the latest afrobeat hits of 2024 and 2025. Please like, share! Follow DJ Tall Up: Twitter I www.twitter.com/djtallup Facebook I www.facebook.com/djtallupofficial Youtube I www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5jNJIlqed4uFQNqfksncQ Instagram I www.instagram.com/djtallup Tracklist: 1. Baby (Is It A Crime) - Rema 2. Push 2 Start - Tyla 3. Bad Vibes - Ayra Starr feat. Seyi Vibes 4. Kante - Davido feat. Fave 5. Commas - Ayra Starr 6. Jump - Tyla feat. Skillibeng & Gunna 7. Trailer Load (Dj Tall Up Jump Remix) - Shabba 8. New Style (Dj Tall Up Jump Remix) - Buju Banton 9. Favorite Girl - Darkoo, Dess Dior 10. Venus - Faceless feat. Serotonin 11. No Competition - Davido feat. Asake 12. It's Complicated - Fave 13. Perfect Combi - King Promise & Gabzy 14. Happiness - Sarz, Asake & Gunna 15. Bad Girl - Wizkid & Asake 16. Feel It - Davido 17. Unavailable - Davido 18. Tshwala Bam (Remix) - TitoM, Yuppe & Burna Boy 19. Residuals (Doc & Jes Amapiano Remix) - Chris Brown 20. Funds - Davido feat. Odumodublvck & Chike 21. Joy Is Coming - Fido 22. Blood on The Dance Floor - Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian, Wale 23. Cast - Shallipopi feat. Odumodublvck 24. Your Soul (Dj Tall Up Amapiano Remix) - Jesse Royal 25. Billions - Sarz & Lojay 26. Holy Ghost - Omah Lay 27. Mnike - Tyler ICU & Tumelo 28. Giza - Burna Boy 29. Higher - Burna Boy 30. Get It Right - Tems feat. Asake 31. Yayo - Rema 32. Kese (Dance) - Wizkid 33. Amapiano - Asake 34. Bundle By Bundle - Burna Boy 35. Yes God

Mary radiates her love for God; so can we! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eradio-valverde/support

5. Twelve Days to Christmas Messiah's Sacrifice Please do read Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 In the first Servant Song we saw that the Servant King will provide freedom, self-respect and justice for all. In the second Servant Song it was revealed that the Servant Prophet will bring comfort to people and have compassion on the afflicted. For the third Song we saw that this Servant Disciple will live a perfect life of discipleship, to show that it is attainable and that a life of total obedience to God and trust in God for all things is possible. Then we saw in the last chapter that there will be a big homecoming for the people of Israel and for all nations. During the previous Servant Songs we say glimpses of the suffering this Servant who is both a King and Prophet will endure. Now in this section, this Servant Song we get the full picture of suffering and why He must suffer. This is how people will on the last day be consummated with God and attention is now back on him as 52:13 states "Behold, my servant". Echoing previous passages of where the Servant is God's. This is, as somebody once wrote, "the jewel in the crown of Isaiah's theology, the focal point of his vision." It is as if we are meant to understand that nothing that has been said before is as important as this passage. Without this passage of Scripture, none of the rest makes sense. Let us discover together why that is so. The Servant Exalted The beginning is an adoration of the Servant, as is the song's finale. Sandwiched between them is the description of suffering. This servant acts and speaks with wisdom. How could He be faithful and obedient to God, if He were not wise? Not just any wisdom, but Godly wisdom which flusters and confounds mere human wisdom. This Servant will be raised up! Here Isaiah uses ecstatic language used of God Himself. And what attracts people to this Servant? Certainly not his looks, charisma or appearance for He had no outer beauty that would attract anybody. Verse 14 indicates the level of suffering the Servant will endure. Many are flabbergasted by it! Verse 15 shows the cleansing, the sprinkling indicating a sacrifice. Sprinkling needed to be done with water, oil or blood in order that people could enter into the presence of God. This cleansing, is not for Israel alone, but for all nations and people. He who was considered unclean by many humans (52:14), will be the one to cleanse many other humans from across the world. Then all accusations, and slander against the Servant will cease. The Servant Despised The passage now looks at the Servant through the eyes of the nation of Israel, for it is through their words and actions that others will come to know and understand about the Servant. Even though Israel is disobedient and rebellious, there are still some who fear the Lord (50:10). When those people see the full picture of what the Servant has done, then they will go naturally to tell others about it. Whereas before they would simply be witnesses about God, now they would be witnesses about the saving power of God through the Servant's suffering, death and glorification. What of this Servant? He had grown up like any other boy, just as a plant grows from a root in soil. As time goes on, nothing about Him is special and any promise He showed was decidedly unimpressive. The Servant will be persecuted, despised, rejected, insulted and hideous. So hideously malformed that people could not look at Him. These people considered him an implement of God's deserved torment. That was what the witnesses were thinking. While God ultimately crushed the Servant, it was not because the Servant deserved it. But rather the witnesses realize that they were the ones who deserved punishment and not the Servant. Just as the animals when offered as sacrifices were substitution offerings in Israel's worship, so too was this Servant a substitutionary sacrifice. A sacrifice that through His body being pierced and his being crushed for sin, the Servant has provided a way for others to be comforted and pardoned. That way being at a cost. A cost of the Servant's own life. The Servant Suffers Silently Now a solitary witness speaks out. If this is Isaiah, he was cleansed by God back in chapter 6. but what of his countrymen? How will they be cleansed and how as stray sheep will they be gathered back into relationship with God? The Servant is led to His death, just as a lamb is led to be butchered. This Servant goes quietly and obediently to certain death, through oppression and judgment. His death as an innocent Servant, and buried in the grave with the wicked and guilty. Silent. The Servant Suprises Now in verse 10 we have the surprise! Death is not the end of this Servant! Yes God had bruised Him and caused the Servant to suffer. But, the Servant was an offering for sin! That way the Servant will offer righteousness to all the nation. The Servant's mission will be accomplished! God will raise this Servant from the dead and the Servant will be exalted! His sacrifice will surpass any and all previous sacrifices and be the only and final sacrifice needed! Through His death, the Servant will be able to judge righteously and enable those who follow Him to live righteously. Righteously in the sense that His knowledge and wisdom will cause many people to live new lives that are pleasing to God. A righteousness that only comes from people being in relationship with God, instead of being enemies of God. How is Jesus this Servant? In Acts 8:26-40, the Ethiopian asked the question of Philip "who does the prophet speak about?" Philip replied that it was about Jesus. Jesus Christ who grew up as Luke said "increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men." (Luke 2:52). This Jesus who people called the son of a Nazarene carpenter and who people said "Can anything good come from Nazareh?" This Jesus who did not have anything attractive about him, but the way in which He spoke, the wisdom He imparted and the life that He lived. Jesus Christ who was betrayed by one of his closest friends. This Jesus, who was the Lamb of God, who died on a Roman Cross, after a trial where he was falsely accused, tortured and oppressed. This Jesus, who was rejected by even those closest to Him when He died. This Jesus who cried out "My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? This Jesus who even though without sin, was buried in a grave for the wicked. This Jesus who rose victoriously from the dead 3 days later, in order to conquer death, sin and the devil. This Jesus, who ascended to the right hand of the throne of God, in the beauty of exaltation and glorification. This Jesus, who alone is the only way that people can one day enter into God's presence when all of history is consummated. This Jesus, the suffering Servant who was a Servant King, Servant Prophet and Servant Disciple. This Jesus, who is the Lord and Saviour of the universe. This Jesus who as fully God and fully human simultaneously, is the only one who could be the full sacrifice demanded of God for the everlasting payment for sin. The Jesus who will judge with righteousness and wisdom, give all people a choice to make - be His disciple and be in a dynamic relationship with God, or go your own way and be astray from God forever. Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3.

Michael Jamieson Williams intrigued and inspired me almost immediately when I met him for the first time at my church in Anchorage this past Sunday.He's someone who attends Holy Family Cathedral downtown but is close friends with members of our congregation and was there to tell his story.It was intense and disturbing and beautiful and not unlike what many Christ followers have gone through. The battle against our fleshly inclinations manifests itself in so many different ways. John Piper has called it "sacred schizophrenia" and every member of The Way struggles with it.Michael's has to do with same-sex attraction.And as he notes, overcoming our desires is not about will power or discipline. It's about complete surrender to the will of God. Yes God loves us but in turn...he wants us to love Him and to do so, we need to listen to what He has to say about true human flourishing. We need to deny ourselves and pick up our cross.I'm honored to speak with Michael on the show today.Support the show

Luke 7:11-17: “Death-Defier” Jesus is the TRUE Death-Defier, not by doing things that are wild and crazy but by doing things that destroy death, that defy the power of sin and death and decay and the devil. Today's story is a death defying story that's a precursor of what's to come! It's a story of Jesus raising a person from the dead. This story is only in the Gospel of Luke. Here's the story - as Jesus and His disciples are reaching the town of Nain, there is a funeral procession of mourners carrying a boy to burial, an only son of a widow. And that day in Nain everything changed! When Jesus saw the woman His heart went out to her. Jesus walked up to the coffin and said to the dead boy, ”Young man, I say to You, Get up!” Then the dead boy sat up alive and talked and people praised God! Interestingly, hundreds of years earlier, this same kind of miracle took place in nearly this same place where Elisha had raised a dead Shulamite woman. This group of mourners now rejoicing would have know that story and are seeing the Scriptures come to life again! They cry out, “God has come to help His people!” They had no idea at the depth of the truth of their words, for God truly had come - Yes God in Jesus had truly come! And He came to “help His people!” Let's take a look at Jesus and funerals. He attended several in many cities: 1. Three recorded in the Gospels: Main, Capernaum and Bethany 2. Jesus spoke directly to the deceased and the dead responded because Jesus' Word has power 3. All three dead people were resurrected! Romans 4:17 God who gives life to the dead, calls into being things that were not! Jesus is the Living God come to earth! This story is a picture of what is to come - it gives us a picture of what is going to happen on a majestic and incredible scale at the end of days. The dead will hear His voice and we will rise! The story is a harbinger of things to come! Death-Defying Truths: 1. Jesus' resurrection is the guarantee to our resurrection (1 Peter 1:3) 2. Our future is not as disembodied spirits. We are going to be bodily raised (1 Corinthians 15:442ff) 3. We will live forever in a New Creation (Isaiah 65:17) Our destiny is to be raised! And to experience a new and perfect creation. Our future is to know the Living God as never before; face to face. 4. This our constant encouragement (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Jesus will return! Therefore encourage each other with these words! This is the heart of the Christian message - Jesus is returning and we will be raised to eternal life with Him. This story was not merely about compassion to a mom, it was about the assurance to all who saw it that day and to those who have read/heard the story in the centuries that have followed. This is the story that shows us the assurance of our resurrection. If you don't know Jesus, we invite you to read the Scriptures and discover who He is! The same Jesus who raised the widow's son is the same Jesus who went to the cross for each one of us, paid the full price for our sin, and by His resurrection He assures us that by faith in Him we too will be raised in the end of days! You don't want to miss this! The day is coming when the dead will all hear His voice and we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet! That's God's promise!!! And that's our future!! Check out our website – everything we offer is FREE!! https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01 St. Luke's Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. The Gospel of Luke takes a look at the life of Jesus, beginning with the well-known Christmas stories. Luke, a non Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus' life. This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

In this sermon, Pastor Cody reminds us of 4 ways that God is faithful to fulfill His promises.We hope you enjoyed this sermon! To learn more about our ministry, you can visit us at the Harvest Plains website.Harvest Plains Church is a small church plant located in Mapleton, North Dakota. Our heart is to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our local communities, and to build disciples with Bible-centered preaching. If you're near Mapleton or the Fargo/Moorhead area, we'd love to have you join us!

Pastor Nick Decker

Jesus has been and continues to be very pointed in what he is trying to teach. He is trying to prepare his disciples for his pending death and resurrection. Everyone seems to have their own idea of what the kingdom of God is supposed to look like. Jesus says it is very hard to enter the kingdom of God. He told them it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Most of us know what it is like to put a piece of thread through the eye of a needle. The disciples were greatly astounded and said to one another then how do we get in, how can we be saved? Jesus basically said that they can't that only God can and will do this. For God, all things are possible. The Gospel lesson began with a man running up to Jesus and kneeling before him and asking, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, why do you call me good? No one is good, but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'  The man then said, Teacher I have kept all of these since I was a child. Jesus looked at him with love and said. You lack one thing, go and sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come and follow me. The man was shocked by this response and went away very sad, for he had many possessions. Human beings in the time of the Bible, had been continually getting off track of what God's kingdom was meant to be. The man's possessions were standing in the way of focusing on following Jesus. Jesus was on earth to once again define the kingdom of God. Yes God had given the ten commandments, but they were meant as guidelines. As I have said before, the commandments were not given for people to have power and control over people. This man was rich in possessions and Jesus was telling him that they were obstacles for him in following Jesus. Above all, Jesus was working on creating a new community. Anytime the word new comes into play, it does mean change. Something that is old will need to be let go of in order for new to occur. In systems, such as the church, it normally means that something in the system needs to change in order for newness or growth to happen. This will create uncomfortableness because it is not how we have always done it. The first step is allowing ourselves to be open in honestly looking at things, in other words making an assessment. This is what the transition team did last year. They then made recommendations to the congregation council of things that need to be reorganized or addressed. This will mean change. Some things will remain the same, other things will stop or look different. Room needs to be made for growth to happen. As soon as we say something needs to be a certain way, God often has a way of saying, we'll see. What happens is we allow our fears and uncomfortableness take over and this is when it is difficult to see what God wants. Eventually there will be a new pastor here. I pray that you will be ready to listen and support their leadership. Remember if you catch yourself saying, “We've never done it that way before”, it probably needs to change. I know some of our leadership does think this way. God's kingdom, this new community that Jesus is trying to describe is one that is not about power and control, but mutuality. Last week and again in today's Gospel lesson we hear that we are to empower the vulnerable. It is what is best for the community of faith, not for individuals. I want to tell you about how I see this new community being modeled here at Faith. Our Micro Food Pantry is a very important ministry. We had been filling the food boxes twice a day for some time, maybe even close to its inception. A crisis that has been building for a while become evident. We didn't have money to sustain it the way it had been running. Thus, an assessment was done of the food and its cost. A group met and examined the assessment and 1) it was determined that there was still a real need for it in our community, 2) In order to keep it up and running, changes needed to be made. For a week or two we had stopped buying food until we could have this meeting and develop a plan for right now, in order to keep filling the boxes. It was decided that the boxes would be filled once a day instead of twice. Before we met again, people were brainstorming and developing plans to fund this ministry. We met again and we are working on different avenues of funding. In the next couple of months, you will be presented with different ways that you can help support this ministry. I do want to thank you all of you for already supporting this ministry, because in some way everyone here has supported this ministry. It is this kind of work that models the new community that Jesus is talking about. One other sign of this new community that Jesus is talking about is when Raymond joined our Worship and Music committee meeting and presented the idea of Visitors Sunday. The committee listened to this excitement to invite others to worship with us and introduce them to our family. Raymond had ideas for worship that the committee heard, and we are working at implementing them. This is building this new community that Jesus is talking about. Every community of faith needs new life as this is when people want to join and be part of it. This new community that Jesus is talking about is seen here at Faith. The building of this new community will continue to take stepping back and being willing to be honest with what is working and what is not working. This is called assessment. From here it will take openness to new ideas and letting go of some things. Without this openness, this new community that Jesus is asking you to build will not grow. What we have heard today in our Gospel lesson is that we are called to let go of those things that we are holding on to too tightly. Those are things that are holding us back from following Jesus. Jesus wants our attention now! Sometime in the near future, there will be more changes here. Eventually I will move on, and you will have a new pastor. Jesus challenges you and I to stay focused on him and keep our eyes and ears open. Be ready to let go of things in order to follow him. The good news in all of this letting go and struggling with it, is that Jesus loves us through all of it. We are not alone. Jesus walks beside us. Let us pray, Gracious God, we struggle with change. We struggle with being honest about what is working and what is not working. May your Spirit help us to have open hearts and minds. We desire to do your work and grow your community. Help us to identify and let go of those things that are getting in the way of doing your will. Thank you for your grace as we strive to do your will. We humbly acknowledge that this is your kingdom and not ours. In Jesus, name, Amen.          

Why does God allow bad governments to exist? If God is really in control of everything, why does He permit evil and corrupt leaders into power? Does this mean God is not totally sovereign? Let's see what Scripture says about this, on Foreshadows Report.Learn more about Steve and his books at https://SteveMillerResources.comProduced by Unmutable™

YES! God Wants You HEALEDWebsite: https://terrymize.comListen to the Terry Mize Podcast- https://cutt.ly/TfnK8I6Follow Terry Mize Ministries on FACEBOOK: https://cutt.ly/terrymizeministries-FACEBOOKYOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/user/terrymizeministriesListen to the Terry Mize Podcast- https://cutt.ly/TfnK8I6Orphan Giving Site: https://orphan1.comGIVE HERE! https://cutt.ly/ttW2I5ZABOUT THE MINISTRY OF TERRY L. MIZE In short, World Missions and International Relief.For over 50 years,  Dr. Terry L. Mize has had a heart to "give living bread, to dying men, around the world". His mission, IS missions, with a mindset that we must GO, in order to do the work of Biblical missions.His ministry seeks to show every person the living authority they can have in a relationship with Jesus Christ while supplying what he calls the "5 Basic Needs of Man":#1 A roof over your head #2 Clothes on your back#3 Food on your table#4 A healthy body#5 Able to take care of your familyThrough numerous leadership teaching and training events, as well as, connecting donors, resources and ministry partners with trusted local leadership in numerous countries, he has been able to bring practical help, hope and hands-on relief to those who need it most.MORE ABOUT TERRY & RENEE' MIZEWhen Terry and Reneé, aren't traveling overseas, they are coordinating relief efforts for orphans through JMICF, speaking in churches, bible schools, and conventions in the United States. Over the years of their combined ministry, they've witnessed an incalculable number of God-given miracles, and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, come to know a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Conduct and Good Sportsmanship - Meredith Hodges - Lucky Three RanchThe importance of developing a bond with your animal - to gain his trust to perform in the show ring.Competition is fun and exciting - develop the winning attitude to compete against yourself and not others. A good trainer will train himself, as well as the mule with subtle direction coming from the mule. Develop respect for your mule.Yes God gave us "dominion" over the animals, but that doesn't make us a King or a Queen over them. We are keepers of our animals. Mule Talk is on Facebook - Mule Talk is an Every Cowgirl's Dream production - www.EveryCowgirlsDream.Com

On Elder nomination Sunday we will remember that God will use who He chooses to use. It is not based on what we are capable of. It is solely based on His perfect will. Even though Moses is quick to point out his weakness and failures God will still continue to use him to accomplish His purposes. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

No one wants trials or problems; everyone wants comfort. Yet, how do we grow without these difficult seasons? Strength comes from dependence on God. His kindness will give you more than you can handle to move you to God-reliance. Let us trust Him with our suffering, knowing He will use it for our good. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Transcript:Hello this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. What is God like? In one sense, this is a very difficult question. Why? Well, whenever we ask what something is “like”, we are trying to make a comparison to other things. But God is not like anything in creation. The most fundamental theological distinction is between the Creator and the creation. There is an infinite gulf between the Maker and the thing made. As God says in Isaiah: “To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him?” (Isaiah 40:25, ESV). God, by definition, is a being like no other. However, though we cannot fully comprehend God, this doesn't mean that God is unable communicate Himself to us. God longs for us to know Him, and so, He has stooped to make Himself known. We may not be able to make sense of God, but God is able to make sense of Himself to us. So, what are some things that God has told us about Himself? God has told us that He is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, love, purity, and truth. He has told us that He is not constrained by creaturely limitations. God is not limited in knowledge; He's omniscient. He's not limited by time and space; He omnipresent. He's not limited in power; He's omnipotent. Although we are limited by all sorts of things—time, matter, space, the will of others—God is not. He is totally free to do all His holy will. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. Isaiah 40 (ESV)9  Go on up to a high mountain,  O Zion, herald of good news;  lift up your voice with strength,  O Jerusalem, herald of good news;  lift it up, fear not;  say to the cities of Judah,  “Behold your God!”10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,   and his arm rules for him;   behold, his reward is with him,   and his recompense before him.11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;   he will gather the lambs in his arms;   he will carry them in his bosom,   and gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand   and marked off the heavens with a span,   enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure   and weighed the mountains in scales   and the hills in a balance?13 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,   or what man shows him his counsel?14 Whom did he consult,   and who made him understand?   Who taught him the path of justice,   and taught him knowledge,   and showed him the way of understanding?15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,   and are accounted as the dust on the scales;   behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,   nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.17 All the nations are as nothing before him,   they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. 18 To whom then will you liken God,   or what likeness compare with him?19 An idol! A craftsman casts it,   and a goldsmith overlays it with gold   and casts for it silver chains.20 He who is too impoverished for an offering   chooses wood that will not rot;   he seeks out a skillful craftsman   to set up an idol that will not move. 21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?   Has it not been told you from the beginning?   Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,   and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;   who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,   and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;23 who brings princes to nothing,   and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,   scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,   when he blows on them, and they wither,   and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me,   that I should be like him? says the Holy One.26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:   who created these?   He who brings out their host by number,   calling them all by name;   by the greatness of his might   and because he is strong in power,   not one is missing. *Below, we are appending some basic catechism questions that go along with this Kingdom Perspective. A catechism is a classical Christian teaching device, helping both children and adults better understand the unique claims of the Bible. Below, you will find questions taken from both a children's catechism and a more advanced catechism. For the full catechisms, you may go to our website by clicking here. Questions for Kids: A Basic Catechism for Children9. Where is God?He is everywhere. 10. How long has God existed?Forever. He has always been. 11. Does God know all things?Yes – God knows all things. 12. Can you see God?No, but he can always see me. 13. Can God do all things?Yes – God can do all His holy will. An Advanced Catechism7. What is God? God is Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7) eternal, (Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 1:17) and unchangeable (James 1:17) in his being, (Exodus 3:14) wisdom, power, (Psalm 147:5) holiness, (Revelation 4:8) justice, goodness, love, purity and truth. (Exodus 34:6,7)

Many of us remember the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” If you remember the song you know that famous line, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I want to change that slightly and give you this sermon in a sentence. Here it is, “God loves me, this I know, for the cross shows me so.” In a book called “Romans,” an apostle named Paul wrote down one of the most incredible sentences in the entire Bible which forever puts to rest the question as to whether or not God loves us. God's love is not just a “say-so” love. It is a “show-so” love. I can say with 100% confidence, “Yes, God loves us, for the following reasons…”

As we continue to address different doubts that people struggle with, today we're going to tackle the existence of God. I love the way Albert Einstein said it when he stated, “You look at this world and you will see outstanding evidence for God.” I am going to show you today why I believe that is true and that he knew what he was talking about.

If you're curious about how to become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus    ⇒ CONTACT CAREY I'd love to hear from you. Email me at carey@careygreen.com to let me know a bit of your Christian story, needs you have, and things I can be praying about on your behalf! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 12:6-8 - Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUPPORT OUR WORK: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTACT US AT: Admin@MorningMindsetMedia.com

Have you ever wondered what a religion rooted in puritanism, that fully embodies purity culture and modesty, really believes about sex and sexuality? Have you ever struggled to link the "premarital sex is sin" belief to the "married sex is awesome" one? Biblical sexology just might be the key. Coined by the anonymous (yet all too familiar) Larry Solomon, the idea of biblical sexology is rooted in misogynistic gender roles and ideas about the interactions between married men and women. It also creates a loophole for Evangelicals to openly enjoy sex, which leads to some pretty interesting beliefs, statements, and conclusions. In Part 5, we are once again discussing Larry “Geriatric Incel” Solomon's idea of what makes a good wife, at least within the context of the couple's sex life. Larry has big opinions about how, when, and where women should make themselves available to their husbands—and the sacrifices women should willingly make in order to satisfy their husbands' sexual whims. And if a woman has the apparent audacity to exercise her bodily autonomy and control over her own body and time? Well, that's a sin that shows disobedience—and, by extension, disloyalty—not only to her husband but to God himself. Get ready to rage a little with me, because in this one, Larry takes encouragement from another (allegedly) very real woman who has implemented his teachings... and uses it to challenge wives everywhere to do the same! Hold on tight. The Divorced Virgin Project For more information and to join the course, ⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠. Follow Mindy at @thedivorcedvirgin and @thedivorcedvirginproject on Instagram. If you like what you hear, don't forget to rate and review on your preferred listening platform! Join the community on Instagram at @runaway_eve. I'm always open to topic suggestions, ideas, and any other ways you want to collaborate.

Join us this lent as we reflect on The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This series was originally recorded last fall for the Seeking Excellence book club within our Locals community. To support the podcast and to get access to exclusive swag, resources, and daily content, ⁠⁠join our Locals community.⁠⁠ Seeking Excellence provides purpose, direction, and motivation to young men and women who are striving to fulfill their potential and get the most out of life. For daily inspiration, follow Nathan on Instagram, Twitter, Gettr, and TikTok at @nathancrankfield For clips from the podcast, follow SE on Instagram @seekingexcellence_ For exclusive video content, subscribe to our ⁠⁠YouTube channel here. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/seekingexcellence/support

The Story of God and His PeopleGenesis 1:1-4In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.Genesis 1:26-27, 31Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image,    in the image of God he created him;    male and female he created them. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good Genesis 2:16-17And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 3:4-6But (later on) the serpent said to the woman, “You won't die!” 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband (Adam), who was with her, and he ate it, too.Romans 1:22-25Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God (gave them over to the darkness) allowing them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!Genesis 6:5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 12:1-3(Even still, Long after this) The Lord had said to (a man called) Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Your name will now be called Abraham) 1 Chronicles 1:34Abraham had a son named Isaac. And Isaac had a son named Israel. Micah 6:4For I (the Lord) brought Israel out of Egypt    and redeemed you from slavery.    I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Psalm 78:10-11But (even then) you did not keep God's covenant, you refused to walk according to his law. You forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown you. Psalm 106:35-36You mixed with the nations    and adopted their evil ways.36 You worshipped their idols,    and it became your downfall.Romans 3:9, 10-18, 23What then? Are the sons of Israel any better off?[b] No, not at all. For all of us are in sin,10“None is righteous, no, not one;11     no one understands;    no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;    no one does good,    not even one.”13 “Their throat is an open grave;    they use their tongues to deceive.”“The poison of snakes is under their lips.”14     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”17 and the way of peace they have not known.”18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Jeremiah 31:31-34But behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new promise with you. This covenant will not be like the one I made with your ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. For everyone, from the least to the greatest… says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Ezekiel 36:26-27And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a soft heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my words and be careful to obey my commands. Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which means God is with us) Isaiah 9:2,6(Yes) The people who walk in darkness    will see a great light.For those who live in a land of deep darkness,    a light will shine…For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,    and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. John 1:1-4, 14For In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him.4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. And this Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 3:19-20(Yes) God's light came into the world, but people (still) loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Isaiah 53:3-6(The Light of God) was despised and rejected[a] by men;    a man of sorrows,[b] and acquainted with[c] grief;[d]and as one from whom men hide their faces[e]    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.4 Surely he has borne our griefs    and carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken,    smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;    he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that brought us peace,    and by his wounds we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray;    we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him    the sins of us all. John 19:30(On the cross when the time had come) Jesus said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb (of Jesus). 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. 1 John 5:12(And) Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. Ephesians 2:1, 3-5Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) 2 Corinthians 5:17-20This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”Matthew 28:18-20Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Acts 1:9-11And when Jesus had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 9:31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Revelation 19:11-16(But a day is coming)…When I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh[a] was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Revelation 17:14His enemies will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 20:10a, 14aand the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire, Then Death itself and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire Revelation 21:1, 3-7Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “(Come and see), I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

Shearim B"Tefillah 81 - Yes You Can Convince God .... Yes, God!

Are you ready to Step into the adventures of midlife transition.  Today, I'm talking about what defines a midlife woman and the exciting reasons that ignite your quest for a new purpose where God's guidance takes center stage, leading us toward a fulfilling life transformation. Our compass? Wisdom from Scripture, revealing the everlasting  principles that empower midlife women to choose the right 'yes' in every domain of our lives. From introspective self-reflection to setting unshakable boundaries, we'll talk about  the steps that will guide you on this exhilarating new journey. Whether your quest is to uncover your purpose, make a daring career shift, or align your life with your deepest values, this episode will ignite the spark within you. Are you stressed and anxious at work and feel like your life is out of control?Do you want to work for yourself and own your time but don't know what to do or how to do it?Do you have passions and projects you want to pursue?Are you ready to follow God's plan for your life?Learn to hear and listen to God's voice, turn your chaos into calm, and battle and win the war against stress and anxiety.My mission is to empower you to dig deep and know when to say yes to the things God wants you to and no to everything else, learn to move forward and pursue your passions, and stay emotionally healthy while doing it. Let me teach you how to create a vision, identify goals, and start your own online business. If you're ready to ditch that unfulfilled life for the life that God meant for you, then you're in the right place.Grab a complimentary Career emPOWERment session by scheduling through this link: Career Clarity EmPOWERment Sessionemail: melvandevort@gmail.com

Yes: God wants you to have them, and wants you to have lots of them.One of the most common things we hear when women start having cervical orgasms is:“I saw God!”For clarity's sake, let's define God as spirit, energy, nature, the life force of the universe—whatever you want to call it.So women get f**ked really, really well—whether by themselves, or with their partner—and they “see God.”They feel: At one with life. In sync with the rhythm of life and in touch with people and the flow of the universe. Bliss radiating through their bodies and emotions. They are transmitting signals of ecstasy constantly. Deeply connected to themselves, and truly LOVE being in their own skin, as opposed to feeling like they want to crawl out of it and dissociate. They transcend their little selves, and their mind grooves and elevate to a more beautiful version of who they are, acting from their highest selves.They find intuition, grace, compassion and love.They radiate beauty and flow. Finding God and salvation through the body, not by avoiding it What do cervical orgasms feel like? My top 5 tips for having them Three all-stars share their God-seeing moments in cervical orgasms How I find God  The Well-F**ked Woman Salon is open!In this 8-week online salon, I've compiled the best of my 30 years of orgasmic experience (!) to take you over the edge into a lifetime of bliss.You'll learn:- Step-by-step instructions for the deeper vaginal orgasms: G-Spot, cervical and squirting- How to transform challenging menstruation, PMS and menopause into blissful portals- Self-pleasuring 101 and how to channel sexual energy into creative genius- Using your feminine essence to build a life of ease and pleasure- Breast massage to tone, lift and activate the orgasmic potential of the breasts- How to give your man enlightened blow jobs and hand jobsCome and get it.