Podcasts about your kingdom

Growing In God Podcast  Web Description: After a vision of men turning away from evil because of the force of the Kingdom of God in the spirit realm, Gary laid out a burden for greater effectiveness in our prayers to see real change happen in the earth. Our meditation should be something that connects with the Kingdom of God that we have already received and then manifests the power of God in the earth from within us. Show Notes: Daniel saw the Son of Man come up to God from where He was given “dominion, glory, and a kingdom.” He saw this before Christ ascended to the Father, which to us is a past event. But Daniel was beholding the reality of Christ's Kingdom in the spirit world where there is no past or future. There is only now. God is not bound by time. He is always in the present, and with Him all things exist, and all things are possible in the present. And whenever we are in His world, we are in the realm where nothing is impossible. Christ said that where He is, His servants will be also. If there is anything we want to see happen on earth by our prayers, it is from this realm where Christ is. It will happen through His unlimited power that moves within us. If we want to change the world, then the change happens within us before it impacts the world. This aspect of God moving from within rather than outside of us is an experience Christians need on a greater level. Prayer is a matter of asking God for something. But we are usually praying outside of ourselves for something to happen outside of ourselves. In meditation, however, we are wanting to connect with God's unlimited power within us from where God will move in the earth. Instead of something we avoid, meditation should be something we work at to become aware of the Holy Spirt and the power of God within us, just as Christ and the apostle Paul taught. Let us reach into the realm where God's Kingdom is not a future event but an ever-present force that we turn loose in the earth.   Key Verses:   •       Ephesians 3:20. “Now to Him who is able to do … according to the power that works within us.” •       Zechariah 4:6. “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.” •       Mark 11:24. “All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them.” •       Matthew 6:9–10. “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done.” •       John 14:23. “We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” •       John 12:26. “Where I am, there My servant will be also.” •       Galatians 5:25. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” •       Daniel 7:13–14. “With the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man … came up to the Ancient of Days.” •       Acts 1:9. “He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” •       Isaiah 9:6–7. “There will be no end to the increase of His government … from then on and forevermore.” •       Psalm 2:1–8. “I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.”   Quotes:   •       “The spirit world that is demonic in its moving and possessing people is driving a lot of the activities that we see on a natural level. But we know that it's rooted and initiated out of the spirit world. It's coming from that realm, and we know that it has to be changed from that realm.” •       “We should be living in this realm where we have free access to the totality of God's creation, and we can connect with the things that are available to us.” •       “God said, ‘I have installed my King on the throne in Zion.' It has taken place. We shouldn't be praying for it to take place. We should be connecting with it and letting the reality of it begin to be the vibrational power that is exuding from us, that is impacting the world around us.”   Takeaways:   1.    We have seen prayer, intercession, and fasting. But what we have not seen are the results we need in the physical, natural world outside of us. That is because the evil we see in the world is being initiated by and controlled from the spirit realm. If we want to see it change in the physical realm, then we need to change it in the spirit realm. 2.    Paul had spiritual experiences and wrote that believers would have them as well. He taught about finding how the unlimited power within us is expressed from us and through us. However, the Church lost something when it lost the practice of what came to be looked upon as Eastern style meditation. Yet we must find the way to turn loose the power of God that is within us. 3.    Daniel saw that Christ was given the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God exists now in the spirit realm. So our prayers are not about believing that God will do something outside of ourselves sometime in the future. It is about believing that we have received His Kingdom now and it actually comes within us. His Kingdom is expressed in the earth from us and through us.  

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going - it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven, we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." - Matthew 6:10Ps Boyd Ratnaraja27 April 2025 - AM Service

Are you ready to experience a profound transformation in your life? In today's sermon, we explore how you can unlock the full potential of God's kingdom right now. Whether it's through humility, surrender, or faith, discover how inviting God's kingdom can turn your life from grey to glorious. Embrace the ultimate rule and reign of the King of Kings in every aspect of your life. Join us as we dive deep into Matthew 6 and learn what Jesus really meant by "Your Kingdom come." Discover how His kingdom advances, and how it requires both humility and submission. Let's turn monochrome lives into vibrant expressions of God's presence and love.

Remember us all when You come into Your Kingdom, Amen. Bible in a Year: 2 Sam 21-22 & Luk 18:24-43. Lord be a healing Blessing to our brother James this morning.  The Marshalls, 

Delivered by Ariel from the Parish of Saint Albert the Great in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 4: 13-21; Rs psalm 118: 14-15.16ab.18.19-21; Mark 16: 9-15.THEMISSION OF EASTER Thetitle of our meditation today is: The Mission of Easter. Every time the HolyMass ends, that is after the blessing and the final song, a husband and hiswife always quarrel. The wife wants to remain a bit longer inside the church.She knees and prayers personally for half an hour. The husband often getsimpatient. Debate and quarrel are inevitable when they meet outside the church.All that the husband emphasizes is this: “We have just received a mission fromthe Holy Mass, so we must go out to do that mission. Time for the church isover, and now is the time to meet others and to work.” Themission of Easter is the continuation of all the apparitions of Jesus and Histeachings to the apostles and His disciples. The importance of this mission isbased on the two main reasons. First, when Jesus had to go up to heaven, theyneeded to accept the reality of the absence of the Master in human body, but Hisexistence through the Holy Spirit. The second is that they were expected to beprepared in soul and body in order to carry out the mission entrusted to them.The principal Mission of the Lord is to be carried out by individual disciplesof Jesus Christ and also by the community of believers, that is the Church. Weare referring to the growth of faith of the early Church, as it moved from thepeace of Easter to the mission of Easter. The mission is manifested in Jesus'command: “Go to the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”Peter and John always worked as a team and that represented the mission of thecommunity. They carried the name Jesus Christ and the community believers,namely the Early Church. At the same time every disciple chose his or her ownway to do this important mission.  JesusChrist had prepared each one of them, and giving them the Holy Spirit, thatthey might become courageous and firm in their faith. This preparation andempowerment were so significant because they would face the same opposition asJesus did, mainly from the Jewish religious leaders. They were ready to followthe way of martyrdom already initiated by Jesus. The point is that they did nottake a step back even though the mission was very hard to endure. OurPaschal Mission: “Go to the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to everycreature” is a mission mandated to the entire Church and each of her members.Every one of us as follower of Christ has the responsibility to carry out thismission in the name of the Church with Jesus Christ as the Head. Formally, wereceive this mission when we end the eucharistic celebration. We are sent tothe mission of the Church with this phrase: “Let's go, we are sent” or “Go andproclaim the Good News of the Lord.” Informally and personally, theresponsibility of this mission is on the hands of every follower of Christ.Let's pray. In thename of the Father ... O Lord Jesus, accompany us and protect us always in ourpersonal and common mission to build Your Kingdom on earth. Glory to the Fatherand to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In name of the Father …

Your Daily Prayer

When we pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” this is not a passive prayer while we wait for Armageddon! When we pray this—earnestly, fervently—we become participants with God in the Kingdom that has arrived NOW in Christ Jesus. This Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry. What does his entry say about what kind of kingdom we pray for, prepare for, participate in, and proclaim? Let's explore this together! The post On Earth as It Is in Heaven appeared first on Pine Lake Covenant Church.

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going - it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven, we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." - Matthew 6:10Ps Treena Madar13 April 2025 AM Service

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going - it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven, we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." - Matthew 6:10Ps Boyd Ratnaraja6 April 2025 AM Service

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going - it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven; we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom. "Your Kingdom come , Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:10Ps Boyd Ratnaraja30 March 2025 AM Service

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going - it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven; we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom. "Your Kingdom come , Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:10Ps Boyd Ratnaraja30 March 2025 AM Service

Read Online“But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Luke 11:20The Kingdom of God can come upon us in a variety of ways. The line from today's Gospel above comes in the middle of a story of Jesus casting out a demon from a man who was mute. Once the demon was cast out, the mute man began to speak, and all were amazed. And though some were amazed and grew in faith as a result, others turned their amazement into irrationality. The irrationality of some was that they saw what Jesus did, but they didn't want to accept that His power was divine. Therefore, some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” They couldn't deny that Jesus drove out a demon, since they saw it happen with their own eyes. But they were unwilling to accept Jesus' divinity, so they jumped to the irrational conclusion that Jesus' act was done by the power of “the prince of demons.”This irrational stance of some people is one of the most dangerous stances one can take. It's the stance of an obstinate heart. They were given the incredible witness of the power of God at work but refused to respond in faith to what they witnessed. For those who are obstinate, when the Kingdom of God comes upon them, as Jesus stated above, the effect is that they react in a violent, angry and irrational way. This form of reaction is exceptionally prevalent today in the secular world. Many in the secular media, for example, constantly react violently and irrationally to all that is part of the Kingdom of God. As a result, the evil one easily misleads many, causing confusion and chaos.For those who have eyes to see clearly, this violent and irrational rejection of the Kingdom of God is very clear. And for those with faith and an open heart, the pure message of the Gospel is like water to a dry and parched soul. They soak it up and find great refreshment. For them, when the Kingdom of God comes upon them, they are energized, inspired and driven with a holy passion to further God's Kingdom. Irrationality disappears, and God's pure Truth prevails.Reflect, today, upon your heart. Are you obstinate in any way? Are there teachings from Christ and His Church that you are tempted to reject? Is there some truth that you need to hear in your personal life to which you find it difficult to be open? Pray that the Kingdom of God come upon you today and every day and, as it does, that you will be a powerful instrument of its establishment in this world.My glorious King of all, You are all-powerful and have full authority over all things. Please come and exercise Your authority upon my life. Come and establish Your Kingdom. I pray that my heart be always open to You and to the direction you give. Jesus, I trust in You.James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going—it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven; we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom.“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10Ps Sharon Ratnaraja23 March 2025 AM Service

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going—it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven; we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom.“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10Michaela Nobin23 March 2025 PM Service

Part 3 in series The post Your Kingdom appeared first on Redeemer Community Church.

Part 3 in series The post Your Kingdom appeared first on Redeemer Community Church.

Read Online“‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'” Luke 13:7–9Imagine for a moment that you were the owner of the orchard in which this fig tree was planted. After the gardener asked you to wait for one more year and promised to fertilize the unfruitful fig tree and cultivate the ground around it, you agreed. Then imagine coming to inspect that same fig tree the next year. Imagine three scenarios. First, what would you do if, once again, there were no figs present? Second, what if there were only a few figs? Third, what if the tree suddenly produced an abundance of good fruit?It seems clear that in the first scenario, if for the fourth year in a row not a single fig was produced, it would be time to cut down the tree. This depicts the justice of God sent forth on those who obstinately resist His grace. In the second scenario, the decision might be more difficult. If the tree produced only a few figs for the first time, then perhaps that would provide enough hope for the future of that tree to ask the gardener to continue caring for it. This depicts those who are in a state of grace but are still lazy in their service of the will of God. In the third scenario, however, the reaction of the owner of the orchard would be clear. There would be much excitement and gratitude that the gardener's good work paid off.Jesus is the Gardener, and we are the fig tree. This parable should lead us to look at our lives and examine whether or not we bear good fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus comes to you to cultivate the soil of your heart, fertilizing it with His holy Word, watering it with His Sacraments and doing all He can to give you the opportunity to produce the fruit of charity in your life. How successful are these actions of our Lord in your life?Too often, when we see only a little good fruit being borne from our lives, we are satisfied. And though any good fruit is good, we are wasting our lives if we do not do all we can to become as abundantly fruitful as possible. Imagine the joy in the Hearts of our Lord and the Father in Heaven if they were to look upon you and see good fruit being produced beyond expectation. Why wouldn't this be your goal in life? Our Lord is patient, but He is also just. Do not try His patience, and do not succumb to His justice. Reflect, today, upon the image of you being this fig tree and our Lord as the divine Gardener. Commit yourself to His actions of tilling and fertilizing. You do so by strengthening your commitment to reading and understanding the Word of God, by participating more fully in the Sacraments, by being more focused upon your daily prayer, by examining your conscience more fully, and by sincerely confessing your sins. Do all you can to cooperate with the action of our divine Gardener and you will be amazed at the good fruit that begins to pour forth from your life. My divine Gardener, You have committed Yourself to the humble work of tilling the soil of my heart and fertilizing it with Your abundant mercy. I choose, this day, to respond to Your grace and pray that my cooperation with You will produce an abundance of good fruit in my life for Your glory and the building up of Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Vine Dresser and the Fig Tree (Le vigneron et le figuier) - James Tissot, Image via picyrlSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'” — Matthew 25:21Those are the words every believer longs to hear. That's why it's important to regularly reflect on how we're stewarding the resources God has entrusted to us. Today, Rachel McDonough joins us to share three key Scriptures and prayers to help guide us in faithful stewardship.Rachel McDonough is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®), and a regular Faith & Finance contributor.These passages reveal that what seems wise from a financial standpoint may sometimes be wasteful in God's eyes, and what appears to be wasteful may, in fact, be an act of deep wisdom. True stewardship isn't just about following formulas—it's about surrendering our hearts to God.1. The Woman Who Anointed Jesus: Extravagant WorshipOur first passage comes from a well-known story found in all four Gospels—the woman who anointed Jesus.Jesus was at a dinner party when a woman entered and broke a bottle of expensive perfume, pouring it over Him in an act of extravagant worship. The disciples were outraged, arguing that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Yet, Jesus saw it differently. He recognized her act as a prophetic preparation for His burial, honoring her sacrifice.From a financial perspective, this act seemed irresponsible—her life savings were gone instantly. But in God's economy, radical, sold-out worship is never wasted. When Jesus becomes our ultimate treasure, we position ourselves to live in step with His divine purposes.A Prayer for Worshipful Stewardship"God, give us eyes to see that the true treasure is You, not wealth. Help us to pour out extravagant worship at the feet of Jesus, holding nothing back. Teach us to move beyond routine generosity and embrace radical worship. Align our hearts with the rhythms of heaven so that we are available for Your purposes in every kairos moment. Amen."2. The Prodigal Son's Father: A Heart for People, Not Just MoneyWe often focus on the prodigal son in Jesus' parable, but what if we shift our attention to the father?When the younger son demanded his inheritance and squandered it, the father allowed him to make a major financial mistake. From a worldly perspective, this decision was both unwise and unfair—especially to the older, responsible son. But the father's actions reflected God's heart, showing that relationships matter more than wealth.As stewards, we often want to control how money is used, especially when passing wealth to the next generation. Yet, God's example shows that our trust should be in Him, not in financial security. Just as Jesus entrusted the moneybag to Judas despite knowing his character, we, too, must release control and trust God to work in our children's lives.A Prayer for Generational Stewardship"Father God, help us see that real value is found in people, not money. Teach us to cherish and train up the next generation, knowing that they can do far more for Your Kingdom than our wealth ever could. Free us from the fear that leads to control, and fill us with faith that You are the true provider. May Your blessing extend for a thousand generations, shaping hearts that desire to serve You. Amen."3. The Rich Fool: Avoiding Self-Reliance in WealthJesus' parable of the rich fool (Luke 12) warns against the dangers of hoarding wealth without consulting God. When a farmer received an abundant harvest, he decided to build bigger barns to store it all rather than seek God's guidance. He assumed financial security equated to a long, worry-free life. But God called him a fool because his soul would be required of him that very night.When we experience financial blessings, our first instinct is often to protect and preserve. But stewardship isn't about accumulation or self-reliance—it's about trusting God and using our resources for His Kingdom. Wealth must never replace God as our source of security.A Prayer for Humble Stewardship"God, help us to see that the purpose of stewardship is not self-preservation or accumulation. You alone are our provider. Protect our hearts from the deceitfulness of wealth, which falsely promises security and significance. When money tempts us to rely on ourselves—teach us to unclench our fists and give freely. May our generosity reflect our trust in You, and may we cherish what You cherish—loving relationships and eternal Kingdom impact. Amen."True Stewardship Reflects God's HeartStewardship is not just about wise money management—it's about reflecting God's character in the way we handle wealth. When our abundance is found in Christ, generosity flows naturally from a grateful heart.As Proverbs 21:5 reminds us:"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."Let us be diligent in our stewardship but also faithful in seeking God's purpose. May our financial decisions flow from a heart that treasures God above all else.For more insights on biblical stewardship from Rachel McDonough, visit WealthSq.com.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I received $17,000 unexpectedly and wanted to put it in CDs, but my bank no longer offers those high rates. I saw someone on TV suggest looking for high-interest savings accounts, but I'm unsure about using online banks. What would you advise?I'm 65 and taking $2,100 per month from a Jackson fund. I'm putting $900 back into a growth fund, but I'm using the extra $1,100 to help my family. Should I put all $2,100 back into the growth fund instead of enjoying it now, or would that take away from my kids' inheritance later?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineChristian Community Credit Union (CCCU)WealthSq.comBankrate.comWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Read Online“Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” Matthew 21:42Are you among those from whom the Kingdom of God will be taken away? Or among those to whom it will be given so as to produce good fruit? This is an important question to sincerely answer.The first grouping of people, those who will have the Kingdom of God taken away from them, are represented in this parable by the tenants of the vineyard. It is clear that one of their greatest sins is greed. They are selfish. They see the vineyard as a place through which they can enrich themselves and care little about the good of others. Sadly, this mind frame is easy to adopt in our own lives. It's easy to see life as a series of opportunities for us to “get ahead.” It's easy to approach life in a way that we are constantly looking out for ourselves rather than sincerely seeking the good of others.The second grouping of people, those to whom the Kingdom of God will be given so that it will produce good fruit, are those who understand that the central purpose of life is not to simply enrich themselves but to share the love of God with others. These are the people who are constantly looking for ways that they can be a true blessing to others. It's the difference between selfishness and generosity.But the generosity to which we are primarily called is to build up the Kingdom of God. This is done through works of charity, but it must be a charity that is motivated by the Gospel and has the Gospel as its ultimate end. Caring for the needy, teaching, serving and the like are all good only when Christ is the motivation and end goal. Our lives must make Jesus more known and loved, more understood and followed. In fact, even if we were to feed a multitude of people in poverty, care for those who were sick, or visit those who were lonely, but did it for reasons other than to ultimately share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then our work would not produce the good fruit of building up the Kingdom of Heaven. In that case, we would only be philanthropists rather than missionaries of the love of God. Reflect, today, upon the mission given to you by our Lord to produce an abundance of good fruit for the upbuilding of His Kingdom. Know that this can only be accomplished by prayerfully seeking out the way God is inspiring you to act. Seek to serve His will alone so that all you do will be for God's glory and the salvation of souls. My glorious King, I pray that Your Kingdom will grow and that many souls will come to know You as their Lord and God. Use me, dear Lord, for the upbuilding of that Kingdom and help all my actions in life to bear abundant and good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Marten van Valckenborch, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going—it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven; we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom.“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10

The Kingdom isn't just where we're going—it's how we live now. We don't wait for Heaven; we bring Heaven here. We are citizens of a greater Kingdom.“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10Courtney Poutoa16 March 2025 PM Service

Read Mark 5: 25-34.1. What were the two interruptions Jesus encountered in the largernarrative of today's passage? How did Jesus respond to theseinterruptions? How might that affect our own prayer lives?2. How do you think the woman with the hemorrhage would have beentreated in her society? Why would she have been treated that way?3. Who, in our modern society, is treated as unclean, untouchable andexiled? What can we, as followers of Christ, do to help?4. Why do you think this woman sought the help of Jesus at this time inher life? What other things had she tried to be healed?5. What did Jesus say was the true source of her healing?6. Do you think it was easy for the woman to get to Jesus? If not, whydid she fight so hard to get to Him? What does this mean to us today?7. What did Jesus call the woman after she was healed? What do youthink this meant to the woman?8. How was the woman's healing more than just physical? How wouldher life have been different going forward?9. Acts 10: 15 (NLT) says, “Do not call something unclean if God has madeit clean.” What does that mean to you? Is there deeper meaning tothis verse? How does it instruct us to treat others, even if they are“unclean” or “misfits”?Prayer for the Week:Gracious and loving God, we come before You with grateful hearts,remembering the woman who sought healing with unwavering faith,touching the hem of Your garment and receiving the wholeness shelonged for. Remind us that just as You were available to her in herdeepest moment of need, You are available to us in our brokenness, ourweariness, and our times of feeling like misfits in this world. We thankYou, Lord, that in Your Kingdom, there are no misfits—You embrace us all,just as we are, and offer the healing, love, and grace that transforms us.Help us to live with the same courage and faith as the woman whoreached out, knowing that You are always near, ready to restore and makeus new. We pray all of this in the precious, holy and strong name of Jesus,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now andforever. Amen.

Dan Cockerell started at the Walt Disney Company as a parking attendant and 26 years later was it's Vice President, leading 12,000 cast members at the largest theme park in the world, the Magic Kingdom Park. Dan had nineteen different roles with Disney, including 5 years at the Disneyland Paris Resort. Dan left Disney to start his own consulting company and now shares his leadership and management experience at Disney with companies worldwide. He is also the author of the book "How's the Culture in Your Kingdom? Lessons from a Disney Leadership Journey". This is a masterclass in the customer experience.   LINKS   Dan's website https://dancockerell.com   Book on Amazon How's the Culture in Your Kingdom?: Lessons from a Disney Leadership Journey   The Mojo Sessions website www.themojosessions.com   The Mojo Sessions on Patreon www.patreon.com/TheMojoSessions Full transcripts of the show (plus time codes) are available on Patreon.   The Mojo Sessions on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheMojoSessions   Gary on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/gary-bertwistle   Gary on Twitter www.twitter.com/GaryBertwistle   The Mojo Sessions on Instagram www.instagram.com/themojosessions   If you like what you hear, we'd be grateful for a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Happy listening!   © 2025 Gary Bertwistle.  All Rights Reserved.  

Your Nightly Prayer

Today's Passage: Ephesians 5:13-14 and Romans 8:6. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. - Ephesians 5:13-14For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. - Romans 8:6 Today's Prayer: Lord make us white-hot for the Gospel, Your Kingdom, Your work, and Your love. Help us to love the people of this world, but not to love the things of this world too much. Lord, wake us up from any slumber that gets in the way of being desperate for you. AmenNOTES & LINKS:21 Days of Prayer & Fasting WebsiteSubscribe to the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting NewsletterPDF Guide to Prayer & FastingAs Part of the 21 Days, we are committing to 24/7 prayer during this time. Sign up for a time slot here.

Web Description: Psalm 2 states, “The kings of the earth take their stand … against the Lord and against His Anointed.” So there should be no confusion about the conflict happening in the world. The Kingdom of God is coming, and many governments are standing against it. Yet God's Kingdom is the answer for the world, and our focus is not on the conflict but on the solution. Father, Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on the earth.   Show Notes: When a country goes through a change of government, it can experience turmoil. This concept helps us understand what is happening on a global scale today. The entire world is experiencing a governmental changeover as the Kingdom of God comes into the earth. And the reaction of many nations to the Kingdom of God is to reject it. They reject the laws, the conditions, and the requirements of God's Kingdom. And so a battle ensues.   We need to understand the nature of this battle. There are many wars and rumors of wars in the world today, but the prophecies in Scripture are not about random nations fighting one another. The war against the Kingdom is the war of nations against the Jewish people. That is why we are seeing so many attacks against Israel and against Jews worldwide. It is because they are the representatives of God's Kingdom. Israel is where the Kingdom will come on the earth, and the Jews are the people from whom it manifests.   We must stay focused on what God is doing and stay free from the negativity generated by the hostility of nations against Him and His people. God's purpose is not to bring war but to fulfill the promised blessings of His Kingdom. We might see many negative events in the days ahead, but it is important that we remember how it all turns out. Many nations and people will go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, to learn His ways and never again learn war. That is the focus of the last days, not the negative. That is our faith and intercession for His Kingdom to come.   Key Verses:   •       Philippians 2:10–11. “Every knee will bow … and … every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” •       Psalm 2:1–3. “The kings of the earth take their stand … against the Lord and against His Anointed.” •       John 4:22. “Salvation is from the Jews.” •       Psalm 2:4–12. “I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance.” •       Matthew 24:6. “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.” •       Isaiah 34:1–3. “The Lord's indignation is against all the nations.” •       Isaiah 2:1–4. “The law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”   Quotes:   •       “The nations are in an uproar. Why? Because the Kingdom of God is drawing nearer and nearer.” •       “I think we're at the time where the nations have chosen and taken their stand against the Lord and against His anointed.” •       “The wars will pass away. The rumors of wars will pass away. And as the Kingdom of God sets in, no longer will nation lift up its sword against another nation.”   Takeaways:   1.    What we are witnessing in the world is a governmental changeover, and that is the Kingdom of God coming into the earth. This is not an easy transition as many nations, governments, and peoples will resist submitting to His Lordship. 2.    The focus of resistance and opposition to the Kingdom of God is and always has been the Jewish people because the Kingdom manifests from them. That is why we see increasing attacks against them and against the Jewish homeland of Israel. 3.    If the nations were able to bring peace and justice and solutions to the world's problems, they would have done so by now. The Kingdom of God has the answers that mankind has been seeking, and we should excitedly await and strive to be a part of it. 4.    We must not let our hearts become fearful or let our spirits faint. Let us proclaim His Word to break the lies that come against God's people and against His land. Let us pray that the truth of His justice and His love be known and that His government prevails.  

Read Online“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.” Mark 2:19–20The passage above reveals Jesus' response to the disciples of John the Baptist and some Pharisees who question Jesus about fasting. They point out that the disciples of John and the Pharisees each follow the Jewish laws on fasting, but Jesus' disciples do not. Jesus' answer goes to the heart of the new law on fasting.Fasting is a wonderful spiritual practice. It helps to strengthen the will against disordered fleshly temptations and helps to bring purity to one's soul. But it needs to be pointed out that fasting is not an eternal reality. One day, when we are face-to-face with God in Heaven, there will no longer be any need to fast or do any form of penance. But while on earth, we will struggle and fall and lose our way, and one of the best spiritual practices to help us return to Christ is prayer and fasting combined.Fasting becomes necessary “when the bridegroom is taken away.” In other words, fasting is necessary when we sin and our union with Christ begins to fade. It is then that the personal sacrifice of fasting helps open our hearts once again to our Lord. This is especially true when habits of sin form and become deeply ingrained. Fasting adds much power to our prayer and stretches our souls so as to be able to receive the “new wine” of God's grace where we need it the most.Reflect, today, upon your approach to fasting and other penitential practices. Do you fast? Do you make regular sacrifices so as to strengthen your will and help you to turn more fully to Christ? Or has this healthy spiritual practice been somewhat neglected in your life? Renew your commitment to this holy endeavor today and God will work powerfully in your life.Lord, I open my heart to the new wine of grace that You wish to pour forth upon me. Help me to be properly disposed to this grace and to use every means necessary to become more open to You. Help me, especially, to commit to the wonderful spiritual practice of fasting. May this act of mortification in my life bear abundant fruit for Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Jesus and his Disciples on the Sea of Galilee By Carl Oesterley, via Wikimedia Commons

Immeasurably More: Praying More for MoreEphesians 3:14-21 Matthew 6:5-15, Luke 11:1-13January 19th, 2025More people + More prayer = Immeasurably More!Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV) 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.3 Core Prayers for 2025Father, strengthen me in the power of the Holy Spirit in my inner being so that Christ may dwell in my heart. Father, broaden and deepen my experience with love of Christ. Father, fill me up with your fullness. 1 Core ConvictionOur God… is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.Immeasurably More = Hyper-ek-perissouHyper = Over and above.Ek = exhaustlessness.Perissou = exceedingly, abundantly, beyond what is expected, imagined and hoped for.God wants us to experience more of Him and His love than we do right now and He wants to do more in us, with us, through us and for us than we could ever ask or imagine. 2 “More” Hazards to Avoid When more substitutes for trust/faith. When more becomes all about me. The Always' of More.There is always more to God if you want more of God.God's more is always for more than just you. God always rewards more stewardship with more to steward.God is always more important than His more. Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV) 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.Slide (Build out this slide)The Lord's Prayer teaches us how to…V9. Posture ourselves in prayer. Honoring children approaching an honorable father. V10. Pray with trust, not angst. Your Kingdom and your will be done, not mine.V11.Ask for daily provision. Our Father is a stable & dependable provider. V12. To receive life through repentance/confession and give life through forgiveness.V13. Be situationally and spiritually alert. Our enemy is real but less than. Satan nor his schemes are any match for God's power or leadership. God > Satan. God in us > Satan against us.Luke 11:1-4 (NIV) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:” ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'”Luke 11:5-10 (NIV)The Shaping Power of Persistence5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Jesus teaches us to pray bold, shame-lessly persistent prayers, undeterred by “not now” answers. Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)The Scope of God's Provision11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”Our “Much More” Father doesn't give us “one time” things, He gives us the all-time Holy Spirit. The Lord's Prayer teaches us how to…V9. Posture ourselves in prayer. Honoring children approaching an honorable father. V10. Pray with trust, not angst. Your Kingdom and your will be done, not mine.V11.Ask for daily provision. Our Father is a stable & dependable provider. V12. To receive life through repentance/confession and give life through forgiveness.V13. Be situationally and spiritually alert. Our enemy is real but less than. Satan nor his schemes are any match for God's power or leadership. God > Satan. God in us > Satan against us.Jesus teaches us to be boldly persistent in our asks and supremely confident in the God of our ask. He teaches us not give up in the gap between ask and answer, but to triple down on an immeasurably more Father.Praying more for more.1. I don't know how to pray. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 2. I don't feel worthy enough to pray. Our goodness is not the qualification for the relationship or the path of connection, God's goodness is. Our performance isn't what earns us an audience, it is our repentance and humility. Your feelings of unworthiness are attached to spiritual lies which are holding you captive. Freedom comes through a relationship with Christ cultivated in prayer. 3. I don't have time to pray. “The neglect of private prayer is the most common reason people lose their faith.” John Wesley“If you are too busy to pray then you are too busy!” Mother Theresa to an Indian Bishop who claimed he was so busy his schedule was squeezing out his prayer time. “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer.” Martin Luther when was asked what his plans were for the day.Prayer isn't a check box it is the box the checks all other boxes. Pastor Charlie

Growing In God Podcast Web Description: We can be very concerned and even fearful about all the tumult in the world. But as Psalm 2 explains, the nations are in an uproar because they oppose the Kingdom of God. So we should not be surprised by what is happening since we are the ones praying, “Thy Kingdom come, and Thy will be done.” We should be immovable in our faith because our focus is on the Father and not on the world. Show Notes: It is easy to worry about all the turmoil in the world right now. But the events we see taking place are no accident. And they are not without our participation as Christians. We have initiated and are initiating much of what is going on. You could say, “I'm not doing anything. How am I making these things happen?” Well, for centuries Christians have prayed to the Father, “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth.” It is His Kingdom—His will—that the nations are raging against. We can compare these times to watching a hurricane. From one perspective it is a confusing scene of things being ripped apart and swirling around. From another perspective we see the weather forces that are the root cause of all the turmoil. And in the simple prayer Christ taught us, we can maintain a perspective above the storm that is focused on the root cause. We can have a fixed focus on the Father, His will, and His coming Kingdom. You do not have to look around and say, “What is all this craziness in the world? Can you believe what's happening?” Instead, look at the root cause of the hurricane and recognize that everything happening is very simple to understand. It is exactly what was spoken by John the Baptist and Yeshua (Jesus) two thousand years ago. And it was spoken by all the prophets before that about the son of David coming and setting up His Kingdom. By this focus we can put our stake in the ground and become immovable, which is where we are supposed to be in our faith.   Key Verses: •       Matthew 6:7–13. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth.” •       1 Corinthians 15:25–28. “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” •       Matthew 3:1–3. “John the Baptist came, … saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” •       Matthew 4:12–17. “Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” •       Psalm 2:1–12. “As for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion.”   Quotes:  •       “This has been going on for a long time. This preaching of and speaking of the Kingdom of God is at the very heart of Christ, the very heart of Judaism, the very heart of our faith.” •       “When nations are addressed, it is not necessarily every individual within that nation. We as believers do have a way of thinking that is a biblical worldview. We have a way of living that is, again, not necessarily in alignment with all of those in the nation surrounding us.” •       “There are going to be many other rulers and dictators and governors, even democracies, that are going to be displaced by this Kingdom that God is bringing forth.”   Takeaways: 1.    What are we living through in these days that we call the end-time? We are living through the dispossession of the leadership and rulership of the earth because the Kingdom of God is coming. And do not forget that we as believers have been a great part of praying these days into existence. 2.    Do not look around and say, “I don't get it. I'm afraid. I'm confused. I'm concerned about the wars and the rumors of wars. It seems like the world has become very dangerous.” Well, it has. And that is because the Prince of Peace is coming to rule and reign. So, do not let your heart be in fear. Do not let your spirit become passive or melt within you. 3.    Continue to pray the prayer that Yeshua gave us from the beginning. Keep your focus on the Father. Keep worshipping Him as the Lord, the Creator of all, and keep speaking into existence, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  

When we are wronged, we have the opportunity to either pursue justice toward retribution or justice toward reconciliation.  This is what Paul, carried along by the Holy Spirit, was writing about in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.  The Finished Work of Jesus has reconciled us to the Lord and empowered us to pursue reconciliation with others--in doing do, we live our lives according the Jesus' prayer, "Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."  

Read OnlineIn their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet!  Come out of him!” Mark 1:23–25There were numerous times when Jesus directly confronted demons in the Scriptures. Each time He rebuked them and exercised His authority over them. The passage above illustrates one such case.The fact that the devil shows himself over and over in the Gospels tells us that the evil one is real and needs to be dealt with appropriately. And the appropriate way to deal with the evil one and his fellow demons is to rebuke them with the authority of Christ Jesus Himself in a calm but definitive and authoritative way.It's very rare that the evil one makes himself fully manifest to us in the way that he did in the passage above to Jesus. The demon speaks directly through this man, which indicates that the man was fully possessed. And though we do not see this form of manifestation often, it doesn't mean that the evil one is any less active today. Instead, it shows that the authority of Christ is not being exercised by the Christian faithful to the extent that is necessary to combat the evil one. Instead, we often cower in the face of evil and fail to confidently and charitably stand our ground with Christ.Why did this demon manifest himself in such a visible way? Because this demon was directly confronted with the authority of Jesus. The devil usually prefers to remain hidden and deceptive, presenting himself as an angel of light so that his evil ways are not known clearly. Those whom he controls often do not even know how much they are influenced by the evil one. But when the evil one is confronted with the pure presence of Christ, with the Truth of the Gospel that sets us free, and with Jesus' authority, this confrontation often forces the evil one to react by manifesting his evil. Reflect, today, upon the fact that the evil one is constantly at work all around us. Consider the people and circumstances in your life where the pure and holy Truth of God is attacked and rejected. It is in those situations, more than any other, that Jesus wants to bestow upon you His divine authority to confront evil, rebuke it and take authority over it. This is primarily done through prayer and deep trust in the power of God. Don't be afraid to allow God to use you to confront the activity of the evil one in this world. Lord, give me courage and wisdom when I face the activity of the evil one in this world. Give me wisdom to discern his hand at work and give me courage to confront and rebuke him with Your love and authority. May Your authority be alive in my life, Lord Jesus, and may I daily become a better instrument of the coming of Your Kingdom as I confront the evil present in this world. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Possessed Man in the Synagogue By James Tissot via Wikimedia Commons

Order of Service: - Prelude - Prayer for the New Year: P: Almighty and everlasting God, from whom comes down every good and perfect gift: C: We thank you for all Your benefits, temporal and spiritual, given to us in this past year. As we enter this new year, preserve us in Your grace. Defend us from all danger and adversity according to Your will. We are grateful for the many students You have drawn to this campus from a variety of nations and peoples. Be with those in our midst who are far from home. May the light of Your truth shine brightly among us and in us throughout the year. By Your Holy Spirit, grant us an increase of knowledge in the things of Your Kingdom. Stir up our hearts to bear each other's burdens in Christian love as we live in the glow of Your Son's incarnation. We ask this all in His saving name. Amen. - Hymn 160 - O God, Our Help in Ages Past: vv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 - Matthew 2:1-7: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.'” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. - Devotion - Hymn 170 - O God of God, O Light of Light - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist)

Send us a textOur most compelling, eye opening, thought provoking and controversial episodes of the year…2024 was another extraordinary year for the Strong By Design podcast filled with some truly powerful conversations. So, we simply looked at the most downloaded episodes of the year and compiled a Top Ten list for your enjoyment!While we don't do a ‘Best Of' episode every year on SBD, we felt 2024 deserved it and we hope you find this special New Year's Day episode entertaining as it gives you a glimpse into what our show is all about covering all things Body, Mind and Spirit. This Top Ten list has some remarkable people speaking truth about God, thinking big, mindset training, finding true health, having a passion for fitness and much much more!Thank you very much for listening and following our show. We are grateful for you and hope that the Strong By Design experience is providing value in your life. 1. Ep 351 - Master Your Marriage  2. Ep 352 - Killing it in Health & Fitness 3. Ep 361 - Transgender and the Battle for Identity  4. Ep 344 - When did Jesus Leave the Government?5. Ep 348 - Falling Short: A Failed Pastor's Journey to Restoration  6. Ep 349 - Vote with Your Fork! Naturally Prevent Disease & Illness  7. Ep 343 - Breathing for Better Sleep  8. Ep 346 - Seeds of Hope - Sowing Life, Love and Laughter 9. Ep 350 - How's the Culture in Your Kingdom?10. Ep 353 - Release Your Diet Baggage with God's Grace   "We don't let them choose what food to eat. We don't let them choose whether or not they're going to go to school. But we're going to let them pick their gender?" — Pastor Daryl Black  Time Stamps00:00 - Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!01:07 - Join host Chris Wilson for today's exciting episode, where he introduces the Top 10 episodes of the year04:08 - Divine Institution: How Marriage mirrors the process of becoming a better spouse05:04 - Marriage Masterclass: The goal and mission of parents08:25 - Dan shares insights on how to learn from your failures09:24 - Billionaires vs Millionaires: What is the difference?12:05 - Pastor Daryl Black shares the TV effect and how transgender representation shapes society15:43 - The Guiding Principles: Why we should read and follow practitioners21:20 - Discover the two main passages of Spiritual Leadership with Pastor Anthony McDaniel24:30- Jeff shares the two highest callings in life28:22- Correcting the misconception and understanding of what is love and discipline31:39 - Nutrition is Key: How did Jennifer get started in fitness and wellness35:13 - Zach highlights the significance of sleep35:58 - Find out why people's brains can't shut off38:58 - John shares insights on building a relationship with God and responding to His calling44:44 - Fixed mindset vs Growth mindset: Ways to keep mentally fit46:52 - Dan discusses what it takes to be a great leader51:11 - Why do we need God's grace in our eating54:13  - How to align body image with God's word57:12 - Brandice shares that 'God is the weight loss plan'1:01:12 - Please share, and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

No one is immune from burnout. It comes in our jobs, friendships, and even our church life. Sometimes even our hobbies become dry and tedious! But in Scripture, God gives us hope for the future.John 7:38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”Jesus is telling us that in Him alone is true life. He is always pointing us to the future, to a time when that dry creek bed will be filled forever.In Revelation 22, He showed John a river flowing with the water of life, crystal-clear and coming from the very throne of God.The whole picture is one of healing and new life. He promises us that this scene will be very real and very permanent! The key is what we read in John 7:38…we must choose to believe! If you long for a new start and a bright future, you'll find everything you need and want in the person of Jesus Christ.The living water that He offers is perfect, and the supply is limitless.Jesus is the well that never runs dry.Let's pray.Lord, You are calling each of us to follow You and let You lead us to a place of perfect paradise. We eagerly look forward to joining You in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

✨ Miracle Mindset: Letting Go of 2024 and Embracing 2025 ✨ As we step into the new year, God is inviting us to upgrade our mindset and make room for His abundance. Are you ready to embrace all that 2025 holds?

Today's Passage: John 1:39-42 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).Today's Prayer: Jesus, you are our Messiah. Our Christ.The promised one that was spoken of from long ago.You are our rescuer, the one that has promised to bring us out of darkness and into light.You are the anointed one. The one set apart from the very beginning to be the one who delivers us to a new Home. Your Kingdom coming. Jesus. Help us, this Advent season, to know without doubt, that you are the one that the prophets spoke of long ago. Help us to believe that there is no other way but following you.The Messiah. The Christ. Amen.For more information about this Advent season, visit our Christmas at Fellowship page. There you can find more resources, as well as information about pursuing Christ and celebrating him this season with our church. 

When we pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done” we are literally praying for an interruption. Most of the time when God wants to do something significant in our lives, it shows up as an interruption. While we can't plan for those interruptions, we can plan on them and prepare for them. Let's stay ready.Socials:www.facebook.com/clcecolumbiawww.instagram.com/centrallutheran/www.centrallutheran.church

Today's episode centers on the pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism, as promised in Acts 1:8. We'll examine how the Spirit not only empowers us but also directs our evangelistic efforts, ensuring that our witness is both bold and effective.Our springboard for today's discussion is: Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This passage highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit that turns believers into dynamic witnesses of the Gospel.The Holy Spirit is essential in evangelism. He doesn't just accompany us as we share the Gospel; He actively leads and empowers us, giving us the tools and confidence needed to speak to diverse audiences across various contexts.The Equipping Power of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism:* Providing Boldness: The Holy Spirit gives us the courage to speak out, even in potentially hostile environments or situations where we might normally feel timid.* Wisdom in Delivery: He guides our words, helping us to know what to say and how to say it, making our message resonate with our listeners.* Spiritual Insight: The Spirit provides insight into the hearts and lives of those we speak to, allowing us to tailor our messages to meet their spiritual needs effectively.Reliance on the Holy Spirit for Evangelistic Endeavors:* Prayerful Dependence: Before engaging in evangelism, spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to fill you with His power and guide your efforts.* Sensitivity to His Leading: Stay open to the Holy Spirit's promptings, sometimes even altering planned messages or approaches based on His guidance.* Expecting His Intervention: Approach evangelism with the expectation that the Holy Spirit will work actively through you, which can lead to witnessing miracles like hearts being changed and lives being transformed.ConclusionThe Holy Spirit is not merely a helper in evangelism; He is the leader of our evangelistic efforts. As we align ourselves with His direction and yield to His power, our efforts become not only more effective but also more aligned with God's will.A Question of the Day: Can you share a time when the Holy Spirit clearly guided your evangelistic efforts? What was the outcome?Growth Challenge: Focus this week on asking the Holy Spirit to lead your evangelistic conversations. Each day, consciously pause to seek His guidance before, during, and after your encounters with others.Let's Pray: Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be effective witnesses for Your Kingdom. Help us to rely fully on His guidance and strength as we share Your Gospel with the world. May we be bold in our approach, wise in our words, and loving in our actions. In Jesus' name, Amen.As we go forth, let's lean on the Holy Spirit to empower and direct our evangelistic efforts. With His guidance, we can reach the ends of the earth with the powerful message of salvation. Let's get to work.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

When Jesus prayed, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven,” He wasn't merely teaching us how to pray. He was giving us a mission and vision for how to live. The church has stood in the gap between heaven and earth for over two thousand years. While the gap seems to grow wider, we live with the hope that one day, Jesus' prayer will finally be answered. Join us for week six of Bridge the Gap, where we will see a picture of a world without gaps.  

Happy Thanksgiving

Read OnlineJesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” John 18:36Today, on the final Sunday of our Church year, we celebrate the glorious Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Next Sunday begins Advent. On this day we profess the profound truth that our Lord is King! He is the King of all things. He is King of the Universe. And He is King of Heaven and all spiritual realities. However, in the Gospel passage quoted above, Jesus responds to Pilate who was questioning Him about whether or not He was the King of the Jews. Jesus is clear that He is a King, but that His Kingdom does not belong to this world. So where is His Kingdom?We can look at Jesus' statement from two points of view. First of all, if Jesus would have claimed that He were an earthly king, one with civil authority, then Pilate would have judged Him to be guilty of trying to overthrow the Roman authority. This would be unlawful and would be punishable by death. In that case, Jesus could have been found legally guilty of violating civil law.But Jesus was purely innocent. He was morally perfect in every way, and that included His obedience to all legitimate civil law. But Jesus was a King. He was The King of all Kings! Therefore, so as to exercise His Kingship, He declared that His Kingdom was not of this world. In other words, it was not a Kingdom that was in competition with the Roman authorities or any other civil authority. To that, Pilate did not know how to respond.Today and always, God desires that His glorious Kingdom reign in every way. God begins by reigning in our souls. He invites us to invite Him to enter in and take control of our lives. He desires to be the ruler of every passion, desire, thought and action that is ours. When this happens, His Kingdom is firmly established within us.It also needs to be pointed out that Jesus wants His Kingdom to grow. First, it must grow in the minds and wills of all people. But from there, He wants every person to then work to conform every part of our society to the governance of Him as King. This means that as the hearts of civil leaders are converted, they will be called to enact laws that fully support and build up God's Kingdom on earth. It means that business leaders, as they convert, are called to govern their businesses in accord with the will of God so that their businesses contribute to the establishment of God's Kingdom here and now. It means that as the leaders of our schools, sports programs, social programs and the like all invite Jesus to reign in their hearts as King, The King of the Universe will then guide them to conform all of their endeavors to His will and to the continued upbuilding of His Kingdom.The first duty of the Christian, in regard to the governance of every aspect of society, is not to impose God's law from without, as a ruthless authoritarian would. Rather, it is to convert minds and hearts so that God's governance comes forth from within. As God's Kingdom is established in the lives of His people, all objectively grave evils embedded within our earthly laws must be overturned. For example, the legalization of abortion stands out as perhaps the greatest of moral evils, since it involves the taking of a completely innocent life. This and countless other immoral earthly laws must be replaced by the laws of God as hearts and minds are converted to His Truth. Reflect, today, upon your duty to help bring forth the Kingdom of God here and now. Start by seeing your duty to allow God's Kingdom to grow within you and your family. From there, be open to the many ways that God wants to use you to help others do the same. As you do, do not be afraid to work toward the external establishment of God's Kingdom in all that you do and in all that falls within your responsibility. Jesus is King, and He desires to reign everywhere. Cooperate with Him, and His Kingdom will indeed come. My glorious King, I choose You as King of my life, and I dedicate to You all my actions and endeavors. Please use me to further Your Kingdom. I pray for wisdom, prudence and courage as I am sent forth by You to help bring forth Your merciful and just reign in the lives of all people and within the entire Universe that You created. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done! Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Stained glass panel in the transept of St. John's Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales (NSW) by Toby Hudson, via Wikimedia Commons

Read Online“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.'” Luke 19:12–14There are three categories of people in this parable. The first includes those who received a gold coin and followed the master's request to “engage in trade” until he returned. The second has those who received the same command but were lazy and failed to produce any good fruit from that which our Lord has given them. And the third includes those who “despise” our Lord and do not want Him as their King.Upon the king's return, this first category of people are represented by the two servants who took the gold coins, engaged in trade, and made five and ten more. These are those who have much apostolic zeal. God not only calls us to use the gifts we have received to expand His Kingdom on earth, He also expects it of us. His expectation is a command of love. For those who understand this command, they see it as a glorious invitation to make an eternal difference in the lives of many. They do not see the apostolic works to which they are called as a burden. Rather, they see them as a joy, and that joy fuels their efforts. The result will have exponential effects for God's Kingdom.The second category of people is illustrated by the one servant who kept the one gold coin “stored away in a handkerchief” out of fear. These are the people who avoid evangelizing and furthering the Kingdom of God out of fear. Fear is paralyzing. But giving in to fear is a sin. It's a lack of faith and trust in God. Serving God will inevitably require courage on our part. It will demand that we step out of our comfort zone and do that which we may not immediately feel comfortable doing. But as that servant in the parable foretold, God is a demanding God. And He will not accept fear as an acceptable excuse not to zealously help to build the Kingdom of God.The third category of people is the category in which you definitely do not want to fall. These are those who actively work to undermine God's Kingship and reject Him as God. The world is filled with these people. The only thing we need to say about those who fall into this category is that which our Lord said of them. “Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.”Reflect, today, upon which category of people your life most fully resembles. Most likely it is one of the first two. Do you have great zeal for God's Kingdom? Are you willing to do all that you can to help build His Kingdom? Are you willing to do so even at the cost of great personal sacrifice? If so, then rejoice and know that an abundant reward awaits. But if you are one who struggles with fear, specifically, if you struggle with a fear to evangelize, to share the Gospel and to live your faith openly with humility and love, then spend more time with this parable and the fate of that one servant who hid the coin in the handkerchief. Engage in the apostolate. Commit yourself to the furtherance of God's Kingdom. Dispel all fear and know that you will never regret putting your whole heart and soul into the service of God and the building of His Kingdom.My demanding Lord, You have entrusted me with much, and You demand that I use all that You have given me to help build Your Kingdom of grace. What a privilege it is to be called by You and used by You for this apostolic mission. Please free me from all fear, dear Lord, so that I will never hesitate to serve You in the ways that You call me to serve. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Painting by Willem de Poorter entitled The Parable of The Talents or Minas, via Wikimedia Commons

Read OnlineAsked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,' or, ‘There it is.' For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”  Luke 17:20–21Why did the Pharisees ask Jesus this question? Why did they want to know when the Kingdom of God would come? To answer this question, we must first look at the full context of the various communications between Jesus and the Pharisees. When we do this and see the many ways that the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus in speech and the times in which our Lord firmly rebuked the Pharisees, it seems clear that the Pharisees did not ask Jesus this question in innocence and openness. Instead, they once again were trying to trap Him. They posed a question by which they gave the appearance of believing Jesus' teachings that the Kingdom of God was coming, but they asked not in faith but in mockery and in an attempt to trip Jesus up in His answer.Jesus' answer is mysterious. It leaves little room for the Pharisees to use Jesus' speech against Him. Perhaps the Pharisees were hoping that Jesus would say that the Kingdom was coming soon, or next month, or within the year. But Jesus' answer leaves them with confusion in the face of this mystery that “the Kingdom of God is among you.”Much of what Jesus says can only be fully understood through faith. He often speaks in veiled language intentionally, because the only way to lift the veil to perceive the meaning of His teachings is to rely upon the inspired gift of faith. Faith is like a key to unlock the secrets of the mysteries of God. Faith becomes a lens through which every parable, every figure of speech, and every mystery taught by our Lord is understood. But without this inspired gift of faith, Jesus' teachings remain mysterious and incomprehensible.When you ponder these words that “the Kingdom of God is among you,” what do you understand? Are you able to use the gift of faith to unlock the meaning of this sacred teaching? Interestingly, reading Jesus' words, spoken in a veiled way, offer us the opportunity to test our own faith. If we read these words and are left in confusion, then this is a clear sign that we need to pray for and be open to the gift of faith. But if we do read Jesus' mysterious teachings and the light of understanding is given to us, then this is a clear reason to rejoice, since this comprehension is only possible through the gift of faith.Reflect, today, upon this sacred teaching of our Lord: “The Kingdom of God is among you.” Meditate on those words and pray for insight and understanding. Jesus' words are true. His Kingdom truly is everywhere, all around us and within us. It is alive and well. Do you see it? Do you perceive it? Do you see your role in building it? Use these questions as a test of your own level of faith and know that God wants to reveal to you these mysteries that are only able to be comprehended by His grace. My mysterious Lord, Your Kingdom is everywhere, all around us and within us. I do believe. Give me the eyes of faith so that I may continually perceive Your hand at work. May I always be attentive to all that You wish to reveal to me and open to the deep meaning of the mysteries You do reveal. Increase my faith, dear Lord, so that I may know You and join in the upbuilding of Your glorious Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Christ among the Pharisees by Jacob Jordaens, via Wikimedia Commons

Read OnlineWhen Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5: 1–3Today we celebrate one of the most glorious solemnities within our Church! Every saint, canonized or not, is honored today. Our Gospel passage lays out the path by which these saints entered Heaven. While on earth, these great men and women lived lives that were poor in spirit, filled with a holy mourning, meekness, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy, peace, purity of heart and even persecution. Each one of these Beatitudes concludes by stating the reward that those who lived these qualities obtains: Heaven, comfort, satisfaction, mercy, seeing God, being children of God and rewards beyond what we can imagine in God's Kingdom.The Beatitudes invite us to the heights of holiness. They are not for the faint of heart or for those living a lukewarm spiritual life. These Beatitudes present us with the pinnacle of holy living and challenge us to the core. But every effort put into living these Beatitudes are worth it here on earth and ultimately in Heaven. Let's look briefly at two of these Beatitudes.The second Beatitude states that those “who mourn...will be comforted.” This is an interesting Beatitude. Why is it holy to mourn? Simply put, this form of holy mourning means that you not only have a holy sorrow for your own sins but that you have this holy sorrow as you see the many evils within our world. This is crucial today. First, it should be quite obvious that we must have holy sorrow for our own sins. Doing so means your conscience is working. And when your conscience is working, you will be compelled, by this holy sorrow, to acknowledge your offenses against God and work diligently to change. But we must also have a holy sorrow as we see the many evils within our world. Too often today there is a tendency to undermine this Beatitude by presenting universal acceptance of all things as a good. We are told we must not judge, and though that is true when it comes to judging another's heart, a worldly presentation of this secular “virtue” attempts to lead us to downplay the objective nature of sin. Our secular world tempts us to ignore many objective moral truths by which God guides us into all truth. But as Christians, our first approach must be to despise all that our Lord taught was objectively morally evil. And when we do come face-to-face with immoral lifestyles, the appropriate response must be holy sorrow, not acceptance of grave sin. To mourn over another's poor choices is a true act of charity toward them.The fourth Beatitude calls us to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This means that we not only have a holy sorrow over our sins and the objective evils of our world, but that we also allow ourselves to be filled with a hunger and thirst for truth and holy living. This drive must become a burning motivation within us to do all we can to further the Kingdom of God everywhere. This Beatitude enables us to overcome indifference, inspiring us to bring about change in the face of all opposition. And this drive is fueled by charity and every other accompanying virtue.Reflect, today, upon the beautiful truth that you are called to become a saint. And the surest path to sainthood is the Beatitudes. Read them carefully. Meditate upon them and know that they reveal to you how God is calling you to live. If one of these Beatitudes stands out to you, then spend time focusing upon it. Work to internalize these graces, and God will work wonders in your life, one day making this solemnity within our Church a true celebration of your life well lived. My most holy Lord, You reign now in Heaven and desire that Your glorious Kingdom be firmly established upon earth. Give me the grace I need to seek holiness with all my heart and to especially use Your revelation of the Beatitudes as the path by which I travel. I pray that I will become a true saint in this world and that You will use me to further Your Kingdom now and for eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Holy Trinity and Saints in Glory, a sketch for a ceiling by Sebastiano Conca, via Wikimedia Commons

Read OnlineJesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Luke 13:18–19 This short parable should speak to many people far more than they realize. It should be a source of great encouragement to us all as we seek to build up the Kingdom of God through apostolic works.The mustard seed is very small. At first, when someone holds it in their hand, they may not think much of it. But if they did plant it under ideal conditions, that seed could grow into a tree upwards of 20 feet tall.Jesus uses this parable to teach us many lessons. One such lesson is that of our apostolic works of charity. When you think of the call of being an apostle for the Lord, spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth, what comes to mind? Perhaps the first thought is of those who have been entrusted with a very large, public and vibrant ministry. In this case, it is easier to see the good fruit born of one's apostolic works. But what about you? For most people, they may strive to love and serve others in every small way they can, and they fail to see the abundance of good fruit born from their efforts. When this happens, some may become discouraged and lose zeal for the spreading of the Gospel.If this is you, then consider the mustard seed. Planting this small seed is representative of much of our apostolic endeavors. God calls us to do small acts of kindness, share our faith in subtle and even hidden ways, serve out of love even when it is unnoticed, and to do so without ceasing. Do these small acts bear fruit for the Kingdom of God? If you believe this parable of the mustard seed, then the answer must be a resounding “Yes.”Many times in life, we will never see the full effects that our actions have on others. Our negative influence will affect them far more than we realize. And our loving acts of charity, by which we share our faith, will also affect people far more than we realize. Believing in the message of this Parable of the Mustard Seed should lead us to believe that planting those small seeds of faith, through our charity, virtues, and words, will indeed bear an abundance of good fruit, far more than we may ever know, until we enter the glories of Heaven. Reflect, today, upon your duty to daily plant the smallest seeds of faith and love. Do not get discouraged if your efforts do not bear abundantly obvious fruit. Simply commit yourself to the planting, over and over. Take delight in sowing the seed of faith and see this as your mission. If you do this throughout your life, from Heaven you will look back and be amazed at how God powerfully brought forth His Kingdom through those seemingly insignificant acts of faith and love. My glorious King, You desire that Your Kingdom grow far and wide through our efforts of love. Please do use me, dear Lord, to plant Your seeds of faith and charity every day. May I never tire of these apostolic endeavors and may I always take great delight in serving You and building Your Kingdom in every way I can. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Parable of the Mustard Seed, via flickr

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (10/22/24), Hank explains what it means to pray, “Your Kingdom come” from the Jesus Prayer.Hank also answers the following questions:What is the definition of a cult? Jay - Bridgeton, MO (3:59)My husband and I are separated. Should I still submit to him? Should I seek to finalize the divorce? Annette - Atlanta, GA (8:58)As the leader of my home, I try to be careful with what media we consume. Is it okay to watch movies that depict Greek mythology? Gary - Walker, OK (15:11)Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the power of life and death. Should we watch what we say, or is this like the Word of Faith movement? Gary - Walker, OK (17:17)Since Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophets, how do we know which laws still apply to us? Herman - Merced, CA (18:37)What are your thoughts on the importance of the true name of God? Ron - Springfield, MO (21:26)

Read Online“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Luke 11:23These words are embedded within several powerful teachings of Jesus, but, in many ways, this single sentence can stand alone as an important Christian truth. Specifically, it tells us that we cannot be neutral in our position regarding Jesus and all that He has taught us. This is an important message in the world today.Today, there seems to be a growing secular value that we might call “neutrality.” We are told by many in the world that we must accept any morality, any lifestyle, any choice that others make. And though it is true that we must always love and accept every person and treat them with the utmost dignity and respect, it is not true that we should be neutral to the choices and secular values that some choose to live and express. Sadly, when we do speak the full truth, especially the many moral truths our Lord has revealed, we are often labeled as judgmental. But this is not the truth.This quote above from today's Gospel makes it clear that we cannot remain indifferent to the teachings of our Lord and still remain in His good graces. In fact, Jesus makes it clear that the opposite is true. He says that if we are not with Him, meaning, if we do not accept all that He has revealed, then we are, in fact, against Him. Being neutral on matters of faith and morality is not actually being neutral at all. It's a choice that some make that has the clear effect of separating them from Jesus.For example, regarding matters of faith, if someone were to say, “I do not believe in the Eucharist,” then they are, in fact, rejecting God. And though it is not our duty to be their judge, it is our duty to acknowledge that they have expressed a belief contrary to the truth. They are in error, and if they persist in this error, then they do separate themselves from God. That's what Jesus is saying.The same is true regarding morality. There are many examples in the moral life that are becoming more and more blatant in their opposition to our Lord's teaching. Thus, we must remind ourselves that when we reject a moral teaching given to us by our Lord, we reject Jesus Himself.Jesus goes even further when He says that “whoever does not gather with me scatters.” In other words, it's not enough to simply personally believe all that Jesus taught, we must also teach it to others. If we do not and if we, instead, offer a false form of “acceptance” of another's error, then we are actually working against Jesus. We all have a moral duty to actively promote the truths of the Gospel given to us by our Lord.Reflect, today, upon how fully you are “with” our Lord and “gather” with Him. Do you fully accept all that He has taught and also seek to gather many others for the Kingdom of God? If you do not see yourself actively believing in and participating in the mission of our Lord, then heed these words of Jesus and allow them to gently but firmly challenge you, so that you will more fully work to build up God's Kingdom in your own heart and in the world all around you.My glorious King, You desire to build up Your Kingdom in my life and, through me, in the lives of others. Give me the grace and courage I need to fully accept all that You have taught me and to actively become an instrument of Your grace and truth in the world. May I be with You in all things, dear Lord, and gather many into Your loving arms of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Christ and His Disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane By Rembrandt, via Wikimedia Commons

When the Lord challenges us to pray "Your Kingdom come... on earth as it is in heaven," how would his immediate audience have understood this concept? 

What happens when we die? It's a question as old as time—and the answer's right in the Bible. And today, pastor and author Max Lucado addresses this spiritual question and helps ease any fears we have relating to the afterlife. Notes: What happens when we die? “In slavery by their fear of death.”Hebrews 2:15 NIV “We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope.”1 Thessalonians 4:13 TJB Where do we go when we die? “Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”Luke 23:42 NCV “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with Me in paradise.”Luke 23:43 NCV “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don't know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.”2 Corinthians 12:2–4 NLT “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with Me in paradise.”Luke 23:43 NCV “We … would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV “…Heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God's right side.”Acts 7:56 NCV “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”Acts 7:59 NCV “Thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly [being joined by] the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”Hebrews 12:22–23 NIV “Carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.”Luke 16:22 NKJV “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!”Romans 11:33 ESV “When Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2 NIV “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”Hebrews 12:1 NLT “Since we are surrounded … let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”Hebrews 12:1 NLT --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when we die? It's a question as old as time—and the answer's right in the Bible. And today, pastor and author Max Lucado addresses this spiritual question and helps ease any fears we have relating to the afterlife. Notes: What happens when we die? “In slavery by their fear of death.”Hebrews 2:15 NIV “We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope.”1 Thessalonians 4:13 TJB Where do we go when we die? “Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”Luke 23:42 NCV “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with Me in paradise.”Luke 23:43 NCV “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don't know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.”2 Corinthians 12:2–4 NLT “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with Me in paradise.”Luke 23:43 NCV “We … would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV “…Heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God's right side.”Acts 7:56 NCV “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”Acts 7:59 NCV “Thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly [being joined by] the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”Hebrews 12:22–23 NIV “Carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.”Luke 16:22 NKJV “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!”Romans 11:33 ESV “When Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2 NIV “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”Hebrews 12:1 NLT “Since we are surrounded … let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”Hebrews 12:1 NLT --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.