Partakers Christian Podcasts

Partakers Bible Thought

31 July 2021

16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
17 “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:16-18)

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one” answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

As Christians we are commanded not to sin! It is fundamental to living the Christian life! Essentially, "sin" is a failure to love God as well as a failure to love other people. We break God’s commandment when we do not show love to Him or other people. The primary way of loving God is to love other people. Were you aware of that?

Oh it is easy to love your friends and those you actually like. It is easy to love those around you including those you don’t know. But Jesus, as ever, goes even further than that! He commands that those who declare they love Him also go and love their enemies. Jesus commanded his followers, all those who claim to be His disciples, to love those they don’t like or are ever wanting to like! Now that is a bit radical is it not?

As Christians, we should be so filled with God’s love that it acts as a magnetic attraction to God’s goodness and love. What kind of love is this? How is this love in evidence? How do we show others that we love God? Let’s discover together more about the Christian and love, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

30 July 2021

49 To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot. 51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall purify the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn. 53 Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.” (Leviticus 14:49-53)

24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:24-27)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37-39)

Living water! A recurrent theme through the Old Testament. How so? In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were to make sacrificial offerings to God, in order to worship and have fellowship with Him. For without sacrifice, nobody could enter God’s presence! In the book of Leviticus, God commanded that the cleansing of a defiled house required sprinkling with a mixture of blood and ‘living’ water, the bird having been slain over the water (Leviticus 14:51).

At the time of the prophet Ezekiel, Israel were in exile due to their sin and idolatry. They needed to be cleansed before being allowed back into their own country. Ezekiel 36:24-25 tells us that “God will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols.”

These sacrifices pointed forward to the God-man we know as Jesus Christ. What did He say about living water? How can water “live”? More importantly, what does all this have to do with us in the 21st century. Let’s discover together more about the Christian and joy, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

29 July 2021

23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell face down. (Leviticus 9:23-24)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Joy! A wonderful word in relation to the Christian believer. Joy, a word which is often misused and often misunderstood in the life of the Christian! If that is so, what is true Christian joy? Is joy merely a form of bloated happiness as many people believe, including those in the church? Can joy be seen as going around everywhere with a silly grin etched into your face! That kind of joy is dependent upon circumstances and feelings! True joy is not to be confused with mere pleasure or feeling good!

So if that is what joy is not, what is joy in regard to the Christian and their life? Come and explore what the Bible has to say about God, the Christian and joy. What is true joy for the Christian? What does Jesus have to do with joy – in his earthly life and in his being now? How can the Christian recognize true joy? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on in! Let’s discover together more about the Christian and joy, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

28 July 2021

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (Exodus 32:30-32)

22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:22-25)

I wonder if you are like me and when you hear the word idolatry, you imagine somebody bowing before a statue and worshipping it. Such as the Israelites worshipping the golden calf, as recorded by Moses in Exodus 32, or people bowing down to the statue of the Buddha or one of the many Hindu gods. Therefore, idolatry is worshipping statues or worshipping in other religions. However, the Bible is very clear, that idolatry is a threat to living the Christian life. How can that be, you may very well ask!

Come and explore what the Bible has to say about God, the Christian and idolatry. What is idolatry for the Christian? Why is idolatry a sin? How can the Christian overcome the sin of idolatry in their life? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on in! Let’s discover together more about the Christian and idolatry, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

27 July 2021

27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:27-28)

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I wonder what the biggest fence, wall or barrier is that you have either seen or that you know about! Perhaps one of the biggest walls in the world is the Great Wall of China. It is seen from space and is over 4000 miles long, about 25 feet high and up to 30 feet thick! It is huge and enormous!! It was built to keep out invaders – for that is what walls and barriers do: Keep out enemies!
The biggest barrier to exist is the one, which separates God from all His creation. This barrier is holiness, for God is a holy God. Come and explore what the Bible has to say about God’s holiness and the Christian. We explore questions such as:

What is holiness? What does it have to do with the Christian? What is the role of the Father, Son and the Spirit in relation to holiness and the Christian? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on in! Let’s discover together more about the Christian and holiness, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

25 July 2021

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’
And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’
(Isaiah 6:8)

Today we look into perhaps one of the most commonly asked questions given by Christian. “How can I know God’s guidance for me?” When Jesus Christ called you personally and said: “Follow Me.” and you responded “Yes, Lord.” that was the start of a beautiful relationship between the Living God and yourself. Perhaps the most common question all Christian Disciples ask is “How can I know God’s will and His guidance for my life as one of His children and followers? How can I know the who, what, when where, how and why?”

Come and explore what the Bible has to say about the Christian and guidance from God. How does God guide the Christian? How can the Christian make wise decisions in all matters of life? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on in! Let’s discover together more about the Christian and guidance from God, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

25 July 2021

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. (Romans 13:1-7)

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor. (1 Peter 2:13-17)

All people all over the world live under a form of leadership or government. That government may be democratically elected, a monarchy or even an oppressive dictatorship. Whatever kind of government we find ourselves with, we have one. What is the relationship between the Christian and the Government to be?

Come and explore what the Bible has to say about the Christian and their relationship with Government. What functions of Government does the Bible offer? How and in what way are Christians to be responsible citizens? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on it! Let’s discover together more about the relationship between the Christian and the Government, by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

24 July 2021

15 ‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17)

12 ‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’ (John 16:12-15)

God the Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity, as we saw together in the Podcast yesterday. As such we do not refer to the Spirit as “it” or “that”, but rather Him! Wherever the Holy Spirit is, the Father and Son are also present because they are one (John 14:18-23). However, in some Christians circles, He is almost the forgotten person of the Trinity as well, alas!

Come and explore what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit and in particular the ministry that the Holy Spirit has in His relationship with the Christian. What does it mean to be “filled with the Spirit?” How is He the “Comforter”? in what way is the Holy Spirit assured proof that you, as a Christian, are God’s child? What is the best evidence for the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on it! Let’s discover together more about the relationship between God the Holy Spirit and the Christian by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

23 July 2021

12 ‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’ (John 16:12-15)

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
‘When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.’ (Ephesians 4:3-8)

One of the problems that people have with the Christian God is the concept of God being a Trinity. They ask questions such as: “Why must God be a Trinity?” After all they say, the word Trinity isn’t in the Bible! And they are partly correct, insomuch as that there is no explicit Bible text using the word trinity. However, the concept is explicit throughout the Bible.

Come and explore what the Bible has to say about God being the Trinity. What are some of the problems which can be overcome concerning this essential doctrine of the Christian faith? How does the Bible illustrate the concept of God being Trinity? “God is one” the Bible screams throughout, so how can you say that God is Trinity? These and other questions we seek to answer! So come on it! Let’s discover together more about God as Trinity by listening to the podcast!

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Partakers Bible Thought

22 July 2021

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:7-11)

Ahhh the Sovereignty of God! That is what we are looking at today. What does this mean? The sovereignty of God means that God is in control at all times and nothing can occur outside of His control and will. God loves His creation and cares for it. He won’t deny people their humanity when dealing with them. God issues decrees: Sovereign, Conditional and Natural.

Come and explore what the Bible has to say about God’s Sovereignty! What does God being sovereign, mean? What can we understand when it is said that “God decreed”? What role does God’s sovereignty have to do with the decisions we make today? Let’s discover together more about God and His Sovereignty by listening to the podcast!

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