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Episodes
Monday Feb 27, 2012
Monday Feb 27, 2012
27th February 2012
G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 27th of February 2012. Play the audio and see how Jim and Joy are challenging you to live your faith out this week!
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Thursday Feb 23, 2012
Thursday Feb 23, 2012
23rd February 2012
Fear of the Lord
It is not popular or common in Christian circles to talk about the fear of the Lord. People much prefer to emphasis a loving, fluffy God who forgives everything. They tend to ignore the discipline side of God. In Acts 5, we have a chilling account of how God deals with two Christians who lie. Basically they drop dead. That is how seriously God takes sin and we would do well to remember that on a daily basis.
We are all in the land of the enemy and are subject to his attacks in spirit soul and body, but God says, "Give no place to the Devil" Eph 4:27 That means that the devil cannot take a place in us if we do not let him. We open the way for him to come in if we sin the smallest sin in word, thought or deed and gives place for the devil to do us harm. I'm going to repeat that because it is very important. We open a way for the devil to come into our lives and attack us when we commit the smallest sin in word, in thought or in deed.Another way we can let the devil in to attack us is to become apathetic, to become lazy in the amount of time we spend with God seeking his will. If you fit your quiet time in whilst you're eating your breakfast, or making your packed lunch do you expect anyone to believe that God is the most important thing in your life. Or if you get into bed last thing at night and read your bible for 20 minutes before putting out the light. That's not loving God.
If you love someone you spend lots of time with them, you hang around them as soon as they come in the door you stop watching your favourite TV prog in order to spend time with them. You get up an hour earlier in the morning to be in their prescence. You spend lunch with them. You spend time listening to them, asking them what their desires are? Your weekends are planned around them, so you can be together as much as possible. Does that sound like the time you spend with God?
1 Peter 5:8 - be vigilant (watch all the time) because your adversary the devil walks about liking a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'
Job 28:28 - And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
Psalm 33:8 - Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. It's a choice! We choose to fear the Lord or to not fear the Lord
Proverbs 1:29 - since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.
How do fear the Lord in practice
Deuteronomy 6:2 - so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
Psalm 112:1 - Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.
Psalm 128:1 - Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him
Psalm 34:11-14 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Benefits of fearing the Lord
Psalm 112:1 - Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.
Psalm 128:1 - Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him
Psalm 25:14 - The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
Psalm 34:7 - The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Psalm 34:9 - Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing
Psalm 103:13 - As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Psalm 147:11 - the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
It's hard work
Proverbs 2 v 1-6 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding- indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
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Monday Feb 20, 2012
Monday Feb 20, 2012
20th February 2012
G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 20th of February 2012. Let's go over to Jim and Joy and discover what they are sharing with us today. Over to you, Jim!
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Its a new week and a new day and you are bursting to tell someone about Jesus. Right? No you say I freeze up and fear. Help!! If there was ever a man who couldn't keep the good news of Jesus to himself it was this man Philip we read about him in the book of Acts. Looking at this man, what do we notice that we can hopefully relate to and learn from his example? Maybe we can follow his example as we prepare ourselves for a new week witnessing for Jesus. We take up the story in Acts 8 Philip the evangelist is having a great time in Samaria making Christ known as Saviour Healer and Deliverer. Philip was saying "listen as I tell you of the all powerful Jesus Christ who can transform peoples lives." As he preached the good news of Jesus the whole city is being turned to God, many miracles occurring and many were saved, healed and delivered from all kinds of demonic influences. Revival was taking place. Philip must have been overjoyed to be there. Philip was having the time of his life. But you know something we can get so caught up with evangelism and the excitement of it where we are, as people around us are beginning to see God in a new light and yes enjoying God, that we easily forget there is a big world out there and God is caring for it and is eager for people of all nations to come to know Jesus and experiencing the joy and peace to be found in Him. So my first thought to share that I see here is that in meeting peoples needs in evangelism God is not only looking at Samaria but always has a much bigger picture in view. God the Almighty who knows everything is all powerful and sees the whole world in one view. He sees every country at the same moment and is working out his plans and purposes in them. So into this chapter and story where Philip is one of the main characters walks or rather rides another important person who is going to play a very important place in God's strategy for converting not another city like Samaria but a larger country called Ethiopia. So God had a plan. It begins with linking up Philip with this important man on his journey to Ethiopia. A man who was although a worshipper of God was desperate in needing help to understanding the good news of Jesus the Messiah as Lord and King. He didnt know the gospel. No one had told him. This man held a very high rank in the Ethiopian governemet. He was the Queen of Ethiopia's treasurer. A man who would have tremendous influence in the nation. He had been to Egypt perhaps for business reasons . But nothing happens by chance inb this world does it? Certainly not as far as God is concerned or His [people.He had spent time at the temple worshipping but lacked knowledge and understanding of the truth concerning Jesus. So how is God going to introduce his truth into Ethiopia? Philip is the chosen vessel to carry the truth to this man as he travels to his home land of Ethiopia in a horse driven royal chariot. Philip is transported somehow into a desert region by God which was on the route the man from Ethiopia is travelling on. Surprised? God knew exactly what He was doing. Isn't He amazing? Wow!! But I wonder if Philip wanted to move from Spring Harvest where it was all happening in Samaria to go to a solitary place. There could have been no bigger contrast. Any objections that Philip might have had are certainly are certainly not expressed in this narrative. You could say Philip had no say in the matter. God simply placed him where he wanted hin to be to serve in the purposes of God. Philip may well have prayed that morning "Lord lead me today to those you want to reach with the gospel. I am willing to go anywhere for you" A complete readiness to go wherever God sends him with this wonderful gospel message! First lesson - BE READY : The Ethiopian is in his horse drawn chariot reading an Old Testament manuscriptfrom Isiaiah53. Philip sees him and hears him reading looking puzzled. Second lesson - BE BRAVE : Philip shows not only he is ready but also BRAVE as he approaches the rich man. Can you imagine it? Two complete strangers meeting and the question asked is "Do you understand what you are reading? Third lesson - BE PREPARED : Philip is PREPARED to teach the man the way to God through Jesus. He wants the man to understand the glorious message of salvation through Jesus. He KNOWS THE SCRIPTURES in order to explain the passage the man is reading from. Philip was chosen to show the man what he needed to see and the man was resding a passage the Lord knew he would be reading to prepare him for his meeting with Philip. God is truly sovereign in all the affairs of the nations and of course here in this desert place. Isaiah 53 is clearly understood by Philip and he goes through this great chapter in our Bibles explaining that the Messiah spoken of here is Jesus. My friends I do not know how well you know this chapter in Isaiah but it is a great chapter of prophecy concerning Jesus and yet his name is not mentioned here. But if "you have eyes to see" when you look in the gospels and see their fulfilment recorded 800 years before Christ the Messiah came into the world It is astounding. Be assured, God's Word is absolutely true and can be trusted without question. So as you witness for Jesus use the tool He used and was so effective with.Joy's Prayer
Dear loving heavenly Father! We worship you for your greatness. You are all seeing, all knowing, all powerful. We are so thankful for that knowledge. You are so powerful that you take such an interest in each one of us in our individual lives. Your strength is always so welcome as we feel so inadequate for many tasks, but we are so thankful that you have said, that by your Spirit you will empower us to do all we need to do including sharing our faith in Jesus. Please help us to be effective witnesses and may we see the fruit from our labours and glorify You in Heaven! In Jesus' Name, AmenRight Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
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Thursday Feb 16, 2012
Thursday Feb 16, 2012
16th February 2012
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G’day and welcome to Pauline's Thursday Ponderings! If you're a Christian - forgiving others is not an option. Matthew 6:14-15 "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you but if you do not forgive men their sins, your heavenly father will not forgive you ." God takes the necessity of forgiving of others very seriously. Notice it does NOT say forgive others if they are sorry for hurting you, or forgive others if you can understand why they behaved in that way. We are to forgive everyone who has wronged us full stop. Peter, who may have been having a problem with one of the other disciples, asked Jesus ' Lord how many times do I have to forgive my brother if he keeps on wronging me?, in Matthew 18:21. "Jesus answered 'Seventy times seven!'" This means that we have to go on forgiving someone who hurts us again and again; no matter how many times they hurt us. Please note that Jesus did not say that if we are in an abusive relationship we have to stay in it and keep on being abused. In Mark 12:31 Jesus said we should love our neighbour as we love ourselves - that means we have a responsibility to love ourselves, which means removing ourselves from relationships in which others are abusive towards us. Forgiving someone means not telling others what they did to us so we can get sympathy. It means doing good things for them, praying for them blessing them. Matt 5:44 says love your enemies and pray for your persecutors. Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies, do good to them" and Romans 12:20 commands "If your enemy is hungry feed him." If someone has hurt you so badly that you find you self replaying what they did in your mind. Try thinking of something kind that the person has done for you, every time their misdemeanour pops into your thinking. If that is not possible then just actively think about something completely different. It will get to the point that you can think of the person without thinking of what they did, though this can take years. Actually, like every other thing that God asks us to do, forgiving others is in our best interests. Being angry with someone else just hurts us - it doesn't affect them. Not forgiving leads to bitterness and resentment which eats away at us from within and can lead to physical symptoms as well. So forgiving others should be a priority if you're a Christian.Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
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Monday Feb 13, 2012
Monday Feb 13, 2012
13th February 2012
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G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 13th of February 2012. Let's go over to Jim and Joy and discover what they are sharing with us today. Over to you, Jim! One key subject that repeatedly rings out clear and plain in the Bible is 'reconciliation'. What is the meaning of the word? Reconciliation is the re-establishing of cordial relations. So, the obvious conclusion drawn is that people are estranged from someone and need to be brought back together. When Adam and Eve were tempted or tested in the garden of Eden they were doing so as the representatives of mankind. What would man do when tempted by the devil? It was a dramatic occasion when Eve and then Adam were tested to see if they would obey the one rule God had given to them. The price of failure had already been spelt out clearly to them "the soul that sins will die" (Genesis 2:17;) They both failed the test and we read in the book of Romans that consequently death came not only upon them but upon all mankind from that day to this. This was the result of this failure to obey. (Romans 5:12) Man was out of step with the Lord and needed to be changed. They had been distanced from God through their disobedience and needed to be reconciled to God . They needed to be really sorry for their misdeeds in order to receive the gift of forgiveness from God and that was still a long way off until the coming of Jesus to whom all the sacrifices pointed., Meanwhile though their sacrifices of animals birds etc they showed their need to repent and believe in the coming Reconciler. That was the purpose of Jesus Christ's coming to reconcile us to God. (Romans 5:10;) Sin makes the righteous God angry. Sinners become God's enemies. Jesus through his death restored this relationship between us as sinners and God by His grace. The Greek word 'katallasso' means "put into friendship with" Reconciliation comes through God's initiative. Man, on his own would never be able to return to that relationship without God opening up the way through His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ . (John 14:6) Meanwhile God overlooked their wrongs as they offered their sacrifices.Reconciliation and forgiveness could only to be obtained by The Reconciler Jesus Christ. Adam and Eve's act of disobedience broke their sweet communion with God. He had come down and met with them daily in the cool of the evening to fellowship with them. But one day when he came they were not at their usual meeting point. They were in fact hiding from God( Genesis 3). They were conscious of their guilt and were ashamed. Thankfully God took the initiative so that the solution to theirs as well as ours, is spoken of here in the very same chapter. Genesis (3:9-10) What a moment? The God of all history in the early days of His creation. When we come to the New Testament and Luke 15 and the parable of the prodigal son we see a beautiful picture of a loving father and his wayward son being reconciled. We can sense the moment when tears flowed, hearts beat faster and arms embraced each other and the word got around "he is home all is well again" If you are reconciled to God and you are at peace with Him be thankful and praise the Lord for restoring you. When a woman I had been talking to about her need of our precious Saviour and realised how precious she was to Him and how He had sought her out and given the chance to be back in fellowship with Him she was overwhelmed and saw immediately a vivid picture of the evil devil who had kept her away from Him for 60 years. She saw how she had forgotten God her heavenly Father but He certainly had not forgotten her. The tears flowed and she then rejoiced in her Reconciler, Jesus Christ her Saviour Lord and Friend. Friend you cannot be happy away from God , The sooner you return to Him the sooner you will have peace restored in your heart and joy unspeakable. Why stay outside the door when there is such a warm welcome on the inside.?Joy's Prayer
Dear Lord and Loving Heavenly Father, How thankful I am that you set up your wonderful recovery programme to restore us almost as soon as the first person decided to disobey and leave your company. Such amazing love, its difficult to take it in. I love you Lord for your very deep interest in me and the fact that you love me with an undeserving love, but also an eternal love which never fades. An 'agape' love which is prepared to forgive me time and time again when I fall. Oh!, dear Lord strengthen me in those areas where I mess up and help me conquer my failings and serve you more faithfully and love you more earnestly. Thank You that I can talk to you at any time as I cast my care on You. Hold me close please and never let me go In Jesus name AmenRight Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
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Thursday Feb 09, 2012
Thursday Feb 09, 2012
2nd February 2012
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G’day and welcome to Pauline's Thursday Ponderings! There are many things we should do if we love God. One of those things is to spend time getting to know Him, and one of the ways we can achieve this is to read His Word, the Bible. James 1:22-25 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do. That's a pretty good promise to be blessed in all you do, but you can't do what the word says if you don't know what it says or understand it. Philippians 2:14-16 - Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Again you can't hold firmly to the word of life which is God's word written in the Bible unless you know it. Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the armour of God to protect ourselves in the spiritual battle, which we all find ourselves involved. Part of the armour of God and a very important part is mentioned in v17. Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Again if you don 't know the word of God it is very difficult to quote it at when you need to. I find quoting scripture out loud when I am anxious or fearful very helpful, no matter what the situation. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The other day I was chatting to a Jehovah's Witness who was door knocking. She mentioned that often she talks to Christians who go to church regularly but don't know their bibles. That made me so sad and I want to encourage you to read your bible more and not only read it but understand it. There are many study aids out there at many different levels to help you, if you can't afford to buy one I'm sure your vicar or pastor would be happy to lend you one of theirs.Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
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Monday Feb 06, 2012
Monday Feb 06, 2012
6th February 2012
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G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 6th of February 2012. Let's go over to Jim and Joy and discover what they are sharing with us today. Over to you, Jim! "Be patient in well doing" sound familiar? Yes, its in the Bible. (Romans 2:7) What does it mean? Patience is the quality that does not surrender to the circumstances or succumb under trial. It is the opposite of despondency. God is never in a hurry. Have you ever heard that? Have you ever received a promise from God and you are still waiting for the fulfilment of it?. Sarah (Abraham's wife) couldn't have a baby(Genesis 16-18 ). She had no doubt prayed and tried many times but no sign of it. Eventually she could wait no longer and wanting to hurry God along she told her husband to take a handmaid to produce the heir she desperately wanted.. To get it done quick? That was not good advice as God had it well in hand to give Sarah a baby in His own time . Patience was certainly not a quality she possessed. The Israelites suffering in Egypt for many many years languishing in Egypt in bondage but God had promised many years before that they would be delivered and even told them the number of years they would be kept there in slavery. It was a very long time but God is sovereign and is never in a hurry. He prophesied how long Israel would suffer and it came to pass. When the time came for their release brought about by the ten plagues sent by God to make the Egyptians release Israel it was a perfectly timed prophecy. But it didn't stop there. There would be more tests to come, testing their patience and trust in God. Another test of patience and trust in God would come quickly as they began their journey, hot on the heels of the last test. Hurrying from Egypt as fast as they could they suddenly discovered they were trapped and closed in by mountains on each side of them and a huge army from Egypt behind pursuing them to take them back into slavery. There was no way forward either as the Red sea appeared ahead of them. What was their response? They were angry at Moses. Moses was now on his knees before God prayed "Things are bad here Lord I am under attack from the people what shall we do?. There is no way forward." Difficult to be patient in those circumstances isn't it? .The answer from the Lord was "Stand still and see what I will do you only have to lift up your rod over Red sea leave the rest to Me." The Lord then miraculously opened up the way for them. 1 million people needing to escape, soldiers bearing down upon them, mountains hemming them in, an impossible sea to cross but... God had it all in hand. A miracle was required and a miracle took place. It is not easy putting into practice the scripture "Let patience have her perfect work" when there seems no way forward. However patience did have its perfect work in the lives of God's people and the Red Sea opened up and Israel escaped from evil Pharaoh's clutches, slavery and domination. In the New Testament we find The Lord exercising amazing patience with Peter one of the disciple.. He was a rugged fisherman who had failed in his faith and patience several times but the Lord had planned to use him powerfully as a leader to His church later in his life and that is what he became. A very strong leader among the apostles following Christ's death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus had spent three years training the disciples and surely must have said many times "How long have I been telling you these things and still you have such little faith? The pastor who has faithfully served in a new parish for several years may say "How long before we really see things moving here?" It takes a lot of patience to wait for God to work in a persons life. I knew of one lady who had to spend 38 years waiting to see her husband saved? Worth waiting for? Yes it was! 12 years praying daily, waiting for God to work in my Dad's life? Worth waiting for.? Certainly without a doubt. Forty years to wait for another members of my family to be saved. Oh to see the joy on the face of someone and the tears shed when the time comes. The key word is patience and faith in God's promise. Which promise is that? "God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and faith in Christ." so pray on and trust for many years if necessary. Patience is not a only a virtue its an absolute necessity for the people who believe in their God.Joys Prayer.
Dear Lord reading the Old Testament we see the promise made of a coming Messiah. Isaiah prophesying 800 years before Jesus came described many details concerning His person but would it happen? Eventually in the fullness of time Jesus came and patience had her perfect work in the lives of many including two, Simeon and Anna who were waiting for the Messiah to come and when Jesus did arrive for a dedication service with Mary and Joseph they knew and recognised Jesus the Messiah. Lord, give us patience in all the struggles we are going through, that we may trust in your promises to meet all our needs in protection and provision. Your timing is always right and we are always wanting it to come asap. but give us that confidence to wait till the right time. We are praying for financial help and our friends are praying for the healing of a relative from illness, and a business to pick up, Help the young people in their studying, understanding why certain things are happening in our lives we don't want to go under Lord so please help us get through our pain and suffering. We love and trust you! In Jesus name AmenRight Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
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Saturday Feb 04, 2012
Saturday Feb 04, 2012
There Is None Like You
Evard, Beatrice and team
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Thursday Feb 02, 2012
Thursday Feb 02, 2012