Partakers Christian Podcasts

Think Spot

Think Spot 15 April 2013

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Have you ever wondered what constitutes a growing church? Do you know that it isn't just a list of names on the church roll or a social club. Neither is it a large number of people who have made "decisions for Christ". So, what constitutes a church which is living and growing in both spiritual quality as well as numbers? As a Christian to go into the week thinking about how you can contribute to the church you attend! A church should be filled with 'Kingdom of People' - people who declare Jesus is Lord, reflecting His values in word thought and action. A church which is full of people who allow their lives to be totally controlled by the Holy Spirit, and letting the Holy Spirit flow through them. And even more! A church filled with people whose lives are oriented around the following!

• Commitment to Jesus Christ - following Jesus' commandments, and learning daily hww to be more like Him.
• Commitment to the Body of Christ, the Church, being willing to love the Body and Bride of Christ just as Jesus loves the Church.
• Commitment to working within the local community - utilizing the gifts God has given them for the glory of God and exhortation of the other people.

There is no such thing as a full Christian life without those three things in the above set priority - Jesus, church, community. If the priority is shifted in any area then our priorities are wrong. Christians aren't to just to be Christians on a Sunday but 7 days a week. Not just to associate with other Christians, but to affect their local community throughout the week for the glory of Jesus Christ. To do this, this week, think about these questions:

• Am I fully committed to Jesus and His teachings?
• Am I fully committed to my local community and seeing Jesus glorified within it?

Go into the week, knowing God can use you to help both your church and your local community. Thank you.

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Ask Dave - Question 4

Question 4

When does one truly receive their salvation?

I will be hoping to return to the US & Canada in 2013! If you want a visit, leave a comment and we will see what ministry we can do together there! This is a general interview about my life and my Christianity. However, over the following 6 weeks I will be answering one question a week:

1. What inspired you to visit the USA in 2010?
2. What Does Jesus Christ Mean to you?
3. How do you help a new convert to become a disciple?
4. When does one truly receive their salvation?
5. If somebody is struggling with God and salvation, what can they do and how can we help them?
6. What are your thoughts on the infilling of the Holy Spirit

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Friday Prayers

Friday Prayers

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12 April 2013

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Opening Prayer Father, as we commence, let our hearts and minds be right and still before you. May your everlasting mercy, grace and love be shown in hearing these petitions!

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Prayer of Praise Praise to God the Father sing, praise to God the Son,our king, praise to God the Spirit be now and through eternity. Amen!

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Time for you to give praise to God

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Time for petitions and requests to God

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Closing Prayer O Father! May it be that your love takes over our lives That we follow you faithfully, Giving you alone praise in all circumstances we face together. We ask all these things Father, through the majestic name of Your Son, Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us! Amen!

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Thursday Ponderings

11th April 2013

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G’day and welcome to Pauline's Thursday Ponderings! When we are going through a difficult time it is sometimes hard to believe that you are the apple of Gods eye. God gave me a picture once. I asked God what I was worth. God tied a tag round my neck with a piece of string, the kind of price tag that they have in old fashioned shops. The tag read £10, then he removed the tag and replaced it with one that read £100, then he removed that one and replaced it with one that had £1000 on it. He replaced the £1000 price tag with one that read £100,000 and then replaced that one with a million pound price tag. The final price tag simply had ‘ONE LIFE’ written on it. I find it mind blowing that God chose to let His Son die a hideously painful death so that I can enjoy a personal relationship with him that I am so valuable that even if I was the only human being that existed, God would have allowed Jesus to die on a cross for me. Remind yourself of this fact frequently and you will get a glimpse of your father’s heart. He loves you to bits and is proud of you no matter what you have done in the past - if you have said sorry and meant it - it is forgotten. The slate is completely clean. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says’ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come’ God’s love for you is unconditional. God created us with a thirst to be secure, to have self worth and to have a sense of our own significance. That thirst is intended to be quenched by God himself, by His unconditional love for us and unconditional acceptance of our work. I John 3 verse 1 says’ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.! And that is what we are!’ Ephesians 2 verse 10 says’ We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepares for us in advance to do.’ Unfortunately many of us try and get our security and sense of self worth from our spouses or parents. Whilst that can be okay if we have a particularly adoring spouse or an encouraging mum and dad, it goes badly wrong if we have a critical spouse or a parent that withholds praise. Our self esteem really suffers in the case of a verbally critical spouse or parent and is affected just as badly by someone who is slow to give praise. Galatians 4: 7 says Because you are sons,” God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave but a son and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.’ Our aim should be to please God and fulfil his purposes for our lives. If it is we will discover a sense of security, value and significance in God and then it will not matter if our boss does not appreciate us or if our spouse criticises us. We should be aiming to enjoy God, to have a life of worship and to get to know God better each day. God adores us and considers us adorable, He is proud of our achievements but is so much more thrilled with our efforts to get to know Him better.

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Think Spot

Think Spot 8th April 2013

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” Psalm 119: 105

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The day I was converted I longed to dig deep into the Bible and make up for the many years I had never hardly read it. I learned fairly quickly and the desire has always been there but not so strong as it is now when I am well into my 75th year. That desire has been further intensified by my being brought into contact especially over recent years with some of the finest preachers in the whole world on the Internet through web sites like “sermon. audio.” (You can freely download the cream of the best preaching over the whole world at this web site either mp3 or mp4 format.) This is not a plug but helpful advice from one who has been blessed mightily through it. What a privilege wouldn't you agree?

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I have learned a tremendous amount by listening to a great number of preachers and Bible teachers who stand wholly on the Bible. They clearly explain the Bible by diligently studying many hours themselves not only for their own benefit or even their congregations but for the benefit of all who are earnestly wanting to get to grips with the content of the best book in all the world. The worlds best seller yet how many take advantage of the better side of the Internet and listen to the best exposition from God's Holy Word. I know you will say “But I know enough of the Bible, I am quite contented with my present knowledge.” or maybe you will say quite rightly “I am a practical Christian and I am getting on with living the Christian life.” I commend you for that and am happy with you up to a point.

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In today’s age many are beginning to ask questions of us and demand quite rightly what Christianity is all about. My own experience over many years is that as we dig into God's Word for knowledge as well as understanding and apply it to our own individual lives, which is a must, of course, we do need to follow one of the most important Bible teachings in the entire Bible which is “Be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within you” If we were football players we would practice and practice for hours in order to be at the top of our game. Likewise if we are good cooks we will do all we can to top the next meal we cook. We have an amazing text book for our profession but it needs studying to get the most and the best out of it. This readiness is not for preachers and evangelists alone but all of us who profess Christ as our Saviour Lord and King.

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One last thought. It is such a full volume and needs to be studied slowly in order to go over and over verses which may be familiar in order to squeeze out the sweet beneficial nectar and fruit which is there if we search diligently. which may mean going over and over passages word by word but its worth it. We have the Bible in our own native language and have so many Commentaries Dictionaries and Lexicons and endless helps on web sites such as this one at Partakers where each download is free ( http://www.partakers.co.uk ) E-Sword (more free downloads.) Amazon Kindle books also are so easy to obtain and put onto your computer at very reasonable prices.. Whether you have a kindle, tablet, etc or not you can download a Kindle electronically. Yes you can. The 'App' is free from Amazon and the books include some of the best Christian authors from the present and the past.

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We are greatly indebted to Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones for making us aware of the writers from the 16th to 18th century including the puritan era. Men's writings like Charles Spurgeon, Thomas Watson and J C Ryle to our attention. I could add John Stott, John Macarthur, John Piper, Al Martin, Paul Washer, Brian Green etc. The list is endless.

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In this day and age everyone wants instant this and instant that. If you want to grow as a Christian you have to give attention to it and take the time. Turn the TV off for a couple of hours per day and you will be so blessed I can assure you. Can I recommend also David Pawson. Org,/ MLJ Trust. both free downloads, and if you seek the Lord for discernment Her will lead you to the best teachers you can learn so much from them. I can assure you the more you soak yourselves in God's Word the devil will be pressed back and will not want to come near you.

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My reason for saying that is this. I would ask you to remember Matthew 4 and Luke 4 where Jesus is being tempted by the devil. Jesus answered by what means to defeat his foe? By quoting Bible texts at him and eventually the devil left him for a season. Clothe yourselves in God's armour each day (Ephesians 6:10-18;) and soak yourselves in God’s Word (not five minutes but at least an hour) plus prayer daily . God is the most important Person in the whole world and deserves our attention of Him. Remember one day we shall see Him. Better get to know Him right now don’t you think?

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Joys Prayer Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father, It is our chief delight to talk with You and listen to you speaking to us through the Scriptures. Help us to make more time to spend with you and learn from The Holy Spirit all about Jesus Christ and God the Father as well as Himself. There are many things that occupy our minds during the day and if we are honest we don't need to be spending as much time as we do on the less important occupations. Forgive us and give us discernment to spend each day more wisely remembering the words of the Lord's Prayer “Your Kingdom come and Your will be done” and to feed on your strengthening word. In Jesus name, Amen

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