G’day and welcome to Partakers Christian Podcasts! Join us for uplifting Bible teaching, inspiring readings, heartfelt worship, powerful prayers, and fascinating church history. Whether you’re new to faith or growing deeper in your journey, we’re here to encourage and equip you. 🎧 Tune in, interact, and be inspired—wherever you are in the world.
Episodes
Monday Mar 09, 2015
Monday Mar 09, 2015
Think Spot - 9 March 2015
Counting the cost of following Jesus today...
Luke 9:23-26 Jesus speaking “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
What is our response to this to be? This is not a popular message in churches today, particularly in the West, as we don't like to scare people away! But the message from Jesus is clear - there is a cost to following Him. As followers of Jesus Christ we are commanded to count the cost of following Him. That is how we carry our own cross for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to be number one in the life of all those who choose to follow him! Jesus wants supremacy over everything in our lives, including family, friends, and possessions!
What have you given up in and as a result of your decision to follow Jesus? Making sacrifices to follow Jesus is all part of the WOW factor of Jesus. Jesus demands that He is number one and supreme over everything else in your life - yourself, family, others and material goods including money and possessions.
How is this done? This is done by consistently ensuring that your works and words match your lifestyle and that no hypocrisy can be found, or indeed will be found. It means standing up for God in the face of adversity. It means loving others even though they hate you. Just a couple of examples. In the UK, we aren’t systematically persecuted. We are marginalized, ridiculed and ignored but some of our Christian family around the world daily face death simply because they chose to follow Jesus. They are carrying their cross for Jesus!
What about us today? For example if we as Christians were known by our self-sacrificial love of all others, then Jesus whom we claim to love, follow, worship, and adore would be seen. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote "When Jesus Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. ... Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Jesus Christ, nor is it hero worship, but intimacy with Christ." (The Cost of Discipleship). Bonhoeffer knew that as a Christian, a person has to take up their own cross in following Jesus and count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Finally, let’s look at 1 John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for others.” Jesus told us to take up our own cross if we are to follow Him as His Disciple. How is that possible? If we try to do that in our own strength and wisdom, we will fail. If we do that using the power and strength of the Holy Spirit within you, then you will succeed at following Jesus’ command. Are you as a Disciple of Jesus Christ willing to take up your cross? What a difference that would make to the community where you live!
Have a WOW week!
What is our response to this to be? This is not a popular message in churches today, particularly in the West, as we don't like to scare people away! But the message from Jesus is clear - there is a cost to following Him. As followers of Jesus Christ we are commanded to count the cost of following Him. That is how we carry our own cross for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to be number one in the life of all those who choose to follow him! Jesus wants supremacy over everything in our lives, including family, friends, and possessions!
What have you given up in and as a result of your decision to follow Jesus? Making sacrifices to follow Jesus is all part of the WOW factor of Jesus. Jesus demands that He is number one and supreme over everything else in your life - yourself, family, others and material goods including money and possessions.
How is this done? This is done by consistently ensuring that your works and words match your lifestyle and that no hypocrisy can be found, or indeed will be found. It means standing up for God in the face of adversity. It means loving others even though they hate you. Just a couple of examples. In the UK, we aren’t systematically persecuted. We are marginalized, ridiculed and ignored but some of our Christian family around the world daily face death simply because they chose to follow Jesus. They are carrying their cross for Jesus!
What about us today? For example if we as Christians were known by our self-sacrificial love of all others, then Jesus whom we claim to love, follow, worship, and adore would be seen. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote "When Jesus Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. ... Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Jesus Christ, nor is it hero worship, but intimacy with Christ." (The Cost of Discipleship). Bonhoeffer knew that as a Christian, a person has to take up their own cross in following Jesus and count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Finally, let’s look at 1 John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for others.” Jesus told us to take up our own cross if we are to follow Him as His Disciple. How is that possible? If we try to do that in our own strength and wisdom, we will fail. If we do that using the power and strength of the Holy Spirit within you, then you will succeed at following Jesus’ command. Are you as a Disciple of Jesus Christ willing to take up your cross? What a difference that would make to the community where you live!
Have a WOW week!
Right Mouse click to save this as a mp3 file
Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Friday Mar 06, 2015
Friday Mar 06, 2015
Partakers Friday Prayers!
6th March 2015
We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together!
Prayer of St Patrick
Today I put on:
God's strength to steer me,
God's power to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye for my vision,
God's ear for my hearing,
God's word for my speech,
God's hand to protect me,
God's pathway before me,
God's shield for my shelter,
God's angels to guard me
from ambush of devils,
from vice's allurements,
from traps of the flesh,
from all who wish ill,
whether distant or close,
alone or in hosts.
Christ beside me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie,
Christ where I sit,
Christ where I rise,
Christ in the hearts of all who think of me,
Christ in the mouths of all who speak to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Today I put on a terrible strength,
invoking the Trinity,
confessing the Three,
with faith in the One as I face my Maker.
Today I put on:
God's strength to steer me,
God's power to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye for my vision,
God's ear for my hearing,
God's word for my speech,
God's hand to protect me,
God's pathway before me,
God's shield for my shelter,
God's angels to guard me
from ambush of devils,
from vice's allurements,
from traps of the flesh,
from all who wish ill,
whether distant or close,
alone or in hosts.
Christ beside me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie,
Christ where I sit,
Christ where I rise,
Christ in the hearts of all who think of me,
Christ in the mouths of all who speak to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Today I put on a terrible strength,
invoking the Trinity,
confessing the Three,
with faith in the One as I face my Maker.
Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
~ Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Wednesday Mar 04, 2015
Wednesday Mar 04, 2015
Way of Wisdom
with Regina Sanders
Victory Over Depression
Today's Scripture reading is Psalm 42: 5-11 (NKJV) "Why are you cast down, O my soul?...Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."
Anyone can feel depressed, discouraged about life. Overwhelmed with problems. Impacted by world events. Each year nearly 15 million American adults experience a major depressive disorder. No one is immune, for this impacts the old and young. The US Census Bureau reports that the median age when depression disorders strike is 32, with women more likely to be victims than men.
Depression has been proven to be a significant byproduct for those with serious illnesses. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than half of eating disorder patients experience depression. But so do a high percentage of cancer patients, and those who have had strokes and heart attacks.
Christians are not immune from depression. We all face challenges and trials. We can be discouraged about our job, family, or marriage. We can be overwhelmed by financial needs, sicknesses, and disease. We can feel defeated by sin and mistakes we have made.
But God has given us the power to be free from depression. He told Isaiah that we might go through waters, rivers, and fire. But we are to realize that He is with us in every situation (Isaiah 43:1-2).
When we start to feel depressed, when we are cast down, the Bible urges us to focus on God, to remember we can hope in Him and trust Him no matter what we face.
If you feel overwhelmed by the weight of your burdens, turn to Him. Remember that you don't have to fear. He is with you, right by your side. Commit your needs to Him. And start praising and worshiping Him! You are His! And He has promised to take care of you!
Please repeat this prayer after me: Father, I entrust my life to You. Thank you that my life is in Your hands. Thank you for being with me and providing for me. I praise and worship You; in Jesus name, amen.
Anyone can feel depressed, discouraged about life. Overwhelmed with problems. Impacted by world events. Each year nearly 15 million American adults experience a major depressive disorder. No one is immune, for this impacts the old and young. The US Census Bureau reports that the median age when depression disorders strike is 32, with women more likely to be victims than men.
Depression has been proven to be a significant byproduct for those with serious illnesses. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than half of eating disorder patients experience depression. But so do a high percentage of cancer patients, and those who have had strokes and heart attacks.
Christians are not immune from depression. We all face challenges and trials. We can be discouraged about our job, family, or marriage. We can be overwhelmed by financial needs, sicknesses, and disease. We can feel defeated by sin and mistakes we have made.
But God has given us the power to be free from depression. He told Isaiah that we might go through waters, rivers, and fire. But we are to realize that He is with us in every situation (Isaiah 43:1-2).
When we start to feel depressed, when we are cast down, the Bible urges us to focus on God, to remember we can hope in Him and trust Him no matter what we face.
If you feel overwhelmed by the weight of your burdens, turn to Him. Remember that you don't have to fear. He is with you, right by your side. Commit your needs to Him. And start praising and worshiping Him! You are His! And He has promised to take care of you!
Please repeat this prayer after me: Father, I entrust my life to You. Thank you that my life is in Your hands. Thank you for being with me and providing for me. I praise and worship You; in Jesus name, amen.
Please join me next week for The Way of Wisdom with Regina Sanders. God bless you!
Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file
~ Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Monday Mar 02, 2015
Monday Mar 02, 2015
Think Spot - 2 March 2015
Gifted to glorify God
As Christians, we all are gifted! Are you aware of that! Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 says this about gifts! “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
How are you doing at developing those gifts and talents that you have? Are you aware of them? If you are, are you using them to glorify God? More importantly, is the church you are attached to allowing you to use them?
A good church will allow you to grow and develop your gifts and talents as a Christian. The secret to a growing church is to use everybody as they can, not just favourites... Alas some churches do use favouritism of select groups but the growing ones do not!
Go! Go into this week, develop your spiritual gifts and talents to glorify God! If you don’t know how, ask somebody else! If you are a church leader, please do ensure that you are not exercising favouritism to select groups but using everybody that God has placed under your care for development and discipleship! Amen!
Have a WOW week!
Right Mouse click to save this as a mp3 file
Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!