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 Jan 15, 2018
Monday Jan 15, 2018
Think Spot 15 January 2018
We start this new week with a challenge! Each of us can make a difference in this world. Are you aware of that? Let's see what we can do together!
One of the most well-known bible verses is when Jesus says “Love your neighbour as yourself.” But did you know he is actually quoting from Leviticus 19:18b "love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord." What does that mean for us today?
As Christians we are to live right lives - to be holy. That is a fundamental about being a Christian. It means being practical and loving others - not just in words but in action. Not just saying I love you but showing that you do. It means sometimes doing things we don't want to do. Or not doing things we want to do. It means putting others first and ourselves last. It means not showing favouritism – to the rich or the poor, to the beautiful and the not so beautiful.
Loving others as yourself, does not mean loving yourself less. It means loving others more. It means holding the interests of others higher than your own. It means honouring others above yourself.
How are you doing at loving others - all others? Are you loving others generously & selflessly? Or are you saying you love them, but only on your own terms or only in words and not in action. Loving them selfishly by putting your own needs first and others after yourself.
Here is a challenge for you. Go into this new week determined to love others – all others – without favouritism. Each of us has ways in which we feel the love of others. We all have our own needs & wants. Ask somebody else today that what it is that you could do for them that would make them feel that they are loved and valued. You may well be surprised that it is something very simple and you would never have found out what it was unless you had asked.
As we continue into this new year of 2018, let's be committed to showing practical love to all we meet - one person at a time. Imagine the difference that could make to the world! WOW!
Tap or click here to save/download this audio Podcast as a MP3 file
You can now purchase our books!
Please do click here to visit our Amazon site!
Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Sunday Jan 14, 2018
Sunday Jan 14, 2018
Exploring The Bible
45. Old Testament
Ecclesiastes - 1000–931 BC BC
G'day and welcome to our series, "Exploring the Bible" This is also the title of our latest book available on Amazon by clicking here or visiting PulpTheology.com
Key Verses:
- Ecclesiastes 2:26
- Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Written during the reign of Solomon, the Book of Ecclesiastes tells the story of life’s emptiness when trying to be happy apart from God. The preacher concludes that only life with God leads to true happiness.
There is an air of mischievousness about the book: it often seems to say the wrong thing. Presumably to make us think!
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
~
You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!
Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Saturday Jan 13, 2018
Saturday Jan 13, 2018
Part 127 - Revelation 2:7
As with all the other seven cities the ‘gem’ is in the promise that ends the letter following the words ‘to the one who is victorious’. To put those promises in context we need to read the rest of the letter in each case so it is printed first.
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
These seven letters to churches in what is now west Turkey are not full of gems. They tend rather to analyse the specific churches and that implies finding faults. Only two, Smyrna and Philadelphia, escape without words of condemnation.
However each church receives words of encouragement towards the end of their letter following the words “To the one who is victorious, I will give …”, or some minor variation on it, and these we will consider gems, particularly as it is quite clear that the gifts are available for all people of all times who qualify in the same way as the folk for whom they were first designed.
What did being victorious mean in real everyday terms for people in churches under increasingly hostile attention from the authorities? It means having succeeded in moving forward along the narrow and difficult path that leads onwards towards the final great day.
The first and largest city in this journey of the imagination is Ephesus. The congregation in the church here are strongly criticised. They have done many good things but in doing so have failed to live up to the standards they originally set for themselves. It is not hard to form a story suggesting what might have happened:
By the time John wrote this the church in Ephesus had been going for probably at least 30 years. They had started off with a great flash of enthusiasm imitating Jesus as much as they could in all their relationships with their neighbours. But – guessing a bit - probably some legalistically minded guys had got hold of the reins of control and, with the best of intentions, set out to bring system to what was going on in so many small, diverse and apparently chaotic ways. They wrote down what should happen, made sure it did and generally brought order to a confused situation. Unfortunately in doing so they had succeeded in killing off that first flush of enthusiasm and leading of the Holy Spirit - they had never really begun to understand the Holy Spirit and how he works. That sort of scenario fits rather well the very brief comment about what was going on. Is it a familiar picture?
What is shocking is the depth of the punishment the church was to receive. Although it survived for a long time it eventually disappeared, as Jesus said it would.
On the other hand for those who survived the problems, sorted them out and returned to the attitudes of love that had motivated them at first, all would be well. The tree of life first appears in Genesis 2: 9 and in Genesis 3: 22 is described as the way to live for ever. It reappears in Revelation 22: 2 and 29 where it is clearly implied that it is the way to eternal life, which we may think of not only as a life that will go on for ever but one of the greatest possible quality to be lived on this earth here and now.
And the implication is that this is available for us!
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
~You can now purchase our Partakers books including Roger's latest - The Puzzle of Living - A fresh look at the story of Job!
Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!
Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Friday Jan 12, 2018
Friday Jan 12, 2018
Friday Prayers
12 January 2018
Order of Service!
Opening prayer
New Year Prayer
Confession
Thanksgiving Prayers
Prayers for jobseekers and workers
Prayers for those grieving
Time for your own prayers/petitions!
Closing prayer
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
~
You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!
Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
Wednesday Jan 10, 2018
Wednesday Jan 10, 2018
Part 7 -
New Birth, Hell, Life after death, Salvation
We come now to our final session regarding Jehovah Witnesses, and we will be comparing and contrasting their beliefs with what The Bible teaches in regards to Life after death, New Birth and Salvation. We have covered a lot of ground in the first six lessons but now we come to the finale.
- Is there life after death?
- Is there a hell?
- Is there really a heaven?
- How many go to heaven?
- Is it only 144000 as Jehovah witnesses teach that will enter heaven?
- Does every person need to be born again to have everlasting life?
Yes a lot of questions so what are the answers. We shall listen to the Jehovah Witnesses and also see what The Bible says about these important matters.
1. New Birth
John 3:3; "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" Jehovah witnesses say "It is only Christ and his 144000 body members who are born again, that is spirit-begotten with the hope of heaven! Revelation chapter 14 does speak of 144 000 around the throne in heaven (future picture) and Jehovah Witnesses say they alone are the born again believers and all are Jehovah Witnesses of a special kind. They are those who have lived ultra clean lives and have never strayed. They alone are born again. They earn salvation through their being pure and undefiled. They qualify for heaven but all other Jehovah Witnesses will inherit the new earth because they belong to the Jehovah Witness Movement and are active in door to door visitation.
This teaching directly conflicts with what the Bible teaches. "There is none righteous no not one, for all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Romans 3:23" The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life." SALVATION IS A GIFT FOR ANY AND ALL WHO WILL COME TO GOD THROUGH REPENTANCE AND FAITH. THEY WILL BE SAVED AND ENJOY ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN.
There is absolutely no distinction in the Bible between born again believers and non born again believers. Note this. "All who believe are born again unto a lively hope." 1 Peter1: Even more importantly we read in Romans 8:9; ""If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to Him."
So what is the essential thing in salvation? 1 John 5:1; "Whoever BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ is BORN OF GOD." Born again can be translated "Born from above" or "Born of God" It is something of an inward nature that changes a person completely from an unbeliever to a lover of Jesus Christ who is Saviour Lord and King. He or she becomes a brand new person.
How big is Heaven? Only big enough for 144,000! How many believers will enter heaven? In Revelation 7:1-6 there is reference to 144,000 all Jews. If you take the figure 144,000 literally then you have to take the twelve tribes mentioned there each comprising of 12,000 Jews. Then look further (Revelation 7:9ff) and you will notice there are such a great number of others (Gentiles?) who come from every nation on the face of this earth. All are found worshipping the Lamb of God, who is Jesus Christ. He saved them, He delivered them and He brought them safe home to Heaven to enjoy Him for eternity. John 3:3; "Unless a man is born again he cannot either see or enter into the kingdom of God." That is BORN SPIRITUALLY BY THE POWER OF THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. This great event takes place in every person who believes. You cannot tell a person they will be safe in the coming Kingdom by becoming a Jehovah Witness and being a dedicated door to door worker.
2. Hell.
They say . "It is unscriptural, unreasonable contrary to God's love, repugnant to justice" ('Let God be true' page 9) At death Jehovah Witnesses teach that a person goes into non-existence and will be annihilated if they are not a Jehovah Witness.
What does the Bible say about Hell? Jesus Himself taught the doctrine of hell. (Mark 9:42-49;) Note verse 43 "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off, it is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go to Hell where the fire never goes out." Twice more Jesus uses the word 'Gehenna' for hell. Helll is a place that goes on for ever. To refuse Jesus Christ as your Saviour when you have opportunity to receive Him into your heart and life is the worst sin of all. (Matthew 25:46;) speaks of eternal; punishment and eternal life in the same context. Eternal punishment lasts as long as eternal life. Note Jesus words concerning unbelievers ad hypocrites "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (declared righteous through Jesus perfect life and sacrifice) into eternal life."
3. Life After Death
May I encourage you to look up in your Bible the following references to see what God has to say about life after death. (Luke 20: 37,38:) "He is not God of the dead but of the living" Also in (Luke 16) in the parable of The rich man and Lazarus there is further proof of life after death, even of conscious agony while Lazarus is enjoying the comforts of Heaven. Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration long after they had departed this world.(Luke 9:30) Paul speaks of dying as gain in Philippians 1:21-24;
4. Salvation
Christ's death is the only ground of our salvation."Now He (Jesus) has appeared to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself..Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. (Hebrews 9:26;) "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised for our justification. Salvation cannot be earned as a reward! "He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy." (Titus 3:5; Romans 6:23; 2 Timothy 1:9)! Salvation is by faith alone and only by the grace of God! "He who believes has eternal life. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith alone apart from the works of the law." (John 3:16; John 6:37; John 20:21; Romans 3:28;)
My purpose throughout these studies is only to declare what God says about these important and urgent matters. Many have been heading in the wrong direction and needed to change direction. That is what repentance is all about. A changing of ones mind affecting a change in direction. (Matthew 11:28-30;)
May God have spoken through His spoken Word, the gospel is a life changing event and if you are open to listen to God and follow Him , not a person or an organisation but simply come to the Scriptures and have God speak to you directly from His Holy Word. His living active Word. May God take the scales from eyes and impart spiritual life to you the listener and reader and impart the work of His Holy Spirit in you and as a result may you know refreshing times from the Presence of the Lord beginning in your life today. May the living Jesus Christ become a living reality to you from now on.
Right mouse click here to download as a MP3 file
** Disclaimer: The author of this article, Jim Allis, is a guest podcaster and Partakers may or may not agree with his opinions and writings, either in their entirety or part thereof.
You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!
Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!