Partakers Christian Podcasts

Partakers Prayers 11 September 2021 - CoronaVirus Pandemic

 

Once again, we are praying a prayer together concerning the COVID19/Corona Virus Pandemic. I am sure each of us knows somebody who has contracted this virus, and quite possibly succumbed to it and died because of it. I know I do! Come! Let's pray together!

 

O great God, as you know,
we are in the midst of this wretched COVID-19 global pandemic.
O Great Comforter,
embrace those grieving the loss of loved ones and wipe their tears.
We don’t know the right way to combat this pandemic,
but we know and trust that you do.
Therefore, give wisdom and courage to all those involved
in its treatment, prevention, cure and vaccine,
including our government and leaders.
May the vaccines be distributed diligently, justly, quickly and efficiently.
We thank you O God that they were prepared by wise people.
We thank you for all those caring for others during this time –
carers, nurses, medics and others.
May you O God, give them courage and wisdom.
Amen

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!

 

Partakers Bible Thought 10 September 2021 – God Visits Solomon - 2 Chronicles 7

Partakers Bible Thought

10 September 2021

11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 17 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’ 19 “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’” (2 Chronicles 7:11-22)

In the podcast yesterday we looked together at a prayer of King David, from 1 Chronicles 29. We saw that the God that David prayed to, oozed greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty from all aspects of His very being! Moving on with the story, the remnant of Israel has now returned from exile and the Chronicler is giving them an abridged version of history! The great king David has died, and his son, Solomon, is now on the throne. Solomon has had his first encounter with God and received the gift of wisdom! Solomon has prayed a great prayer to His God (2 Chronicles 6). Then in we see the Chronicler regaling one of the many great WOW moments of the Old Testament, when the glory of the Lord came down like fire and filled the temple to overflowing! The people fell down in worship of a great God, who was their God! This was followed by a great scene of abundantly joyful sacrificial worship to this God! (2 Chronicles 7:1-10)

Today we are looking together at an encounter between God and David’s son, Solomon, from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22. The gifts for have come in and the Temple is now complete. Solomon is now probably sleeping in his palace. Then, one night God Himself turns up. Here the Chronicler reveals what God said to Solomon. We explore this encounter between God and Solomon, answering questions such as: Who does God reveal that He is? How is God, the God of all human history? What does God expect of His people, those who claim to follow him? What can we learn in the 21st century, about God, from this encounter with King Solomon? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more concerning this encounter between God and King Solomon!

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 9 September 2021 – A Prayer of David 1 Chronicles 29

Partakers Bible Thought

9 September 2021

10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.” 20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king. (1 Chronicles 29:10-20)

In the podcast yesterday we looked together at our spiritual armour. Today we look at a prayer of King David, known as a man after God’s own heart. Why was he known like that? Because despite his faults, he demonstrated consistently that his faith was alive and that he was totally committed to following the Lord God alone! We look at this prayer to get some keys for our own prayer life but also to be reminded of God, who was the object of this prayer!

David, a man, who despite his many faults, is described as a man after God’s own heart. Israel’s greatest king, saying this prayer of intimate praise & adoration to his God in front of the assembled throngs. This prayer, like his gifts of gold etc., could be said, to be David’s legacy to the nation of Israel, to Solomon and by extension also to us.

Today we explore this prayer of King David, exploring questions such as: What do we see of God and His greatness, power, glory, victory and majesty? Whose kingdom and glory should be seen – God’s or David’s? What can we glimpse of David’s relationship with God, through this prayer? What keys can we take for our own prayer life? What can we take away from this prayer for our living as Christians in the 21st century? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more concerning this prayer of King David!

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 8 September 2021 – Spiritual Armour

Partakers Bible Thought

8 September 2021

17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. (Isaiah 59:17)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

In the podcast yesterday we looked together at our arch enemy, satan. To help His people resist satan and to fight spiritual warfare, God has designed spiritual armour for Christians to wear during our constant battle with sin & temptation. That’s what Paul talks about in Ephesians 6! This armour is what God wears according to Isaiah 59:17, when He goes out to battle!
Today we explore the Christian in Spiritual Armour, answering questions including: What is “Spiritual Armour?” How is it used by God to help the Christian believer? How is the Spiritual Armour “worn” by the Christian?

Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about the Christian and your Spiritual Armour!

Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file

Partakers Bible Thought 7 September 2021 – satan

Partakers Bible Thought

7 September 2021

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10)

In the podcast today we are looking together at our arch enemy, satan. The Bible tells us that some angels fell, rebelled against God and were put out of heaven (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-18). Their leader is satan who has established his kingdom on earth. satan stands hatefully opposed to all God’s work, God’s people and resourcefully promotes defiance among people (Mark 4:15; Job 2:4-5) including those within the church.

When satan sinned, he was expelled from Heaven (Luke 10:18), although apparently he still had some access to God (Job 1:6). A multitude of angels decided to follow him in his fall and subsequently became the demons mentioned often in the Bible (Matthew 12:24; Revelation 12:7). Jesus Christ came to destroy satan and all his works (1 John 3:8). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross leads to satan’s ultimate destruction (Hebrews 2:14). satan has been disarmed (Colossians 2:15) & condemned (Matthew 25:41) and we remember that Jesus Christ is infinitely superior to satan (1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:18) Although satan’s doom has been secured by Jesus’ death on the cross, satan will continue to try and hinder God’s program until he and his demons are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

Today we explore questions such as: Who is satan? By what other names do we know him by? What role does he have in this world? What does he do against Christian believers, as well as those outside the Church? How can Christian believers resist his attacks upon them and the Church? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about the Christian and satan.

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 6 September 2021 – God the Father

Partakers Bible Thought

6 September 2021

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17)

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:1-5)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

In the podcast today we are looking at God the Father! The vast majority of all people, to some extent, have had an earthly father. Your father may never have shown you love, consideration or friendship. On the other hand, your relationship with your father may have been everything you could hope and desire for in a father-child relationship. Either way, cast aside all thoughts of your earthly father, as we consider together God the Father. The defining function of God the Father is that He is the Almighty who intervenes, sustains and provides for all things. God the Father is a perfect father.

Today we are looking together at God the Father! We briefly investigate God as the Father of Creation, the Father of Jesus Christ and the Father of Christians! What does this mean for us today in the 21st century? How is God, “Father”? In what way is God, Father to all of Creation, to Jesus Christ and to all Christians? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about God the Father!

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 5 September 2021 – The Christian and Holy Communion

Partakers Bible Thought

5 September 2021

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:14-20)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. (1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

In the podcast today we are investigating one of the central acts of worship for the Church.. Depending on your church, it can be called amongst other things, the Eucharist, Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. Christians are commanded to participate, as Jesus said: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Some churches do it every service and others do it monthly. Whenever we participate in it, we do it regularly as a remembrance of Jesus until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26)!

Today we are looking together Holy Communion or as you may know it, the Lord’s Supper! What does this mean for us today in the 21st century? What is meant by our participation? Why participate and how often? What aspect of the Christian life does it reflect? As we participate in Holy Communion, who and what are we to recall and remember? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more Holy Communion, a central act of worship for the Christian.

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 4 September 2021 – God, the Christian and Justification

Partakers Bible Thought

4 September 2021

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self-ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ( Colossians 2:9-15)

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21)

In our last podcast we looked together God, the Christian and Judgement! In the podcast today we look at a word associated with judgement, that word is Justification. I wonder if you have come across the word 'justification' in your reading of the Bible and wondered what it was all about!! Justification means, that God looks as you as if you have never sinned against Him. That means you are declared free from the penalty of sin. Justification is only a reality to you, if you have taken up the offer and are a follower of Jesus Christ.

Today we are looking together at the Bible word, Justification! What does this mean for us today in the 21st century? What is meant by justification? Who is justified and by who? What are holiness and righteousness? What do holiness and righteousness have to do with justification? How can people be justified before Almighty God? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more regarding the Christian and growing more like their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 3 September 2021 – God, the Christian and Judgement

Partakers Bible Thought

3 September 2021

22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:22-27)

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.(1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Were you aware that there is a certainty of judgment to come? Almighty God will judge the whole world. Are you aware of that? He will do this with might and justice (Acts 17:31), for He is Almighty God and He is the judge of all the earth (Hebrews 12:23). God the Father has given all judgment to the Son, Jesus Christ (John 5:22-27)! All of humanity is destined to die once and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). It is not a popular topic in a lot of Churches today!

Today we are looking together at God, the Christian and Judgement! What does this mean for us today in the 21st century? What is meant by judgement? What will be judged? Who will be judged? How has God provided a way out? How will God administer judgement on those who don’t know Him? How will God provide judgement on the Christian? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more regarding the Christian and growing more like their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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!

Partakers Bible Thought 2 September 2021 – The Christian Growing In Christ

Partakers Bible Thought

2 September 2021

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (1 John 4:1-8)

Growing more like Jesus is a lifelong process. In the words of the Bible, it is one of the big words – sanctification, which we looked last month. If a Disciple of Jesus Christ is showing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, then that Christian, that person, is becoming more like their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, and therefore is being sanctified! We looked together at sanctification last month. Sometimes growing as a Christian is a difficult path, but nobody said that it would be easy! Certainly Jesus never said that it was! Another way to look at growing  that it is like the changing of a caterpillar into a butterfly – it’s a process.

Today we are looking together at the Christian growing in Jesus Christ! What does this mean for us today in the 21st century? How can this process be seen in the life of the Christian? How does God help us to grow more like Jesus? What is the outworking of growing more like Jesus Christ? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more regarding the Christian growing in Jesus, becoming more like Him who is their Lord and Master.

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!