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
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
14. Teaching the Penitent!
Welcome back to AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 14 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 8:1–11 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus, as all Rabbis and teachers did, was at the temple teaching and talking with people. It was also part of the role of the rabbi/teachers to ascertain what to do in certain difficult moral and legal situations. As part of this role, the Pharisees dragged in an unknown woman charged with adultery. The Pharisees, the Jewish religious teachers and elite have been watching Jesus. They had heard what he was doing, and knew that he was increasing in popularity and gaining more and more followers. The Pharisees here are plotting to lay a trap for Jesus. If Jesus said to stone the woman, then the Romans could arrest Jesus, for it was Roman law that any death must be conducted by them and not by others. If Jesus says to release the woman, then the Pharisees would say that Jesus is contravening Scripture and the Law of Moses. So what does Jesus do? He writes in the dirt (John 8:6).
We don’t know what He wrote, but from the Greek word for 'write', we understand that He was seemingly writing a report and that when in he says in John 8:7 “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”, He is in fact saying “If any one of you is without this sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Jesus was testing the motives of the Pharisees to see if their attitudes and purpose were pure and upright, in bringing this woman before him. Jesus also turned the trap upon them. If any of the Pharisees had not committed adultery, whether in the mind or the actual physical act, then they could have stoned her. As it was, they left one by one, the oldest first (John 8:9). He must have also been indignant at the way the Pharisees who were hypocrites were quick to condemn others, so maybe Jesus was reminding them of Jeremiah 17:13: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.”
So instead of passing judgement on the woman and also by eluding the trap of the Pharisees, Jesus passed judgement on the judges. Jesus having forgiven the woman of her sin, then charges her to leave her life of sin (John 8:11). Jesus condemned the sin, but forgave the woman.This reminds us that with the forgiveness of sin, comes a responsibility to live a life worthy of Jesus and to pursue righteousness. It is easily forgotten part of repentance. Jesus showed His compassion and forgiveness on the outcasts of their society. Jesus showed mercy and forgiveness and loved them.
There is no room in Christianity for actions and attitudes that defy Jesus’ ever-reaching and all-encompassing forgiveness and love. His Gospel, as he always shows, is for all people everywhere, regardless of gender, race, age, culture or social status. I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Have you acknowledged your sin before him and trusting in Jesus for your salvation? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!
Come back tomorrow for Day 15 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!
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Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Psalm 13
13:1 How long, Yahweh?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
~
13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
having sorrow in my heart every day?
How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
~
13:3 Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God.
Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
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13:4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”;
Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.
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13:5 But I trust in your loving kindness.
My heart rejoices in your salvation.
~
13:6 I will sing to Yahweh,
because he has been good to me.
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Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
13. Jesus Teaching the Needy!
We are on Day 13 of our adventure through the Gospels, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 4:1-26 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Jesus was travelling via Samaria as it was the shortest route back to Galilee. It was hot. Jesus was thirsty and wanted a drink. His disciples had gone into town to get food. So he asks a Samaritan woman to fetch him some water from the well. That he asked a Samaritan would have been bad enough, but to also talk to a woman!
The woman: We don’t know the name of this woman. But by looking at this conversation between Jesus and her, we discover several things about her. That she was a Samaritan. There was equal animosity between Jews and Samaritans. The Samaritans were a mixed race people of both Jewish and Assyrian descent from the time of the division of Israel into two parts and the annexation of the Northern kingdom by Assyria. As she was fetching water at the hottest part of the day, she was probably an outcast! This was probably due to her sexual immorality having had 5 husbands and currently in a 6th relationship.
Jesus: Jesus here reveals his genuine humanity. He was tired, drained, hot, thirsty and hungry – normal human feelings and reactions. It also shows that Jesus contravened tradition in that he spoke to a woman who was a Samaritan and a sinner. By asking for a drink of water; he was putting himself in this woman’s debt and showing his humility. It also reveals his divine nature! He knew the woman’s life of sinfulness (John 4:17) and again, when he offered her the water of eternal life (John 4:14) and he was able to spiritually satisfy her (John 4:14)! Jesus, loved the woman, an outcast from her community, and gave her the most revealing and explicit statement we have in the Gospels as to who He really was (John 4:26).
In showing love for the woman, he transcended cultural barriers. Ordinary Jewish men would never ask a woman for a drink, let alone a Samaritan woman! But Jesus is no ordinary man. The Gospel accounts show Jesus’ love is for all people: rich, poor, learned, unlearned, male, female, wanted and unwanted! This encounter between Jesus and the woman shows us that Jesus’ offer of salvation is for all people, and not just the Jews. The woman, did however, misunderstand one thing - the living water Jesus offered as she probably thought he meant running water or water from a river! But the living water Jesus offered was spiritual water to cleanse her from sin and give eternal life. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, God is described as “a fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13).
When the disciples returned, the woman left her water jar and went back to the town to tell other people about Jesus (John 4:29-30). We read of the many people coming to faith because of the Samaritan woman’s story (John 4:39-42) knowing Jesus as the saviour of the world (John 4:42). Again, I ask, who do you say this Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you?
Come back tomorrow for Day 14, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, Jesus rescuing and teaching somebody who is contrite of heart - unlike her accusers! See you soon!
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Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Jesus Teaches the teacher!
Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 12 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 3:1-15 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
News about Jesus and the work he is doing is spreading quickly. One night, Nicodemus approaches Jesus to talk to him. He has heard about the miracles Jesus has been doing. Nicodemus is a leading teacher scholar from the Jewish ruling council. He wants to know more about Jesus and investigate him personally.
Like many people, Nicodemus was looking for the kingdom of God based around a political Messiah; hence admitting that due to his miraculous signs, Jesus must have been from God. However, Jesus corrects Nicodemus and says that it will not be through a political kingdom that God’s kingdom will be seen. Entrance to the Kingdom of God will not be through a person’s efforts but by being “born again”.
Jesus goes on to say that being “born again” is the new covenantIt is being born with water and spirit – cleansed of sin and indwelt with the Holy Spirit! It is being born from above, which is looking to the one who has come down from heaven. That’s Jesus! For the phrase “born again” can also be translated “born from above”. The ancient Israelites were once saved by looking at a bronze snake lifted up (Numbers 21v8)! Jesus goes on to say, that people will be saved by putting their salvation trust in the Son of Man (himself) when he is lifted up! Salvation will be personal under the New Covenant and not corporate as it was under the Old Covenant!
Even though at the start of his earthly ministry, Jesus is focussed on that time when he will die. Jesus goes on. God loves the world. God will save the world through the gift of His Son. I am that son, says Jesus! I am the light of the world come to shine light into the dark places. The world is in darkness due to sin and evil, and the Son of Man has come to take away that darkness. Those accepting of me are in the Kingdom and will not be condemned. Those who reject me will be condemned by God! Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped! He sure did seem astonished that Nicodemus didn’t already know that, seeing as he was one of the leading teachers at the time!
Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Are you born again, that is, trusting in Jesus for your salvation? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!
Come back tomorrow for Day 13 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, Jesus teaching somebody who is in great need – much to the initial dismay of his disciples! See you soon!
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Saturday Oct 21, 2023
Saturday Oct 21, 2023
Psalm 51
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51:1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
51:4 Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
51:6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
51:11 Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
51:15 Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
51:16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
51:18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
51:19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
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Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Psalm 46
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah.
According to Alamoth.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
46:2 Therefore we won't be afraid, though the earth changes,
though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
46:3 though its waters roar and are troubled,
though the mountains tremble with their swelling.
Selah
46:4 There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad,
the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
46:5 God is in her midst.
She shall not be moved.
God will help her at dawn.
46:6 The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved.
He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.
46:7 Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
46:8 Come, see Yahweh's works,
what desolations he has made in the earth.
46:9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots in the fire.
46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth."
46:11 Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
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Friday Oct 06, 2023
Friday Oct 06, 2023
Partakers Bible Thought
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet’?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14)
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering
thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.
They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
12 In a loud voice they were saying:
‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!’
(Revelation 5:11-12)
Bookshops are filled with books on Angels! But we must beware, for not all angels are good! We know from the Bible that there are good angels and bad angels. As we explore in this Podcast about angels, we discover the answer to question such as: What are angels? What is their purpose or function? How can we tell the difference between good angels and bad angels?"
Come and explore what the Bible has to say about the topic of Angels by downloading and listening to the podcast!
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Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Psalm 34
By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
15 Yahweh's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16 Yahweh's face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
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Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Psalm 33
1 You are the LORD's people. Obey him and celebrate! He deserves your praise.
2 Praise the LORD with harps!
Use harps with ten strings to make music for him.
3 Sing a new song. Shout! Play beautiful music.
4 The LORD is truthful; he can be trusted.
5 He loves justice and fairness, and he is kind to everyone everywhere on earth.
6 The LORD made the heavens and everything in them by his word.
7 He scooped up the ocean and stored the water.
8 Everyone in this world should worship and honor the LORD!
9 As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed.
10 The LORD destroys the plans and spoils the schemes of the nations.
11 But what the LORD has planned will stand forever.
His thoughts never change.
12 The LORD blesses each nation that worships only him. He blesses his chosen ones.
13 The LORD looks at the world
14 from his throne in heaven, and he watches us all.
15 The LORD gave us each a mind, and nothing we do can be hidden from him.
16 Mighty armies alone cannot win wars for a king;
great strength by itself cannot keep a soldier safe.
17 In war the strength of a horse cannot be trusted to take you to safety.
18 But the LORD watches over all who honor him and trust his kindness.
19 He protects them from death and starvation.
20 We depend on you, LORD, to help and protect us.
21 You make our hearts glad because we trust you, the only God.
22 Be kind and bless us! We depend on you.
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Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Psalm 132
A Song of Ascents.
132:1 Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,
132:2 how he swore to Yahweh, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
132:3 “Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed;
132:4 I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids;
132:5 until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
132:6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:
132:7 “We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.
132:8 Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place; you, and the ark of your strength.
132:9 Let your priest be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!”
132:10 For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.
132:11 Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
132:12 If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forevermore.”
132:13 For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.
132:14 “This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it.
132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.
132:16 Her priests I will also clothe with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
132:17 There I will make the horn of David to bud. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed. 132:18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will be resplendent.”