Partakers Christian Podcasts

Romans 12 - Living Life - Part 03

Romans 12: Living Life

Study 03: Worship and service

Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Here in this first verse of chapter 12, of that magnificent letter of Romans in the New Testament section of the Bible. As they are now Christians, their old life and old bodies have gone! That is what the letter writer Paul has been leading up to and saying. Paul, that great Apostle of the early church, now starts to elucidate about living life for God and for God alone. As Christians they have a new life and new bodies! Paul exhorts these followers of Jesus to worship Him with their whole bodies – not just their minds or their hearts! This is the new transformed person as living sacrifices in response to God’s mercy, justice, grace and love! Jesus sacrificially died for the person, so the person must also sacrifice their old ways of life – thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions – and proceed to live a whole life which is pleasing to God – pleasing in their thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions…

Why? Because that is part of whole life worship of Jesus, the Son of God. Because the whole body of the individual Christian is, in the point of view of God, been declared holy through the death of the Son Jesus Christ on the cross.

As Christians, we are to worship with our whole bodies and minds. As Christians we have been marked and sealed with the Holy Spirit who lives within the Christian –helping, counselling, consoling, comforting and empowering. It is not just worship, but also to be our service of God. Jesus, the Son of God, was the servant of humanity. It is our responsive worship to therefore be of service to God in all things that we do, as we go about our daily lives – work, rest and play.

If you are struggling in some area of life, encumbered with a perpetual sin, then confess to God that sin, ask Him to cleanse you afresh and to fill you with His Spirit. Keep on being filling with His Spirit. Not just on Sundays but every day of the week and in all areas of your life! By being filled with the Spirit, I mean be controlled by the Spirit and let Him guide your thoughts and actions. If the church and Christians were to do that, this world would be changed!! How can we do that? Well, that commences in v2 and tomorrow!

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 122

Psalm 122

122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let's go to Yahweh's house!"

122:2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem;

122:3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;

122:4 where the tribes go up, even Yah's tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.

122:5 For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David's house.

122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.

122:7 Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.

122:8 For my brothers' and companions' sakes, I will now say, "Peace be within you."

122:9 For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.

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Romans 12 - Living Life - Part 02

Romans 12: Living Life

Study 02: Keys to Romans

As we saw yesterday, in this letter to the Romans, Paul explores some large ideas such as guild, faith, assurance, propitiation, redemptions, sin, security and sanctification! This is in evidence in the key verses to this great epistle!

Some Key verses to this letter of Romans are:

• Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
  
• Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
  
• Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  

However, as well as these large themes, it also contains some very practical advice about living as a follower of Jesus Christ. As we will see, if you are saved, that is that you have put your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you also have to put that faith into practise! How you live your life, is to be a reflection of the God that you follow! That is what this series is about: practically living and loving as Christians, followers of God… And that is what we will investigate for the next month in Romans 12! We start in our next podcast. Thank you.

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Psalm on Demand - Psalm 61

Psalm 61

Hear my cry, God.

Listen to my prayer.

From the end of the earth,

I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.

I will dwell in your tent forever.

I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

 

Selah.

For you, God, have heard my vows.

You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

You will prolong the king's life;

his years shall be for generations.

He shall be enthroned in God's presence forever.

Appoint your loving kindness and truth,

that they may preserve him.

So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.

 

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You can also download all the Psalms as mp3 audio files by visiting this page on our site!

 

Romans 12 - Living Life - Part 01

Romans 12: Living Life

Study 01: Introduction

Welcome to our series “Living Life” as we investigate chapter 12 of that amazing book of the Bible, Romans!

"In chapter 12, St. Paul teaches the true liturgy and makes all Christians priests, so that they may offer, not money or cattle, as priests do in the Law, but their own bodies, by putting their desires to death. Next he describes the outward conduct of Christians whose lives are governed by the Spirit; he tells how they teach, preach, rule, serve, give, suffer, love, live and act toward friend, foe and everyone. These are the works that a Christian does, for, as I have said, faith is not idle." Martin Luther in his book “Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans.”

Paul is writing to a group or groups of Christians in Rome in about 45-50AD! Just a few years after Jesus Christ ascended back to God. In this letter the Apostle Paul presents God's plan of salvation, which is in Jesus Christ, and the effect this has upon all mankind. This gospel plan sees God's righteousness extended to all of humanity.

How so? This Gospel plan, urges Paul, is based entirely on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is received by faith in Him, rather than the good works of a human. This letter of Paul’s investigates ideas such as guilt, faith, assurance, security and sanctification.

We continue that idea of key themes in our next podcast before continuing into this amazing passage of Scripture!! Will you join me?

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 30

Psalm 30

(as read by Adam Skirton)

Pastor of Poulner Baptist Chapel)

A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David.

30:1 I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up,
and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
30:2 Yahweh my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me.
30:3 Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. Y
ou have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
30:4 Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his.
Give thanks to his holy name.
30:5 For his anger is but for a moment.
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

30:7 You, Yahweh, when you favored me, made my mountain stand strong;
but when you hid your face, I was troubled.
30:8 I cried to you, Yahweh.
To Yahweh I made supplication:
30:9 “What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit?
Shall the dust praise you?
Shall it declare your truth?
30:10 Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me.
Yahweh, be my helper.”
30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
30:12 To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent.
Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 25

Psalm 25

 

They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Teach me your paths.

For you are the God of my salvation,

I wait for you all day long.

for they are from old times.

Remember me according to your loving kindness,

for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.

therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.

He will teach the humble his way.

to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.

His seed shall inherit the land.

He will show them his covenant.

for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

for I am desolate and afflicted.

Oh bring me out of my distresses.

Forgive all my sins.

They hate me with cruel hatred.

Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.

for I wait for you.

out all of his troubles.

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~

Psalm on Demand - Psalm 123

Psalm 123

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

To you I do lift up my eyes,
you who sit in the heavens.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress;
so our eyes look to Yahweh,
our God, until he has mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us,
for we have endured much contempt.

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease,
with the contempt of the proud.

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Think Spot - Fruit and Light

 

Monday Think Spot

Fruit and Light

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  

These are perhaps some of most popular words within the church today, particularly western reformed Protestantism…  Look at those words again – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… Beautiful words which I am sure fill you with a sense of well-being and are pleasing to your mind and to your soul… They are indeed beautiful but they are to be maintained by the Christian, because they are evidence that you have the Holy Spirit within you. 

If you are a Christian, this fact – you have the Holy Ghost within you and upon you – He is the seal of your salvation.  But these Fruit are difficult to maintain 24 hours a day. That is why we are to rely on His wisdom and strength as we go through each day, maintaining those fruit as we interact with others as well as in our private life – those moments when we are alone. One thing I have noticed about myself, is that it is easier to show the fruit of the Spirit in the big moments of life, but not that easy in the smaller moments of life such as when the traffic lights go green and the car ahead doesn’t move instantly! How about you?

But the fruit of the Spirit is not just for the individual. The fruit of the Spirit are also to be displayed by the community of Christians – local, national and international. For instance, if another Christian, even one from a church that is not the one you attend, is feeling unloved, it is your responsibility to love them – regardless of any doctrinal disagreements. You may not be able to love them in your own strength, but you can by using the power of the Holy Ghost – ask Him and He will help you!

The fruit of the Holy Ghost is not just for the individual Christian but for a group of Christians. Your church is to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and all the churches in your town are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.  In your town, there is only one church – a church made up of all the churches in the town. How are the churches in your town exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? By doing that, you are a witness for Jesus Christ – a bright shining light of God in your town.

When you partake of the sacrament of communion with others, there is power in the bread and wine. Whatever your view of the bread and wine – whether you think they are only symbolic of Jesus’ blood and flesh or if they are the actual body and blood of Jesus – there is power because Jesus is there! The Word is there! It has a psychological effect! There is a promise! Jesus said He would be there! So when churches from different traditions get together and take the Sacrament of Holy Communion together, despite the doctrinal disagreements, there is power! Power to show the communal fruit of the Spirit! Remember Paul is writing to a group of Churches in Galatia, not a lone individual or even a solitary church! The churches in your neighbourhood, town, state and country is to be a bright light for the neighbourhood, town, state, province and country! Can you imagine the witness if Churches were seen to be working together despite minor differences?

Go be a light for Jesus Christ this week and beyond – as an individual, a group or a gathering of churches. God loves you so go tell and show others that God loves them too. Go show “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” to others – that is your light of God to those outside the Church. Thank you and have a great week!

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Christian Testimony - God in the Tornado

God in the Tornado

A great wind in the darkness!

It was Thursday night, 26^th May 2011 at 10:10pm.  I was alone sharing in prayer requests with friends on the Internet. It was a cool but blustery night, I had the doors open, letting the air circulate through the screens.  When all of a sudden, the house seemed to shake violently due to the awesome power of a mighty wind. The Rottweiler pup with me began to howl and seconds later the sirens in town went off! There was a tornado alert and the tornado was coming!

Being dark and stormy, plus surrounded by woods, I was kept from seeing any visual signs of the turmoil surrounding me. The sounds were deafening, the force caused the wind chimes to chime loudly and items to be tossed across the yard.

Silence is loud!

Shortly afterwards, the noise dissipated, and the night became calm. Both Aachen & I were OK, but she had saucer size eyes...I probably did too. Checking the weather news, there was a tornado watch alert. Whatever we received was a very mild form of what others recently have endured in Missouri and elsewhere.

Startling, yes...loud and full of power, yes...scary...no, there was peace and calm in the storm. Comfort in the midst of the winds. Praise be to our Almighty God. Next morning we found some items displaced and blown about, but only minimally.

Praise be to God!

Praising God, because just as Jesus was with the disciples in the midst of the storm in the story told in the Gospels, Jesus was here in the storms with me and protecting us! Wow!

Praise God for His loving watch care for this house, property and all that has been lovingly dedicated to God's glory and ministry. This is God's anointed place dedicated to outreach in sharing His love and Word to others. Praising God for the safety of the property and the gardens so far planted. This is a divinely inspired Women's Gardening ministry and outreach to those at risk in society. A ministry of helps and works revolving around the core of God's own Word and guidance.

If you have found this helpful, please do let us know how it has helped your own journey of faith. You can do this by leaving a comment below! Thank you.

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