G‘day! Partakers Christian podcasts of Bible Teaching, Bible Readings, Worship, Prayer and Church History on Podbean to help enable and encourage you! Come listen and interact.
Episodes
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Colossians 3v1-4
“Remember Who You Are!”
3:1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
3:2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
3:4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
In the year 1993, I slipped into a coma on a Saturday evening during my sleep. But that story is a bit of a bore and not really important. After a couple of days in hospital, I woke up and there was a face of a pretty woman peering down at me, smiling and asking "Do you remember who you are?" My response was "Of course I do!! But who are you, and what have you done with my wife". And that is a similar story for those of us who are Christians. If we are listening, we are constantly being reminded by God the Holy Spirit, of our status before God if we are His children. The Holy Spirit is always there behind us, reminding us, that we are now His children and not His enemy, and therefore to stop living as if we were His enemy. In these verses, Paul reminds us of our identity. This morning we are going to look at primarily our new identity and five facts about our Christian identity...
1. What are we to do with this Jesus if we claim to be his followers and in relationship with him?
a. We died with Christ (3a).
b. We are raised with Christ (1a).
c. We live with Christ (4a).
d. We are hidden with Christ (3b).
e. We will be glorified with Christ (4b).
2. Jesus - fully human
3. Jesus - fully God
Recapitulation
- Remember who you are.
- Remember your identity.
- Remember you have died with Christ,
- Remember you have been raised with Christ.
- Remember you have new life in Christ - NOW!!.
- Remember you are hidden with Christ - NOW!!.
- Remember you will be glorified with Christ when He comes again.
Conclusion
Right mouse click to save this Podcast as a MP3.
You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Partakers Bible Thought
“31 ‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD,
‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares the LORD.
33 ‘This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbour,
or say to one another, “Know the LORD,” because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the LORD.
‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ ”
(Jeremiah 31:31-34)
In the ancient world and in the Bible, Covenants were common in all kinds of life, and not just between God and humanity. For instance where a powerful nation had taken over a weaker nation, a covenant was in place to give benefits from the powerful nation to the weaker nation, such as protection as well as sanctions if the weaker nation rebelled.
As a Christian today, you are living under is called the "New Covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Prior to this "New Covenant", there were 6 Covenants between God and humanity. What where they? What do all these Biblical Covenants have in common? What does this New Covenant have to do with you and I as Christians in the 21st Century?
Let’s explore these words together, download and listen to the podcast!
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!
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
John meets the Ascended Jesus
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Revelation 1:12-20!
Jesus has made an appearance to his close friend and disciple, John! Jesus is now the resurrected and ascended King of Kings and Lord of Lords! In Revelation 2 and 3, this Jesus sends messages to seven groups of people who have taken Him up on that offer of salvation!: the first century churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Here Jesus tells the churches to keep doing, stop doing and be blessed! But first, lets look at Jesus, Himself!
Jesus description
Jesus holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. Jesus who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again! Jesus, who has the sharp, double-edged sword, is the Son of God and whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. Jesus Christ, who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars! Jesus Christ, who is holy and true and holds the key of David. Jesus Christ, who opens what no one can shut and shuts what no one else can open. Jesus Christ, who is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
Keep doing!
To these 7 churches, of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Jesus praises them individually and separately! They are to continue doing such things as working hard for the Gospel, remaining faithful, not tolerating evil, not being seduced by false teachers, for persevering and enduring hardship and not growing weary. Jesus praises them for being faithful through suffering, poverty and persecution for His sake. Jesus praises them for remaining true to Him and for not renouncing their faith! Jesus, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, being ever gracious to His followers.
Stop doing
But He also rebukes them and commands that they stop doing certain things! They are to stop listening to various false teachers and prophets, being swayed by their clever and seductive words and actions. He rebukes because they have forgotten that they are to love Jesus above all and they have forsaken him. In his rebuke, Jesus commands that they repent, that is to ask Him for forgiveness and be willing to turn away from the false teachers, false prophets and false way of living.
Be blessed!
To all those who persevere, overcome and are victorious, Jesus will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. To all those who overcome and are victorious, they wont be hurt by the second death. To all those who overcome and are victorious, Jesus will give the victor’s crown! Those who overcome and are victorious, will be given authority over the nations! To those who overcome and are victorious, they will be in the temple of God, never to leave it! Jesus will do the most extraordinary thing, of writing on them the name of God, the city of God and His new name! To those who overcome and are victorious, their name will be in the book of life, and Jesus will acknowledge them before God the Father and his angels. Then finally, for those who overcome and are victorious, they will sit with their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, on His throne, just as He was victorious and sat down with His Father on his throne. That’s you and me if we hold out to the end!
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?
Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
A God of Wonder - Genesis 1:1-19 & John 1:1-14
We read Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”
This is that moment in time when God, who is outside of time and space, created the universe which is 90 billion light years across. Within this universe, He created galaxies, including our own, the Milky Way. Within the Milky Way, God created a Solar system which contains our Planet Earth. God created the planet Earth and placed it so that it would always be just the right distance away from the Sun in order to support life. Never too close and never too far away as the Earth orbits the Sun. Just right. Though I am sure there are some people here who think that in the past couple of weeks it has got a bit too close for comfort.
We see in this story from Genesis 1, that Almighty God created, hovered, separated, made, let be, gathered, called, saw, commanded, set, gave and blessed. He said let there be light, and there was! A great God of Wonder is He! Do you know this God?
For the remainder of this sermon, use the link to download the mp3. Thank you...
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Partakers Bible Thought
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)
I wonder what you know or think about the word “repentance”. The dictionary defines repentance as feeling pain, or regret for something done or not done; changing of the mind, or conduct, because of regret. This is of course partly true for the Christian! for the Christian, Repentance means more than these! Repentance, for the Christian, is a voluntary change in mind, in which the Christian turns from a life of sin to living a life of righteousness. “Repent!” Cried the Roman officer to his soldiers! In other words, turn around now!
Repentance was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and of the early Church. Repentance was and is commanded of God (Acts 17:30) and we know that it His will that all people repent (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). How is repentance central to the life of the Christian today? In what spheres of life is repentance required? How often should the Christian repent? Come and discover more about the repentance in the life of the Christian by listening to the podcast!
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
Tuesday Oct 01, 2024
Tuesday Oct 01, 2024
Walking with Jesus
09 Starting To Walk With Jesus
Today we finish this brief series by looking at how to become a follower of this Jesus! We look at how you can start walking with Jesus. There is no great mystery to it and it is very simple. A simplicity which confounds the wise!Come on in!
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 New Living Translation (NLT)
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file~
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Walking with Jesus
8. My Jesus
Today we glimpse together at Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who we I seek to obey in every facet of life. And it is this Jesus whom I depend upon and personally know to be totally reliable in every way. Is this your Jesus? Come on in to hear more about this WOW about Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24-26 (New Living Translation)
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file~
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Walking with Jesus
7. Loveliness & Joy
Today we glimpse together at the loveliness and joy of Jesus! Come on in to hear what we say about this WOW about Jesus Christ of Nazareth
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" John 15:9-11 (New Living Translation)
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file~
Saturday Sep 28, 2024
Saturday Sep 28, 2024
Walking with Jesus
6. Strong
Today we glimpse together at the strength of Jesus. Come on in to hear what we say about this WOW about Jesus Christ of Nazareth...
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (New Living Translation)
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file~
Friday Sep 27, 2024
Friday Sep 27, 2024
Walking with Jesus
5. Wise
Today we glimpse together at the wisdom of Jesus. Come on in to hear what we say about this WOW about Jesus Christ of Nazareth...
"He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Matthew 13:54 (NLT)