Partakers Christian Podcasts

Psalm On Demand - Psalm 38

Psalm 38

A Psalm by David, for a memorial.

1 Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.2
2 For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.
6 I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.
7 For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.

12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, don't hear. I am as a mute man who doesn't open his mouth.
14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn't hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Don't let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.
21 Don't forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don't be far from me.
22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

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Partakers Bible Thought - God visits Abraham and Sarah - Genesis 18

Genesis 18

“God's Visitation to Abraham & Sarah”

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There I was in Mamre. A distance way from Ur where we used to live quite comfortably. Sitting in the opening to our tent, under the shade of the great trees, in the middle of yet another swelteringly hot day. I was looking down into the dust and wondering to myself what was going on. My wife, now called Sarah, was inside the tent doing whatever it is that wives do in the middle of a hot day here. A mystery to me, as I am just a mere old male.

I am remembering back to a day when our life changed back in Ur. That was when God said he was going to bless me and made promises to me! Little old me - Abraham of the Chaldees! Not only to me but also to Sarah, my wife!
God told me specifically and with authority:
• I will be the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:1)
• I will receive personal blessing (Genesis 12:2)
• I will receive personal honour and a grand status (Genesis 12:2)
• I will be a source of blessing to others. (Genesis 12:3)

What’s more, there will be blessings on those who bless me and the nation which comes from me (Genesis 12:3) just as there will be curses on those who curse me and that nation (Genesis 12:3).

I have been called by God. Personally, and explicitly. Not only me, my wife Sarah as well. That was 25 years ago now. Not too bad for somebody 99 years old is it. It all seems rather inconceivable really seeing as both my wife and I are aged. God made a promise to Sarah too! She would be having a baby. Inconceivable it seems, doesn’t it? Sarah, my wife, is beyond the normal child bearing age to start conceiving a family. The way of motherhood has passed her by. In our culture where we are from, to be a childless couple, the majority of the stigma is cast upon the woman. It is a shame upon her. But regardless, I stepped out in faith, trusted the Lord and here we are on a journey.

Then suddenly!! I looked up from the dust and I saw them. Much to my surprise. How did I not see them coming from a long distance off? Am I seeing things? They seemed to appear out of nowhere. Three men. Three men just standing there looking towards me. I am sure that I recognize the one in the middle. Have I met him before? I still can’t work out how I never saw them approaching. I hurried to them despite my great age and the searing heat. I wanted to show them an even greater welcoming honour than the one my culture usually allowed to strangers. I bowed down as low as I could get. Even lower than normal to convey a great honour upon them. I asked them to come in for a little light refreshment before they continued their journey in the heat of the day.

They replied. “All right. Go and do as you have said.” Their blunt response stunned me a bit, if I am being honest!

So, I scurried back. I ensured water was taken to them and returned to Sarah in the tent. “Quick! Sarah! We have visitors! One of them maybe the Lord again. I am not sure. They are all in the appearance of men. Cook up some of that unleavened bread from the recipe your mum taught you! The bread that doesn’t take long to cook. I will go get a good tender calf and have one of the servants prepare it for eating. While he does that, I will get some yoghurt and milk to accompany it all. I will serve them out under the shade of the trees. As is our custom, you please stay here, my love.”

So, there I was. Waiting on our visitors as per the custom of our day, treating them to the hospitality of our culture. When all of a sudden, out of the blue, our guests asked “Where is Sarah your wife?”

How did these folks, these men, if that is what they really are, know her name? Any doubt that this was the Lord God began to leave me - after all He would know Sarah’s name. He is the one who changed her name!

If it was the Lord, we had indeed met before! It must be! It must be the Lord my God. The other two must be angels in disguise. I guess. If this really is the Lord God, then this is the one who blessed us and honoured us when he changed our names to Abraham and Sarah. He called us out of our life in Ur.
I offered in response to our guests, “She is inside the tent.”

Then almost surprisingly, one of them said that he will return in a year and by then Sarah and I will have had a child, a son! It was then, that my wife Sarah chuckled quietly. Almost silently, she talked to herself. “No way! I am outside the age of normal motherhood and Abraham is also a bit old now too.”

But my guests still heard that quiet laugh and that comment. Then I was questioned! Me! “Why did Sarah laugh mockingly and dispute what I said about you having a child? Is there anything that is too hard for God to do? This time next year you will have a son. Be assured of that and be of good courage, the pair of you. What I have said, I will accomplish. I always keep my promises!”

At which point, my dear Sarah who had clearly been eavesdropping, responded by denying that she had laughed. She did this to cover her embarrassment of being found out.

“Nope! You did, Sarah. I heard you!” the Lord God gently rebuked her for telling an alternative fact.

With that, our guests arose and looked out towards that evil city of Sodom. Being a good host, I arose and walked with them to see them safely away, wondering why they were going to such a place renowned for injustice, oppression of the innocent, wickedness and unrighteousness.

The one I identified as the Lord, started speaking quietly to Himself. He was asking himself a question and then answering it for himself. Or so it seemed. I guess he could have also been talking to the other two. Regardless, I could hear what he was saying.
“Hmmm. Should I tell Abraham concerning my plan for Sodom? He, Abraham, will certainly become a mighty and great nation. Indeed, the whole earth will be blessed by Me through him. Abraham will instruct and direct his family and ancestors in the way to follow Me rightly and justly. I have promised Him and I will do it. I am the Lord, and I keep my promises. I uphold my end of the deal.”

“I have heard such an outcry from the innocents there, that we are going to see if things really are as we have heard. A cry of pain from those being oppressed and violated. An outcry against injustice by those who are weak and oppressed. I don’t rely on gossip or hearsay. I have heard and I care for them. I want to see the full story for myself and see if anything has been left out. I am a compassionate God and I seek to act on behalf of those wronged and put things right. Does the hullaballoo and noise match the reality of oppression and injustice?”

Two of our guests then continued their journey onwards to Sodom. However, the third one, the Lord waited with me and seemingly also waited for me to respond to Him. Waited for me to talk to him.

Therefore, I neared him and said, quite boldly yet humbly, “In that place Sodom, where you heard that outcry from the innocent, will you really deliver judgement upon both those who are righteous and those who are wicked? What about if there are 50 such innocent righteous folk there? Are you going to do away with them as well as those who have transgressed against you and others? Will you not spare the city for their sakes? How can you, a righteous yet just and merciful God, destroy both the wicked and the righteous together? Why would you want to do such a thing? You are the Judge of the whole earth and you should do right, surely? Can you, O God, deny yourself and do contrary to your very nature?”
Then I went silent, allowing the Lord to respond. “Abraham. If there are 50 righteous people there, I will spare the city.”
“Ok Lord. I know that compared to you, o Righteous and Holy One, I am but mere dust and ashes. I am not worthy to be speaking to you. However, what if there were only 45? Surely you won’t decimate that city because of 5 people short of your number?”
“Nope. Not for the sake of 45 people.”

“Forty folk?” I asked yet again.
“Nope. I the Lord, won’t destroy the city if we find 40 righteous and innocent people.”

Ok, I was really still concerned for those people. I imagine that it’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of God! So plaintively I progressed: “30 righteous people?”
“Nope. Not if I find 30.”

“Ok Lord, in my boldness, how about 20?
“No, Abraham. Not if I find 20.”

Then I thought to myself, one last push, Abraham. “Lord God. Do not be angry with me, I am concerned for the innocent ones. One more request, a final one. How about if there are only 10 found there?”
“Abraham, I will not destroy for the sake of 10 innocent & righteous people.”
With that, the Lord God finished his conversation with me, and went on to meet his companions. Meanwhile, I went back to my tent and pondered all these things further. Lot, my nephew was near Sodom. I hope that he and his family are ok and will be ok.

Well that is Genesis 18. That is all a bit exciting, isn’t it? Please do download the mp3 using the link below to hear my explanation. Thank you.

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Psalm On Demand - Psalm 92

Psalm 92

A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.

92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh, to sing praises to your name, Most High;
92:2 to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night,
92:3 with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre.

92:4 For you, Yahweh, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the works of your hands.
92:5 How great are your works, Yahweh! Your thoughts are very deep.

92:6 A senseless man doesn't know, neither does a fool understand this:
92:7 though the wicked spring up as the grass, and all the evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.

92:8 But you, Yahweh, are on high forevermore.
92:9 For, behold, your enemies, Yahweh, for, behold, your enemies shall perish. All the evildoers will be scattered.
92:10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.

92:11 My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.
92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
92:13 They are planted in Yahweh's house. They will flourish in our God's courts.
92:14 They will still bring forth fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green,
92:15 to show that Yahweh is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

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Partakers Bible Thought - Psalm 101

Psalm 101

(as read by Destiny)

101:1 I will sing of loving kindness and justice.
To you, Yahweh, I will sing praises.

101:2 I will be careful to live a blameless life.
When will you come to me?
I will walk within my house with a blameless heart.

101:3 I will set no vile thing before my eyes.
I hate the deeds of faithless men.
They will not cling to me.

101:4 A perverse heart will be far from me.
I will have nothing to do with evil.

101:5 I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor.
I won't tolerate one who is haughty and conceited.

101:6 My eyes will be on the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in a perfect way, he will serve me.

101:7 He who practices deceit won't dwell within my house.
He who speaks falsehood won't be established before my eyes.

101:8 Morning by morning, I will destroy all the wicked of the land;
to cut off all the workers of iniquity from Yahweh's city.

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Partakers Bible Thought - Psalm 82

Psalm 82

(as read by Justine)

82:1 God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
82:2 "How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?"

Selah.

82:3 "Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless.
Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
82:4 Rescue the weak and needy.
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."
82:5 They don't know, neither do they understand.
They walk back and forth in darkness.
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
82:6 I said, "You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.
82:7 Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers."
82:8 Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.

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Partakers Bible Thought - Psalm 79

Psalm 79

A Psalm by Asaph.

79:1 God, the nations have come into your inheritance.
They have defiled your holy temple.
They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
79:2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.
79:3 Their blood they have shed like water around Jerusalem.
There was no one to bury them.
79:4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
79:5 How long, Yahweh?
Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
79:6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't know you;
on the kingdoms that don't call on your name;
79:7 For they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.
79:8 Don't hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us.
Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.
79:9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name.
Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake.
79:10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?
" Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes,
that vengeance for your servants' blood is being poured out.
79:11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you.
According to the greatness of your power,
preserve those who are sentenced to death.
79:12 Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom
their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
79:13 So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever.
We will praise you forever, to all generations.

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Partakers Bible Thought 19 May 2022 - Daniel 8

Partakers Bible Thought

19 May 2022

 Daniel 8 - Worlds In Conflict

We are looking today at an intriguing piece of Scripture - Daniel 8! In Chapter 7, the prophet Daniel had a dream of 4 animals, which were a winged lion, a bear, a winged leopard and a beast.

v1-4 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai. Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.

v27 I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.

Here in Daniel 8, we look together at the bear, which is described here as a ram, and a winged leopard that is described as a goat. Unlike his previous two visions which occurred at night, this one occurs during the day. Daniel was transported in the Spirit to Susa, a major city of the Babylon & Persian empires. He sat down beside the Ulai canal, nine hundred feet wide and connected two large rivers so that boats could easily pass from one to the other. Spiritually seated by the river, he lifted up his eyes. He saw a ram, a male sheep, that had two horns, and as he watched, one of its horns became larger than the other.

Grab your Bible, and listen to the podcast to find out more about this intriguing and wonderful piece of Scripture!

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Partakers Bible Thought 18 May 2022 – Spiritual Armor

Partakers Bible Thought

18 May 2022

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 Armor 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 Armor 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)

To help His people resist satan and to fight spiritual warfare, God has designed spiritual Armor for Christians to wear during our constant battle with sin & temptation. That’s what Paul talks about in Ephesians 6! This Armor is what God wears according to Isaiah 59:17, when He goes out to battle!

Today we explore the Christian in Spiritual Armor, answering questions including: What is “Spiritual Armor?” How is it used by God to help the Christian believer? How is the Spiritual Armor “worn” by the Christian?

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

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Partakers Bible Thought - Psalm 28

Psalm 28

1 To you, Yahweh, I call.
My rock, don’t be deaf to me; lest, if you are silent to me,
I would become like those who go down into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my petitions,
when I cry to you,
when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Don’t draw me away with the wicked,
with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbours,
but mischief is in their hearts.

4 Give them according to their work,
and according to the wickedness of their doings.
Give them according to the operation of their hands.
Bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh,
nor the operation of his hands,
he will break them down and not build them up.

6 Blessed be Yahweh,
because he has heard the voice of my petitions.
7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield.
My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.
8 Yahweh is their strength.
He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.
9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance.
Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.

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Partakers Bible Thought - Psalm 103

Psalm 103

(read by Pammy)

103:1 Praise Yahweh, my soul!

All that is within me, praise his holy name!

 103:2 Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits;

 103:3 who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;

 103:4 who redeems your life from destruction;

who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies;

 103:5 who satisfies your desire with good things,

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 103:6 Yahweh executes righteous acts,

and justice for all who are oppressed.

 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the children of Israel.

 103:8 Yahweh is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.

 103:9 He will not always accuse;

neither will he stay angry forever.

 103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

nor repaid us for our iniquities.

 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.

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103:12 As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 103:13 Like a father has compassion on his children,

so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.

 103:14 For he knows how we are made.

He remembers that we are dust.

 103:15 As for man, his days are like grass.

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

 103:16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone.

Its place remembers it no more.

 103:17 But Yahweh's loving kindness is from

everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him,

his righteousness to children's children;

103:18 to those who keep his covenant,

to those who remember to obey his precepts.

 103:19 Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens.

His kingdom rules over all.

 103:20 Praise Yahweh, you angels of his,

who are mighty in strength,

who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.

 103:21 Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his,

you servants of his, who do his pleasure.

 103:22 Praise Yahweh, all you works of his,

in all places of his dominion.

Praise Yahweh, my soul!

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