Partakers Christian Podcasts

Partakers Bible Thought 16 October 2021 – Serving in God‘s Orchestra of Joy

Partakers Bible Thought

16 October 2021

Serving in God's Orchestra of Joy

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 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 3:10-15)

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11)

 

As Christians, as part of our life of true Joy, we are all called to serve and minister. Each of us, who would call ourselves Christian, are to serve and minister in some way to all people without bias or prejudice in obedience to Almighty God. We are called to exhibit and show our true Joy of joyous obedient service to Jehovah God. Each of us here today is called to perform a unique serving and ministerial function in the Church, God’s Orchestra of Joy. Just as Aaron and his family were.

Come! Come on in and let us look together at what we can learn about serving in God’s Orchestra of Joy, which is the Church. Together we explore questions such as: What does this service entail? Why do Christians serve? How do Christians serve? Are Christians judged by God for their service? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about serving in God’s Orchestra of Joy

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Partakers Bible Thought 15 October 2021 – God of Covenantal Love

Partakers Bible Thought

15 October 2021

God of Covenantal Love

1 The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 ‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt – on that very day – they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’ (Exodus 19:1-6)

Over the last 3 podcasts we have seen a scene of exultant joy; a scene of great judgement and yesterday, we looked at how and why God is love but also a God who must judge.

Come! Let us look together at what we can learn about God and His Covenantal love. Together we explore questions such as: Why does God make Covenants with humanity? What do the Covenants with Abraham and Moses have to do with us today? Has God made a covenant with humanity that covers us today? If He has, what does it entail? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about God who makes covenants with humanity.

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Partakers Bible Thought 14 October 2021 – A God Who Judges Leviticus 10:1-11 (Part 2)

Partakers Bible Thought

14 October 2021

A God Who Judges

30 For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30-31)

In the podcast yesterday from Leviticus 10:1-11, we saw Nadab and Abihu come under God’s judgement for being disobedient and where the fire represents a different aspect of God’s presence through his active holiness and therefore danger and judgement.

In the podcast today, we look together at what we can learn about God and His judgement. Together we explore questions such as: Is God, a God who is at odds with Himself? What can we learn about God’s holiness in this scene of judgement? Where does love come into God’s judgement? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about God’s judgement and love.

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Partakers Bible Thought 13 October 2021 – Great Judgement Leviticus 10:1-11 (Part 1)

Partakers Bible Thought

13 October 2021

Leviticus 10:1-11 Great Judgement

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorised fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, ‘This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
‘“Among those who approach me I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people I will be honoured.”’
Aaron remained silent.
4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, ‘Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.’ 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, ‘Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.’ So they did as Moses said.
8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 ‘You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.’ (Leviticus 10:1-11)

In the podcast yesterday from Leviticus 9, we saw a scene of exuberant joy and where fire represented God’s presence and spoke of His love, warmth, purity and blessing upon His people.! Today though we see fire representing God but a very different outcome! Here in the very next scene from Leviticus 10:1-11, the fire represents a different aspect of God’s presence through his active holiness and therefore danger and judgement.

Come on in and let us look together at Leviticus 10:1-11, which causes a lot of people today some problems.. Together we explore questions such as: Who were Nadab and Abihu? What was their role to be? Why did they come under God’s judgement? What had they done wrong? What can we say about God from this passage? How did Aaron react? What can we make of this ancient scene? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about this scene of exuberant joy from Leviticus 10:1-11

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Partakers Bible Thought 12 October 2021 – Great Joy

Partakers Bible Thought

12 October 2021

A Scene of Great Joy Leviticus 9:22-24

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.
23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. (Leviticus 9:22-24)

The first seven chapters of Leviticus talk about the different offerings or sacrifices that Israel was to make to God. Then in chapter 8 we see the beginning of the priesthood and the joyful work of Aaron and the priests. Their main role as Priests, was to act as mediators between a holy God and the people of Israel, particularly in the role of making those offerings and sacrifices. In fact, these Priests were the ultimate multi-taskers, as they seemed equally adept as butchers, doctors, teachers, quality assurors and public health inspectors! The passage from Leviticus 9 shows the culmination of this priestly ordination. Let us witness together a scene of great and exuberant joy!

Come on in and look at Leviticus 9:22-24 and a scene of great and exuberant joy! Together we explore questions such as: What is this joy? Why was there such joy? What can we make of this ancient scene? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about this scene of exuberant joy.

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Partakers Bible Thought 8 October 2021 – A Prayer of Anger Psalm 94

Partakers Bible Thought

8 October 2021

Psalm 94 – A Prayer of Anger

1 The LORD is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4 They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, LORD; they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.
12 Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you— a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21 The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.
(Psalm 94)

I believe that I would be right in saying that most of us here have prayed. Whether in joy and happiness; or in sadness and grief; in need or in want; in praise or in worship or in confessing sin, or in other ways we have prayed. But how many of us have prayed in anger, following the example of the writer of Psalm 94. Psalm 94, which is a prayer of anger by the Psalmist.

Come on in and look at Psalm 94, a prayer of anger. Together we explore questions such as: What is this anger? What is the Psalmist praying about that has caused such anger? Why is the Psalmist praying with anger? What does God thing of all this? Will God listen to prayers of anger? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about this prayer of anger from Psalm 94.

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Partakers Bible Thought 6 October 2021 – A Prayer of Trust Psalm 62

Partakers Bible Thought

6 October 2021

Psalm 62 – A Prayer of Trust

1 My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress-- I will never be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man, would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.
Selah. 5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
7 With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us.
Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
10 Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery. If riches increase,
don't set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
(Psalm 62)

Trust in the world today, is a missing ingredient. The one thing that most people today will say they trust in, is themselves. The world says to trust yourself, don't rely on anything else. The world says that all other things are totally unreliable and the only object you can trust is yourself, because you know what you can do, and you should only ask for help if you’re really desperate for it.

It is like a refreshing breath of clean air that we come to Psalm 62. Living in a world which cynically says trust only yourself, Psalm 62 reflects like a mirror the thoughts of God to our minds and hearts. When God says, "Trust me!" - he is totally trustworthy. This man, King David knew that God was like that. Throughout his life, except for when he sinned, he trusted in God.

Come on in and look at the Christian persevering in their faith. Together we explore questions such as: Why does the Psalmist trust God? What kind of God is worthy of trust? How does David build up this picture of God being worthy of trust? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more about this prayer of trust from Psalm 62

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Partakers Bible Thought 4 October 2021 – Big Story 12

Partakers Bible Thought

4 October 2021

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[f] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:8-10; 15-22)

“ 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1–5)

There is a marvellous unity to the Bible story even though it was written by many different people over many hundreds of years. It began, after the Creation, with the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2) and it ends with a Garden City (Revelation 22). There are two great differences between them: the Garden of Eden had only 2 people in it; the Garden City is full of people, all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Only God walks in the Garden of Eden, whereas Jesus Christ, the Lamb, walks with him in the city and the people walk by the light of the lamp, which is the Lamb. Wow!

Today we are looking at the Church of the future – the Church to come of which we are a part. We explore together questions such as: In the light of the Church of the future, what should we as Christians be doing? What will the Church of the future be like? What differences are there between the Garden of Eden and the Garden City of Revelation 22? What sense can we the Church today, make of the Church to come? What promises are there for the future Church, which includes the Church today?

Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more in this part of telling the Bible’s big story, the Temple and what that has to do with Christians today.

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Partakers Bible Thought 3 October 2021 – Big Story 11

Partakers Bible Thought

3 October 2021

1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honoured in my sight,
and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:1-7)

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20))

We live in an amazing and very exciting period of church history. There are more Christians of every sort alive today than ever before; in fact, more alive now than all that have ever lived and died; one third of all the people on the earth. This is mainly because of the recent huge growth of the church in Africa, South America and, to a lesser but increasing extent, in Asia. At the same time the old core areas of the Faith in Europe and North America have declined somewhat, so the centre of gravity of the World-Wide Church has moved south and east. 

Today we are looking at the Church of the present day. We explore together questions such as: How is the Church today fulfilling the vision of Isaiah 43? How is the Church obeying the Great Commission as commanded by Jesus Christ? What are some of the questions we should ask ourselves where we need to grow in obedience in faith as the Church today? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more in this part of telling the Bible’s big story, the Temple and what that has to do with Christians today.

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Partakers Bible Thought 2 October 2021 – Big Story 10

Partakers Bible Thought

2 October 2021

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:13-22)

So far in our Big Story of the Bible, we have traced through the story of the decline of Israel before Jesus appeared. We now pick up the story of the great Temple in Jerusalem in the days of Jesus we find some fascinating things. The extent to which the people of Jesus’ day centred life on the Temple is amazing. We know that Jesus and his family visited the Temple in Jerusalem annually (Luke 2:41). In a mixed family party that was probably 5 days walking each way – a considerable time not to be working and earning.

Life in first century Israel revolved around the Temple building to an astonishing extent. They clearly thought that God was there, and more accessible there, than anywhere else. It was what some people would call a ‘thin place’, that is a place where it feels much easier to get close to God than most places because heaven and earth have only a thin gap between them (which isn’t really the case but it can feel that way if we are somewhere where we have often met with the Lord).

Today we are looking at Jesus and the Temple in Jerusalem. We explore together questions such as: What did Jesus say about the Temple? How much longer after Jesus’ Ascension did the Temple last before the Romans destroyed it? With the Temple gone, what was to replace it? Listen or download the mp3 podcast to find out more in this part of telling the Bible’s big story, the Temple and what that has to do with Christians today.

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