Partakers Christian Podcasts

Think Spot

Think Spot 15 April 2013

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Have you ever wondered what constitutes a growing church? Do you know that it isn't just a list of names on the church roll or a social club. Neither is it a large number of people who have made "decisions for Christ". So, what constitutes a church which is living and growing in both spiritual quality as well as numbers? As a Christian to go into the week thinking about how you can contribute to the church you attend! A church should be filled with 'Kingdom of People' - people who declare Jesus is Lord, reflecting His values in word thought and action. A church which is full of people who allow their lives to be totally controlled by the Holy Spirit, and letting the Holy Spirit flow through them. And even more! A church filled with people whose lives are oriented around the following!

• Commitment to Jesus Christ - following Jesus' commandments, and learning daily hww to be more like Him.
• Commitment to the Body of Christ, the Church, being willing to love the Body and Bride of Christ just as Jesus loves the Church.
• Commitment to working within the local community - utilizing the gifts God has given them for the glory of God and exhortation of the other people.

There is no such thing as a full Christian life without those three things in the above set priority - Jesus, church, community. If the priority is shifted in any area then our priorities are wrong. Christians aren't to just to be Christians on a Sunday but 7 days a week. Not just to associate with other Christians, but to affect their local community throughout the week for the glory of Jesus Christ. To do this, this week, think about these questions:

• Am I fully committed to Jesus and His teachings?
• Am I fully committed to my local community and seeing Jesus glorified within it?

Go into the week, knowing God can use you to help both your church and your local community. Thank you.

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Friday Prayers

Friday Prayers

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12 April 2013

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Opening Prayer Father, as we commence, let our hearts and minds be right and still before you. May your everlasting mercy, grace and love be shown in hearing these petitions!

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Prayer of Praise Praise to God the Father sing, praise to God the Son,our king, praise to God the Spirit be now and through eternity. Amen!

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Time for you to give praise to God

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Time for petitions and requests to God

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Closing Prayer O Father! May it be that your love takes over our lives That we follow you faithfully, Giving you alone praise in all circumstances we face together. We ask all these things Father, through the majestic name of Your Son, Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us! Amen!

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Thursday Ponderings

11th April 2013

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G’day and welcome to Pauline's Thursday Ponderings! When we are going through a difficult time it is sometimes hard to believe that you are the apple of Gods eye. God gave me a picture once. I asked God what I was worth. God tied a tag round my neck with a piece of string, the kind of price tag that they have in old fashioned shops. The tag read £10, then he removed the tag and replaced it with one that read £100, then he removed that one and replaced it with one that had £1000 on it. He replaced the £1000 price tag with one that read £100,000 and then replaced that one with a million pound price tag. The final price tag simply had ‘ONE LIFE’ written on it. I find it mind blowing that God chose to let His Son die a hideously painful death so that I can enjoy a personal relationship with him that I am so valuable that even if I was the only human being that existed, God would have allowed Jesus to die on a cross for me. Remind yourself of this fact frequently and you will get a glimpse of your father’s heart. He loves you to bits and is proud of you no matter what you have done in the past - if you have said sorry and meant it - it is forgotten. The slate is completely clean. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says’ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come’ God’s love for you is unconditional. God created us with a thirst to be secure, to have self worth and to have a sense of our own significance. That thirst is intended to be quenched by God himself, by His unconditional love for us and unconditional acceptance of our work. I John 3 verse 1 says’ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.! And that is what we are!’ Ephesians 2 verse 10 says’ We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepares for us in advance to do.’ Unfortunately many of us try and get our security and sense of self worth from our spouses or parents. Whilst that can be okay if we have a particularly adoring spouse or an encouraging mum and dad, it goes badly wrong if we have a critical spouse or a parent that withholds praise. Our self esteem really suffers in the case of a verbally critical spouse or parent and is affected just as badly by someone who is slow to give praise. Galatians 4: 7 says Because you are sons,” God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave but a son and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.’ Our aim should be to please God and fulfil his purposes for our lives. If it is we will discover a sense of security, value and significance in God and then it will not matter if our boss does not appreciate us or if our spouse criticises us. We should be aiming to enjoy God, to have a life of worship and to get to know God better each day. God adores us and considers us adorable, He is proud of our achievements but is so much more thrilled with our efforts to get to know Him better.

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Think Spot

Think Spot 8th April 2013

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” Psalm 119: 105

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The day I was converted I longed to dig deep into the Bible and make up for the many years I had never hardly read it. I learned fairly quickly and the desire has always been there but not so strong as it is now when I am well into my 75th year. That desire has been further intensified by my being brought into contact especially over recent years with some of the finest preachers in the whole world on the Internet through web sites like “sermon. audio.” (You can freely download the cream of the best preaching over the whole world at this web site either mp3 or mp4 format.) This is not a plug but helpful advice from one who has been blessed mightily through it. What a privilege wouldn't you agree?

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I have learned a tremendous amount by listening to a great number of preachers and Bible teachers who stand wholly on the Bible. They clearly explain the Bible by diligently studying many hours themselves not only for their own benefit or even their congregations but for the benefit of all who are earnestly wanting to get to grips with the content of the best book in all the world. The worlds best seller yet how many take advantage of the better side of the Internet and listen to the best exposition from God's Holy Word. I know you will say “But I know enough of the Bible, I am quite contented with my present knowledge.” or maybe you will say quite rightly “I am a practical Christian and I am getting on with living the Christian life.” I commend you for that and am happy with you up to a point.

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In today’s age many are beginning to ask questions of us and demand quite rightly what Christianity is all about. My own experience over many years is that as we dig into God's Word for knowledge as well as understanding and apply it to our own individual lives, which is a must, of course, we do need to follow one of the most important Bible teachings in the entire Bible which is “Be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within you” If we were football players we would practice and practice for hours in order to be at the top of our game. Likewise if we are good cooks we will do all we can to top the next meal we cook. We have an amazing text book for our profession but it needs studying to get the most and the best out of it. This readiness is not for preachers and evangelists alone but all of us who profess Christ as our Saviour Lord and King.

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One last thought. It is such a full volume and needs to be studied slowly in order to go over and over verses which may be familiar in order to squeeze out the sweet beneficial nectar and fruit which is there if we search diligently. which may mean going over and over passages word by word but its worth it. We have the Bible in our own native language and have so many Commentaries Dictionaries and Lexicons and endless helps on web sites such as this one at Partakers where each download is free ( http://www.partakers.co.uk ) E-Sword (more free downloads.) Amazon Kindle books also are so easy to obtain and put onto your computer at very reasonable prices.. Whether you have a kindle, tablet, etc or not you can download a Kindle electronically. Yes you can. The 'App' is free from Amazon and the books include some of the best Christian authors from the present and the past.

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We are greatly indebted to Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones for making us aware of the writers from the 16th to 18th century including the puritan era. Men's writings like Charles Spurgeon, Thomas Watson and J C Ryle to our attention. I could add John Stott, John Macarthur, John Piper, Al Martin, Paul Washer, Brian Green etc. The list is endless.

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In this day and age everyone wants instant this and instant that. If you want to grow as a Christian you have to give attention to it and take the time. Turn the TV off for a couple of hours per day and you will be so blessed I can assure you. Can I recommend also David Pawson. Org,/ MLJ Trust. both free downloads, and if you seek the Lord for discernment Her will lead you to the best teachers you can learn so much from them. I can assure you the more you soak yourselves in God's Word the devil will be pressed back and will not want to come near you.

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My reason for saying that is this. I would ask you to remember Matthew 4 and Luke 4 where Jesus is being tempted by the devil. Jesus answered by what means to defeat his foe? By quoting Bible texts at him and eventually the devil left him for a season. Clothe yourselves in God's armour each day (Ephesians 6:10-18;) and soak yourselves in God’s Word (not five minutes but at least an hour) plus prayer daily . God is the most important Person in the whole world and deserves our attention of Him. Remember one day we shall see Him. Better get to know Him right now don’t you think?

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Joys Prayer Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father, It is our chief delight to talk with You and listen to you speaking to us through the Scriptures. Help us to make more time to spend with you and learn from The Holy Spirit all about Jesus Christ and God the Father as well as Himself. There are many things that occupy our minds during the day and if we are honest we don't need to be spending as much time as we do on the less important occupations. Forgive us and give us discernment to spend each day more wisely remembering the words of the Lord's Prayer “Your Kingdom come and Your will be done” and to feed on your strengthening word. In Jesus name, Amen

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Thursday Ponderings

28th February 2013

He will carry you...

My mum was extremely poor when she was older and could not afford to eat properly. Because of that for a long time I had a fear that I would be poor when I was old and not be able to afford to eat. Then one day I came across Isaiah 46:4 - “Even to your old age and grey hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and rescue you.” The verse went straight to my heart and gave me comfort. Every time I start to get worried, I simply speak the verse to myself and my peace comes back. What a wonderful promise, from whatever age you are now until you are old and grey God the Father, the most powerful being in the universe will look out for you. He will sustain you! He will nourish you, keep you going, support you, help and aid you. What more could we possibly need! When we’re too tired to continue, He will carry us! When we run out of our own strength He will give us His strength! Isaiah 40:31 - “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” This is just another way of saying He will carry us!

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Think Spot

Think Spot 25th February 2013

Are you bored with your quiet time?

Some years ago I was feeling jaded in my personal communications with God. My personal quiet times were becoming a burden. They were a duty rather than a delight. In fact I felt bored and not knowing what to do about it. Sure I was converted. I was a missionary in missionary service in a tough area of London. The world around me was pressing in on me. I was downhearted even near to depression. As a young missionary I was dry, very dry spiritually . I was simply going through the motions of Christian service. No one was getting converted. Was it all worth it ? I asked myself. One morning I simply flicked my Bible open with little care which book in the Bible I came to and found myself in the opening chapter of the Song of Solomon. A book I was unfamiliar with. As I read mechanically through the first few verses I was directed to a cross reference in I Kings 4:29; through which God spoke loudly to me revealing my problem. Solomon, King of Israel had been asked by the Lord which gift he required from God.. His answer pleased the Lord exceedingly and he was granted his gift of wisdom to rule his people. Then the Lord continues to say he was so pleased with Solomon's request for wisdom that He was going to give him a bonus. In the 'King James version' it reads that “God gave to Solomon riches and largeness of heart” What did that mean? I wondered. I knew it wasn't referring to the physical heart so it had to be a spiritual gift. Suddenly the truth dawned on me. My experience at that time was that I was shrivelled up in my spirit in unbelief. My spirit was dry. My faith was at a very low point. So I cried out in prayer for a larger capacity for God Himself as I understood the expression to mean. To increase my desires for God Himself not for anything to receive from him but for Himself. Immediately my spirit was awakened and I was praying the prayerful words of the psalmist when he sought God saying “My soul pants after God as the hart (young deer) pants for the water brooks." We may be at the present time crying out to God for revival. To see our church enlarged and our Sunday Schools filled with children but maybe the problem lies closer to our very selves. Is God saying to us "why should I answer your prayers when you are so impoverished in your own souls and you are going through the motions in mechanical fashion. There is no life in what you say or do. Your hearts are not where they should be because they are shrivelled up with worldliness unbelief and subsequently you have little faith." Then I remembered God's words to Joel and Israel, “Return to God and He will return to you” Good advice indeed. My prayer was answered, my heavy spirit lifted and my hunger for God increased and also for His Word . Once again I was enjoying God with a heart enlarged for God and a desire for more of God in my life. Faith was rekindled. My batteries recharged and things took off from there. May I suggest we all seek that blessing in order that we may fulfil our ultimate calling which is "to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever" Joys Prayer

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Nicene Creed Video

Nicene Creed

What we believe as Christians...

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray and profess together!

 

We believe in one God,

the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

and of all that is,

seen and unseen.

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We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God,

Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

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Through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit,

He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

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For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures:

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

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We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son,

He is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

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We believe in one, holy,

catholic (universal), and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

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Amen

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Friday Prayers

Partakers Friday Prayers!

22nd February 2013

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray and profess together!

We believe in one God,

the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

and of all that is,

seen and unseen.

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We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God,

Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

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Through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit,

He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

~

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures:

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

~

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son,

He is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

~

We believe in one, holy,

catholic (universal), and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

~

Amen

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Think Spot

Think Spot

18th February 2013

The Pilgrims Progress and you

If there is one book which has proved very helpful to me in my own Christian pilgrimage it is “The Pilgrims Progress”. It is full of imagery which captivates the mind as you read of the adventures of Pilgrim. He is laughed at, mocked and ridiculed as he leaves home seeking salvation and the removal of his burden on his back representing his sin. We read of how his name is changed to Christian when he comes to the Cross and of the many dangers he meets after that on route. He has enemies he engages in battle with. He speaks of the many helps he received as he travels on to the Beulah Land and glory. He carries a scroll (the Bible) which is to lead him to his final destination. If you are struggling with sin, or faith or uncertainty then read this book in Modern English. ~ This is a book written by a man of God many years ago, who lived for God. He was a man well acquainted with troubles, as he endeavoured to use his gifts of preaching in many open places and suffered imprisonment for the message of freedom he would proclaim to the masses. He was a pastor and preacher and the lover of people enough to tell out the gospel at the expense of his wife and life. He had a blind daughter so his family suffered at home as well. However in prison God gave him an amazing dream full of Christian life principles. ~ This book has been a worlds best seller over many years up to the present day. At his baptism my son gave his testimony saying what a great help Pilgrims Progress had been to him as it was read to him at bedtime each evening to show him the pathway to heaven. May I recommend its reading to you and to encourage you to learn from it . May it help you to become a stronger Christian and the children's version a blessing to your family.

Joys Prayer

Gracious God and loving heavenly Father, We come to You the Almighty God and praise You for your faithfulness when answering our many prayers. We desire more faith and ask your forgiveness when we let you down. ~ Forgive us Lord when our hearts are not always in all we do. Please, if necessary, give us a new heart or rekindle the desires we once had when we first tasted and received the Lord into our lives. Forgive us and cleanse us and renew our faith that we may honour You and give You glory due to your holy name! ~ In Jesus name we pray! ~ Amen

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Friday Prayers - Apostles Creed

Apostles Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

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Suffered under Pontius Pilate;

was crucified, dead and buried:

He descended into hell:

The third day he rose again from the dead:

He ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

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I believe in the Holy Ghost:

I believe in the holy catholic and apostolic church:

the communion of saints:

The forgiveness of sins:

The resurrection of the body:

And the life everlasting.

Amen.

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