Partakers Christian Podcasts

Think Spot 29 February 2016

Think Spot - 29 February 2016

How is your Christian life going? As you look back on your life, can you see how you have changed and been transformed from the time you came to acknowledge that God was God and entered into a relationship with Him? You can? Good! Let God WOW you with Himself as He transforms you in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, into the image of Jesus, the Son of God.

Your transformation, however quickly or slowly, is evidence of your relationship with God. Are you aware of that? WOW! As you put into practise what you learn about Him, your life has that God WOW factor about it. As you let God take control of your life, bit by bit, you become less self-absorbed and more God-absorbed and caring about others people. Get God's WOW in your life. Let Him change and transform you.

Are you in situations where change is needed? Then instead of wanting to change the situation, change yourself, change your attitude and grasp hold of the God you claim to be your - Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Go into this new week, this new month, knowing you are God's child, that He loves you and wants to transform you greatly. Let your life be a WOW about God- a WOW about God to those that know Him and a WOW about God to those who don't know Him yet.

If you need help, ask us at Partakers.co.uk or buy our books at  http://www.pulptheology.co.uk and on Amazon sites, which will help your thinking.

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Gems in the Gospel of John - Part 22

Gems in the Gospel of John

Part 22: John 5:22
The Royal Agent

There is an idea that can be used to explain what Jesus is meaning when he says, “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgement to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” It is the idea of agency. They, in those days, had a rather stronger idea of what the implications of being an agent were than most of us will have.

If we talk to a salesman in a car showroom about buying a car, which of course means much argument about how much it is going to cost us, our discussion will come to the point where the salesman will say something like: ‘I must check that out with my boss’ and go off to do so. He is acting as an agent for the head salesman. If he is doing something more significant than buying a car, perhaps as an ambassador making an agreement about how two countries are to interact, and he is overseas, then he may still say ‘I must check that out with my boss’, who might now be the president or prime minister of his country. He can do that quickly and easily through his mobile phone etc.

100 years ago he could have done much the same thing but more clumsily and much more slowly by sending a telegram down the wires connecting him back to his own country.

200 years ago things would have been very different. He could only communicate with his home country by sending a message by horseman or sailing ship. He would get the answer only weeks later by which time the situation might well have changed beyond recognition. Consequently he would have had to act without that sort of reference back to base. He would have been a true agent acting on his own initiative on behalf of his firm or his country. That is the sort of agent we read about in the Bible. They might say ‘a person’s agent is as himself’. The agent had to take decisions that would need to be supported in full by his boss when he eventually got to hear what they were. If the boss did not support the agent’s decisions he would be a very bad and difficult person and not a good manager. Also any slight to the agent would be considered a slight to the boss.

We see this in the episode in Mark 12 where we read, “A man planted a vineyard … He rented the vineyard to some farmers … At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit. But they sent him away empty- handed … He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed … He sent his son (the usual full agent) last of all, saying, ‘they will respect my son.’ But the tenants said to one another … let’s kill him … What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

Coming back to John’s gospel we see that Jesus is given full authority as the agent of the Father over the judgements that are to come at the end of the age.

Later Jesus talks about, “a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.” The messenger there is an ‘apostolos’ – the word that we translate as ‘apostle’ which essentially means ‘sent one’ or ‘ambassador’, or we might say: ‘agent’.

Jesus was the apostle sent by Father God. We are apostles sent by the Lord to the world around us. What a huge privilege that is, and what a responsibility. How good an agent are you?

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Friday Prayers 26 February 2016

Partakers Friday Prayers!

26 February 2016

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

May God the Father,
And the eternal High Priest Jesus Christ,
And the indwelling Holy Spirit
Build us up in faith and truth and love,
And grant us our portion among the saints
With all those who believe on our Lord Jesus Christ.

We pray for all saints,
for kings and rulers,
for the enemies of the cross of Christ,
And for ourselves
we pray that our fruit may abound
and we may be made perfect
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen

Based on a prayer of Polycarp (AD 80 – 167)

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Thursday - Testimony - John

John's Story

"Feeling on the path to nowhere but there is a light at the end."

Today our testimony is from John... John is 32 years old, lives in the UK with his wife Nicole and has learning difficulties and epilepsy due to Tuberous Sclerosis...

Play or download the mp3 file to hear how John came into a dynamic relationship with God because of Jesus Christ. John - a 21st century Christian because of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Why not make a comment below to encourage John?

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Think Spot 22 February 2016

Think Spot - 22 February 2016

As a Christian for over 30 years, I am still taking baby steps in learning about the God we as Christians worship. What a Christian believes about God matters because what you believe about God, ultimately affects how you will behave.

I have discovered that as the mind is renewed and transformed, what the mind learns is put into practice, and life is being transformed. Life transformation is a great hope. This hope is an unending hope, which will enable us to endure to the end and run the race of life with God.

Learning about what you believe and why, is important is so that you will be able to discern true teaching from the false teaching of heretics and those who want to lead you astray from the truth. Experiences and miracles are important, but to base Christian life upon them, and not on solid biblical doctrine, produces a rollercoaster effect and not the constant reliance on the indwelling Holy Spirit for direction, guidance and trust. As a starting point check out my own books at http://www.pulptheology.co.uk and on Amazon sites, which will help your thinking.

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Gems in the Gospel of John - Part 21

Gems in the Gospel of John

Part 21: John 5:19
The Royal Apprentice

Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.”

These 2 verses have been described as the only parable in John’s Gospel. Jesus describes himself as an apprentice.

I well remember going to get something done to the tyres of my car in Lahore, Pakistan. All the preparatory work for the difficult task requiring the strong hand of a grown man were carried out by a lad, about 12 years old, clearly working at the instruction of the man who was his father. It was no formal apprenticeship but he was clearly learning the trade and would eventually follow his father and take over from him the little business they had under the trees at the side of the road. Here is Jesus describing himself as working under the direction of his Father, except that there is no question here of his hands being weaker than the Father’s or of him having to grow up and take over their joint enterprise.

The most basic and important point this episode is making concerns Jesus. He is on a level with the Creator God. He is God’s equal, his co-worker. Yet Jesus was a man walking this earth. This is his answer to the perpetual question: who is Jesus, what was, and is, Jesus. He is the Son of God; he is his working apprentice here on earth.

But there is another point that speaks directly to us: if we seek to follow Jesus we must be his apprentices. And where does that idea sit alongside the more common one of discipleship? Apprenticeship is about doing, practical work experience; discipleship is about education, sitting at the feet of a teacher and learning, gaining knowledge. Which are we to be? One of them or both of them? I think the right answer is both, but we will probably, according to our personality and preferences, tend towards one more than the other. Although one writer rightly says “if theology (the study of God and his word) does not stretch our minds it probably wont stretch our lives.”

This is where an element of self-knowledge is important. What sort of person are you? Are you good at being a disciple, at sitting at the feet of Scripture, studying, learning, growing in grace and knowledge? Or are you more of the activist type – keen to get out there and do things: help people, evangelize people, work in the church etc. if you can see which sort of person you are (friends are a great help here) go for it – make sure you maximize your gifting.

But at the same time be careful not to neglect your weaker aspect. If you are a disciple type, make sure you also do things; work as an apprentice of the greatest tradesman of all times, don’t be one who learns just to hold their knowledge close to their chest. If you are an apprentice type, make sure you also learn the ways of the kingdom; don’t neglect the books, particularly the Bible, so that you do not become merely a do-gooder with most of your activity having only the most tenuous connection with your Christian profession.

Be balanced – walk straight – walk the right way – carry a good burden.

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Friday Prayers 19 February 2016

Partakers Friday Prayers!

19th February 2016

We pray together and when Christians pray together, including across the internet and from different times, different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity!

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
with the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,
Who is Jesus Christ.

Amen

(A prayer of Sir Francis Drake)

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Thursday Testimony - Love Never Fails

God in the midst of pain - Love Never Fails

G'day and welcome to Partake Glimpses Stories. Today we have Lyn McKenze telling us about how God has sustained her!

Lynn McKenzie knows what it's like to face the many heartbreaking challenges life can throw our way. She knows, too, that there is One who wants to comfort and strengthen us. As you read Lynn's book, you, too, will discover that Love Never Fails You...

Stephanie Nickel, freelance writer and editor "Suffering in life is common to many people, creating heartbreak and despair. It is my desire that "Love Never Fails You..." will bring encouragement and hope to those who are hurting with life's trials and/or grief.

Lynn McKenzie loves to sing a capella (without music) and is a first-time book author with the creation of "Love Never Fails You..." She enjoys writing a daily blog entry in Life with Lynnie. Lynn works as a realtor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has had a varied employment history and has done volunteer work in an effort to help others, including teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

Lynn is a survivor of many life experiences, including divorce, injury, health concerns, family problems and issues, grief and more. During her lifetime, she has learned how to overcome and who to turn to in times of need, and is looking forward to supporting others as an inspirational speaker.

Her book "Love Never Fails" is available on Amazon!

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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Think Spot 15 February 2016

Think Spot - 15 February 2016

As Christians we are commanded to love God and to show that by loving other people - all other people including those who are our enemies. I am sure that you have people that you love, and to whom you say that you love and care for. Good!

But please don't assume you know how to show your love and care for them. Ask them how you can show your love and care for them in practise... We are also to love the whole person and to take care of the whole person. We are to care for their whole well-being: their spiritual, physical, emotional, social and mental well-being.

Quite often, we neglect one of those areas. The whole person matters to God. He cares for the whole person. Therefore so must we. How will you refine your love of other people now that you are aware? Go and love. Love others - all others - an every facet of the other person - spiritual, physical, emotional, social and mental well-being...

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Gems in the Gospel of John - Part 20

Gems in the Gospel of John

Part 20: John 5:pb
Law or Mercy

We read that, “The day on which this took place was a Sabbath”. Jesus presumably carried out this healing on the Sabbath that they prized so highly, quite deliberately. Had he wanted to he could easily have returned the next day and done it then. But he didn’t; he seems to have chosen to do it on the Sabbath quite deliberately. Why? He didn’t do things like this accidently; he had a purpose – what was it? All the rest of this chapter, and much of the rest of the book follow on from this one act.

Jewish thinking of those days had come down to three main points to identify Judaism and – as they thought – the people of God: circumcision of males, obedience to the food laws, and strict keeping of the Sabbath as a day of rest. Both most of the food laws and the details of Sabbath keeping were defined by the religious authorities. So this was very much their territory and they reacted strongly to what Jesus had done; “the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

Jesus had two clear purposes in what he did. The first was a general one: he wanted to remind them that, in the words of Micah: “what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” It is easy to miss the full meaning of those words. They say that the way to worship and serve the Lord is to treat our fellow human beings well. That is not what other religions say. They want us to carry out specific rituals directed towards their view of god. According to them we are to live certain ways, dress certain ways, pray in a prescribed format the correct number of times a day and so on. And the Jews had fallen into that trap; and many of them remain in it to this day.

Jesus says “no, that is not the way to worship and serve God the Father”, loud and clear. What really matters are relationships and we express our relationships with the Lord God very largely by our relationships with other people. That idea goes right back a long way. Of the ten commandments only the first four are concerned with us and God, the remaining six are about how we relate to other people.

Jesus’ second purpose is to announce loudly and clearly to his time and culture that he is different. He makes the rules; he has made the rules, though they did not recognize that, so he is above and beyond the often rather silly rules that they have constructed out of the Bible ( the Old Testament). He is God, walking this earth in disguise as it were. He is going to set up a new people of God in a new Kingdom, his Kingdom. That is going to cause a lot of problems in Jerusalem, particularly, and bring him to the Cross on which he would die as the one and only Son of God and true, faithful Israelite.

We will explore something of the implications of this second point – who Jesus was, and is, in following studies. The first point: the importance of relationships, all relationships, with God and other people, is there for us all to think about, take on board, and struggle with all our days.

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