Partakers Christian Podcasts

https://feed.podbean.com/davegroberts/feed.xml

437.3K

Downloads

3366

Episodes

G’day and welcome to Partakers Christian Podcasts! Join us for uplifting Bible teaching, inspiring readings, heartfelt worship, powerful prayers, and fascinating church history. Whether you’re new to faith or growing deeper in your journey, we’re here to encourage and equip you. 🎧 Tune in, interact, and be inspired—wherever you are in the world.

Episodes

Sunday Mar 16, 2014

Sunday with Sammy

Sunday Mar 16, 2014

16th March 2014

Paul and Potholes

They say that when something is going on in your life then you see it EVERYWHERE. The car you bought because you had rarely seen one in that colour is suddenly parked everywhere you go. Everyone else is having a baby it would seem to the couple struggling to conceive. You hear nothing but the bright future of the school you have just decided to take your child from early as you thought there was a better chance for them elsewhere! The list is pretty endless.

Personally for me, it’s a word or phrase at the moment and that is…calling. During Intercessional Prayers on Sunday the person was asking for prayers of those exploring vocation to the priesthood – ‘woah that’s me!’ I thought.

In a home group yesterday, Brian Wilson from HIllsong said, ‘You must walk worthy of the calling for what YOU are called.’ Again, I wondered if he was talking directly to me. Of course he wasn’t, but my mind is tuned to that word and turn of phrase at the moment due to my circumstances.

Now, something that effects every single one of us at the moment is potholes! Whether you drive and need to avoid them, or you don’t and walk around praying that the cars avoid the ones still filled with water.

I have to admit, and this won’t be the last time you hear this from me, but I have an immense respect for St Paul. Not only because of the way he continuously admitted what he had done wrong – not to get forgiveness after forgiveness, because I hope you know that when you ask God with all sincerity for His forgiveness and Grace you get it, and you don’t then need to feel any guilt about what you have been forgiven for. You must not, however, go and do it again. As I wrote last week when Jesus dismissed the adulterous woman he said, ‘Go, and sin no more’.

Paul’s main writings in the Bible are his letters to various Churches in Christendom. Paul set up the church of Ephesus as described in Acts 19 and its urgency in his detailed explanations of that congregation’s relationship with Jesus Christ could be due to it having been written not long before his death around AD62. Let’s have a look.

Paul writes in Ephesus 4 ‘In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.’

So in his typical style he starts with a firm instruction. Get going you lot! Stop messing around, you know what to do, what are you waiting for? If I get out of here, I’m going to come over there and give you a good shake!! But I can’t so you’ll have to read my words and do as you’re told – through me – by Christ Jesus. Paul never took any credit for his work, he always said it was the work of our saviour Jesus he did. Paul also talked in verse 3 about being quick to mend fences. This is hugely important, and as Christians we must take the initiative. I speak from very recent experience when I say you WILL be nervous, you will want to back out, and yes, you may have the door slammed in your face, you might even be verbally abused, but God knows you did it for the right reasons and He loves you all the more for it. Also, as was in my case this week, you might not get the door slammed in your face, in which case you have a win-win scenario.

Paul continues with ‘You were all called’ oh here we go again ‘to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.’ ‘But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.’

But what, you are thinking, does this have to do with potholes??

Well. Not much to be honest, but we do have them in common and probably will do for a while yet!

However, everything, as we’ve discussed previously happens for a reason, and when I stopped the car earlier today to avoid a rather large pothole I looked to my right and saw a minutes old new born lamb taking its first tentative, wobbly steps. Had I been driving I would have missed that sight. That wonderful sign that Spring is on her way, that through all the trials and tribulations, rain and darkness, there is new life springing forward, new hope is on the horizon…and together, in oneness, with our heads held high (being careful if we’re running of course) we can all reach the goal that Paul talks of, through commitment to God and in loving one another. The road is the same, the potholes may make us stumble, but by wearing the whole armour of God we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil!

Prayer

Thank you Father for new life shown to us in your wonderful creation. For the buds on the trees, the daffodils and crocus’ for the lambs and piglets and for each one of us, born because of you and saved because of the birth of your precious son. As we continue to draw closer to you this Lent, remind us quite how wonderful your world can be, and bless each one of us every day. Amen

Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file

~Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Sunday Mar 09, 2014

Sunday with Sammy

Sunday Mar 09, 2014

9th March 2014

What say you?

John 8:2-11
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered round him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’

‘No one, sir,’ she said.

‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’

The Ash Wednesday reading for this year is from John 8:7… What is interesting about this passage is that it didn’t actually make it into the Bible until the 3rd century. It is unlike the usual way that the rest of this gospel is written – ignoring the pro and epilogues, we will cover those another time, but if you get the chance do have a look at the ending of John’s Gospel…all three of them! It is thought that the copyist who inserted it here was possibly trying to illustrate Jesus saying that he will pass judgement on no-one later in the chapter, in verse 15.

Anyway, Jesus had returned from the Mount of Olives, and is being harassed yet again by the Pharisees. They have bought a woman to him who they claimed had been caught committing adultery (nothing is ever said about the man with whom the alleged crime took place you’ll notice!) This married woman knows there is very high chance of being killed by the then common practice of stoning under the guise of the Law of Moses, as written in Deuteronomy 22. The Pharisees tell Jesus this has to be the outcome, and are trying to test him, again. They want him to either go against the word of Moses, and as a teacher of the Jewish faith of course he could not, or they want him to go against the authority of Rome, as Roman law had deprived the Jews of their rights to stone people to death – they thought they had him!

The gospel says, When they persisted in questioning him, he straightened up and told them, "Let the person among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." In the same situation now, knowing what we do, as the woman, you would be petrified! It is a wonderful thing to say, and it should be said more nowadays if you ask me – ok then, the one of you who is without sin and has NEVER done anything wrong can judge… that would make people stop and think before acting in certain ways! Of course, there WAS someone there who was without sin – Jesus – and he and only he had every right to cast that first stone…and we can only imagine the carnage that would have occurred after that.

What would have happened if one of the Pharisees had cottoned on to this, picked up a stone, handed it to Jesus and said ,’here you go then…’ But they didn’t. Thankfully. Because they understood not a jot of whose company there were truly in. There is a wonderful part when Jesus seems to simply ignore them, and starts to write on the ground with his finger. We’re not told what or really why., and there are many, many schools of thought about this, but in Jeremiah 17:13 in some translations it is written, ‘Those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth for they have forsaken the Lord’ …but in the Pharisees’ trying to get Jesus on the back foot and make a mistake, his calm demeanour must have had them all hopping from foot to foot in madness – how funny! So, Christ neither found fault with the law, nor excused the woman's guilt; nor did he tolerate the pretended zeal of the Pharisees.

People are actually self-condemned who judge others, and yet do the same thing. All who are any way called to blame the faults of others, are especially concerned to look to themselves, and keep themselves and their lives in order. In this situation, Jesus did precisely what he came into the world to do, and that was, to bring sinners to repentance; not to destroy, but to save. He aimed to bring, not only the accused to repentance, by showing her his mercy, but the prosecutors also, by showing them their sins; they thought to ensnare him, he sought to convince and convert them. Check mate to Jesus! AND he declined to meddle with the magistrate's office. Many crimes merit far more severe punishment than they meet with; but that isn’t for us to concern ourselves with. When Christ sent the woman away, it was with this caution, Go, and sin no more. If you help to save the life of a criminal, you must also help to save their soul with the same care. They are truly happy, whom Christ does not condemn.

And as we moan that our lives could be so much better, they could, remember, be so much worse. When I think about when Jesus was writing in the dust the following Lenten poem by George Herbert springs to mind…

Lord, who hast form’d me out of mud,
And hast redeem’d me through thy blood,
And sanctifi’d me to do good;
Purge all my sins done heretofore:
For I confess my heavy score,
And I will strive to sin no more.
Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,
With faith, with hope, with charity;
That I may run, rise, rest with thee.
May God bless and keep us all safe,
healthy and though able to cast a stone
be always unwilling to do so.
Christ's favour to us
in the forgiveness of past sins
should prevail with us,
So, Go then,
and sin no more. Amen

Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file

~Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Wednesday Mar 05, 2014

WOW Word 57

Wednesday Mar 05, 2014

WOW Word 57 - Sin

1 John 1:9 - “Jesus is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Today, Alphy the WOWChurch cat shares with us about sin - what it is, what it is not, who, why, where? Come see and hear Alphy the WOWChurch Cat explain more!!

Play the video below and/or download it by right mouse clicking here and saving it as mp4 video file!

Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Wednesday Feb 26, 2014

WOW Word 40

Wednesday Feb 26, 2014

WOW Word 40 - Satan

Today, Alphy the WOWChurch cat shares with us about the enemy of God and therefore the enemy of Christians, indeed all humanity - satan! Come see and hear Alphy the WOWChurch Cat explain more!!

Ephesians 6:10-12

Be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and remember that the strain is the same for all your fellow-Christians in other parts of the world. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Play the video below and/or download it by right mouse clicking here and saving it as mp4 video file!

Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Monday Feb 24, 2014

Think Spot

Monday Feb 24, 2014

Monday Think Spot

24 February 2014

The Love that Suffers

Good morning. Welcome to Think Spot with Partakers. I would just like to welcome you here to get your week started off. Let’s look at the love that suffers. We are going to turn to Ephesians 5:2. “Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sin.”

It is strange that love, which is the source of the greatest happiness, should also be the cause of the most intense suffering. Suffering always follows when love seeks to save the object of its love. It is only by suffering that love can gain its end and so attain the highest happiness.

Even the almighty power of God’s love could not achieve its purpose without suffering. By suffering, Christ bore the sins of the whole world, Love in the midst of suffering manifested the greatest glory and attained its end perfectly.

Love worthy of the name manifests itself in a life of continual self-sacrifice. Love gives strength to endure, whatever the circumstances. Loving others may mean tears, heartache, and much persevering in prayer; but love overcomes all obstacles.

Do you long to know the love of Christ in all its fullness? Then yield yourself to Him. Think of yourself as a channel through which the highest love can reach its aim. Begin to suffer with and intercede for those around you. Eventually you will realize what this life of love is: to live wholly for the welfare and happiness of others.

And maybe the best way I can describe the love that suffers is as the love of a parent. The parent loves their children unconditionally, no matter what. There is nothing that the child can do that would cause the parent not to love them. Sure, some of the choices that they make break our hearts. We don’t want them to make the same mistakes we made. But yet we have to realize that they are individuals and that they will make choices and those choices will not always be what we hope for them. But, they will learn through those mistakes. Scripture tells us to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. So, that’s what we do; we love and we guide them while allowing them to make their mistakes. That is love.

The same can be said for the grown child who is now the caretaker of their parent. Our parents, once they reach a certain stage, may not always be able to make the choices about what’s best for them concerning their finances and concerning their healthcare; but we still need to allow them to make choices as much as possible. God gives us all that right, the right to choose. He wants us to choose to love Him. And so we need to honor our parents with that choice and let them be a part of their healthcare as much as possible. And as you are taking care of your parent, also take care of yourself because that is the only way you can truly take care of your parent. Accept help from others when they offer it. And when someone comes to visit take a walk outside or take 5 minutes to write in your journal, just a way to find that release, clear your mind, and to help you keep going. Make sure you still get your alone time with God because this is very important where your growth comes in.

I pray that something that has been said here today blesses you and encourages you throughout your week. And so now I would like to close this in prayer.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for allowing these listeners to be with us this morning. And I pray that the message that was brought this morning brings them peace, brings them comfort, and encouragement. I pray it speaks life into their soul. And Father, I just ask you to keep your hand upon them, to clearly guide them and allow them to clearly understand your will for their lives. I ask you to place a hedge of protection around each one this week, Father. May no plots of the enemy come against them, may the enemy be caught in his own snare. And I just ask you to bless each one of them. I thank you for the blessings you have already given, and for the blessings yet to come. In Jesus name I pray and ask these things. Amen.

Thank you for joining us here on Partakers Think Spot. Come back every day for a bit of helpful encouragement to get you throughout your week.

Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file

~Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Wednesday Feb 19, 2014

WOW Word 39

Wednesday Feb 19, 2014

WOW Word 39 - Spiritual Armour

Today, Alphy the WOWChurch cat shares with us from Ephesians 6:10-20, where the Apostle Paul talks about Spiritual Armour! WOW! Come see and hear Alphy the WOWChurch Cat explain more!!

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour 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 armour 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.

Play the video below and/or download it by right mouse clicking here and saving it as mp4 video file!

Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Monday Feb 17, 2014

Think Spot

Monday Feb 17, 2014

Monday Think Spot

17 February 2014

Thank you for joining us today and I pray today’s word blesses you. I want to talk to you today about an urgent need, a need for prayer. A need for prayer for the many brothers and sisters in Christ who may be coming under spiritual attack for walking in the purpose that God has put in their life, walking in their calling, and for the many lost out there who can’t seem to find their light at the end of the tunnel, who can’t find their ray of hope that we know comes through Jesus Christ.

Let’s turn this morning to Luke chapter 11:8. If you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won’t be damaged. By intercession our faith, love, and perseverance will be aroused. How may we become more successful in prayer? In the parable of the friend at midnight Jesus teaches us that our intercession for the needy calls forth our power of prevailing prayer. Intercession is the most perfect form of prayer. It is the prayer Christ ever lives to pray on His throne. Intercession has its origin in urgent need. The friend came at midnight. He was hungry and could not buy bread. If we are to pray as we should we must open our eyes and hearts to the needs around us.

We hear of the billions of unreached people living in midnight darkness, perishing for lack of the bread of life. We hear of millions of nominal Christians, the majority almost as ignorant and indifferent as the heathen. We see millions in the church not indifferent and yet knowing little of the power of a life fed by the bread from heaven. If we believe what we profess, that God certain will help and send an answer to prayer, this ought to make intercessors of us. It should motivate us to give our lives to prayer for those around us. Let’s face the need of Christ-less souls perishing of hunger while there is bread enough to spare. And our own neighbors and friends, people entrusted to us, dying without hope, Christians around us living fruitless lives, prayer is needed.

So, I call to you today, and I ask you, will you answer the call of intercession? Will you speak up for the ones that don’t know that this hope exists? Will you speak up and speak life through prayer into the lives of all of those around you, even the ones you don’t know, and even the ones that come against you?

Prayer

My God, guard my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking deceit. To those who curse me let my soul be silent and let my soul be like dust to everyone. Open my heart to your Torah, your Word, and then my soul will seek your commandments. As for all those who plot evil against me, quickly nullify their counsel and disrupt their plans.

May it be your will, Adonai, my God, and the God of my forefathers that human jealousy may not rise against me, nor may I be jealous of others. May I not be angry today and may I not anger you. Rescue me from the evil inclination and place in my heart submissiveness and humility.

Oh our King, and our God, cause your name to be unified in Your world, rebuild your city, lay the foundation of your house, perfect your sanctuary, gather in the scattered exiles, redeem your sheep, and make glad your congregation. Act for your name’s sake, act for your right hand’s sake, act for your word’s sake, act for your sanctity’s sake so that your loved ones may be given rest. Let your right hand save and respond to me.

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find graceful favor before you, Adonai, my rock and redeemer, he who makes peace in his high places may he make peace among us and upon Israel, amen. May it be your will, Adonai, our God, and the God of our forefathers, that the holy temple be rebuilt speedily in our days. Grant us our portion in your word, and may we serve you there with reverence as in ancient days and years. Then the descendants of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to Adonai as in days of old and in former years. Father, place on us the call to lift others in prayer and help us to walk steadfast in that prayer of intercession. Thank you for today. Thank you for being our Father.
In Jesus name we pray!
Amen.

Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file

~Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Wednesday Feb 12, 2014

WOW Word 38

Wednesday Feb 12, 2014

WOW Word 38 - The Lord's Prayer

Today, Alphy the WOWChurch cat shares with us from Matthew 6:9-13, where Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer! Come see and hear the WOW factor of God in this WOW Word!

Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Your name is holy,

Your kingdom let it come,

Your heavenly will be done on earth.

Supply us today with all our needs.

Forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

Don’t lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours O Father is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.”

Play the video below and/or download it by right mouse clicking here and saving it as mp4 video file!

Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Tuesday Feb 11, 2014

Psalms MP3

Tuesday Feb 11, 2014

Download mp3 Audio of Psalms here.

If you are using Firefox, we recommend using

the DownThemAll plugin which you can use

to download all mp3 files at one click...

Warning: quality varies from listenable to CD Quality

Monday Feb 10, 2014

Think Spot

Monday Feb 10, 2014

Monday Think Spot

10 February 2014

One of the saddest things I hear with increasing frequency is when a Christian says they are not longer interested in going to their church and that they can find a way to worship God without the need to be with other believers one day a week. That they can find plenty of fellowship with other Christians without the need to attend their church on a Sunday. However that is against all that Jesus and the early church said and taught about being involved in a local church if you are able to. It is one of the prime ways our enemy satan gets to those who are Christian Disciples - to get them separated from their local church. Just as a lion or a wolf separate a sheep from the flock, so as to make it easier to devour.

It is also extreme selfishness to remove yourself from your local church. Selfish in that you are wanting all the benefits of being a Christian without the commitment it takes to the local church. Where better to serve others than in your local church? Where better to give to others your time, your gifts, your money than your local church? It is a hallmark of 21st century materialism to say I am leaving the church because I am not getting what I want out of it.

Now I am not saying that your church is perfect. No church is perfect just as no church is totally imperfect. But as a Christian you need to be plugged into your church. Not always to receive what you can but also to give where you can. Give & serve with your time, your gifts, your talents and with your money.

Jesus loves the church. The universal church as well as your local church. Your church, where you attend, is loved by Jesus. It is to be loved by you – warts and all. So when you are tempted to leave the church where you attend, be tempted to be more committed to it. The writer of Hebrews put it like this almost 2000 years ago: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as in fact some are doing, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

If you are going to church simply for what you can get out of it, you are going to church for the wrong reason. You are to assemble with other Christians in order to encourage, serve and to love them. You cannot do that if you do not attend! Your local community is looking at the church and seeing how they love, work, serve, care and encourage each other and them! If you are not part of a church, you can’t do that with other believers in that church – your church.

One final thought is this: let us not take for granted our freedom to worship and attend our churches... Many around the world are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus and have to meet in secret to worship God and meet other Christians... ~~ Have a great week and celebrate Jesus with your church!

Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file

~Click on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!