Living Word Family Church Sermon Podcast

Continuing on the topic of the presence of the Lord, one of the things that is promised there is rest...true rest. What does that look like? Why do we not experience that more easily in today's society? And how do we get there? The world tends to see rest in ways that lead to the same traps that can cause us to get our focus off of Jesus. Through the Word, we see it differently...the way God sees it.

Tonight, Pastor Mike reminds us that, as believers, we are called to perform greater works as Jesus did. He emphasizes the importance of prayer and being led by the Spirit. Unity among believers is crucial, and individuals are encouraged to witness boldly for Jesus. Remember the power you hold through the Holy Spirit and engage with God's word to fulfill your divine purpose.

David’s one desire was to be in the presence of God. On this side of the cross, David’s desire has become a reality for us. But are we taking full advantage of the 24/7 opportunity we have to look at Him? Where is our focus during the many different things we go through in life? In this message, we’ll look at examples from the life of Peter and find out how to live a life of beholding.

Tonight, Pastor Mike emphasizes the importance of walking in wisdom, drawing from biblical teachings in Proverbs. He highlights understanding God's will, redeeming our time wisely, and recognizing each person's divine calling. Our discussion encourages living a spirit-filled life, avoiding distractions, and practicing gratitude. Serving others while giving God glory, along with humility and selflessness. 

Say the word "prosperity" in some churches, and you might raise some eyebrows. Some try to draw a distinction between God's will for the children of Israel and His will for New Covenant believers when it comes to prosperity, since it's so clearly promised in the Old Testament. But it is Jesus who spoke of abundance. And it is the Holy Spirit, through Paul, who spoke of superabundance! Prosperity -financial prosperity- is not our goal as followers of Christ, but we must be liberated from the notion that not only is it not sinful, it is something God desires for us. 

We might tend to think that there is a stark division between tithing in the Old Testament vs giving in the New Testament, but the Old Testament actually has more to say about giving than about tithing. This shouldn't surprise us because God doesn't change; He valued and rewarded the generous hearts of the Old Testament children of Abraham, and He values and rewards the generous hearts of Abraham's spiritual children of the new covenant.

Money is a ticklish, sometimes risky topic in church. Abuses of scripture, manipulation, and financial scandals have caused some to become jaded with regard to giving support to their church and other ministries. The Bible has a lot to say about money, and Jesus spoke about it often. In this first message of a three week series on giving, we start with a look at what the word of God says about the tithe. How much is it? Where does it go/what's it for? Is it for today? Join us for this and much more!

As we wrap up our three-week fast, we will take a look at some more of what God said to Israel about fasting, as well as what Jesus has to say to us about fasting today. The Christian life is not defined by fasting or any other expression of suffering or affliction; but there is a place for these things. As we look into the word, we can see the Father and the Son speaking to us about FEASTING in His presence, and how celebration and sacrifice both have their places in our lives.