In this message, we consider Acts 14 and slay the "myth" that the Christian life is somehow problem-free. Paul's life was anything but problem-free. Somehow through nearly 2000 years of Church History, a "version" of Christianity has been (is being) preached that gives people the impression that following Jesus amounts to life enhancement and the disappearance of problems. It may not be stated as such, but it is often implied. It is a version of the so-called "Prosperity Gospel" which Paul's life completely undermines. It is truly ANOTHER Gospel that is being presented by advocates of the Prosperity Gospel (ironically, they completely misuse/abuse Old Testament promises that not only do not apply to them, but as part of a covenant that required the death penalty for multiple reasons - something they "conveniently" overlook!!!)Can we eliminate many of the problems that might be a part of life? - Sure, if choose NOT TO LIVE as radical disciples of Jesus preaching the Gospel! But, if we live as faithful followers of Christ who preach the Gospel (that demands repentance), then we will be persecuted - we will face tribulation.

Philippians 2:1-17 (ESV)1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Natalie shares a powerful teaching from John 15.It is time to bear fruit. If the pruning time is over, then it is FRUIT TIME!

We begin by reviewing what a New Testament False Prophet was/is and more importantly IS NOT. Many today are being called "False Prophets" who according to the New Testament are not. Next, we turn back to Paul's 1st Missionary and look at HOW Paul shares the Gospel in Acts 13. What was his message? Who was his audience? Who we are sharing the Gospel with will determine how we share the Gospel. What is the worldview of our audience? Paul is communicating the Gospel in Acts 13 in Jewish synagogues to a Jewish audience (and/or Gentiles who have been influenced by Judaism). Today if we are sharing the Gospel with New Agers we will need to apply the Gospel quite differently and adjust our message. Or to Muslims. We need to be prepared for the audience we may have. Paul was clearly prepared to communicate the Gospel in a Jewish setting!Some aspects of the Gospel message need to be communicated to every type of listener - the death & resurrection of Christ, the forgiveness of sin, and the freedom from sin that is available through Christ alone!The Gospel will also elicit many different responses - we see this in Acts 13. Excitement. People influenced and wanting to hear more. New disciples. But at the same time - anger, jealousy, people provoked. So much so, that sometimes it leads to violent opposition. Popular acceptance AND violent rejection. If today we are communicating the Gospel accurately, we too will find the same types of responses - whether in individuals and/or groups.We end this message with a challenge to be prepared to share the Gospel which means knowing the beliefs of our hearer(s) and knowing how the Gospel specifically addresses what is lacking in their belief system. We also moved into a time of ministry where we prayed for people who needed forgiveness, who needed freedom (from sin)., and who wanted to be filled afresh with joy and the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52)

Natalie shares a powerful message about giving God full access to every area of your life. In so doing, He will give us more; He will entrust us with more. This in short is about complete and total surrender. This message is anointed. Ask God for ears to ear, and allow Holy Spirit to speak to you. For such a time as this..

It was in the fulness of time, the PERFECT TIMING that Christ came. The fulfillment of prophecies from thousands of years earlier, including the 5500-year prophecy that ancient Judaism and the early Christians believed was given to Adam when he and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.The world was ready for the spread of the Gospel - a Roman Empire characterized by peace, roads built and a unifying language (Greek) - and the Jews had a Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, that fit into all of this - the Messianic prophecies contained within and a chronology that pointed to the time of Christ as the fulfillment of the 5500-year prophecy. The later Rabbis removed 1500 years out of their Hebrew Old Testament (that became the Masoretic text) to discredit the Septuagint (LXX). Why? To discredit the belief that Jesus of Nazareth was/is the promised Jewish Messiah!In Acts 13, we meet a "false prophet" and interestingly, that term is used and abused by many Christians today who have little idea what the New Testament and the earliest Christians believed false prophets to be. Today, misusing OT passages that NO LONGER APPLY because they are a part of the Old Covenant that ended/passed away, Christians often think (I call it "the Myth of the False Prophet") that if a Christian prophetic person/prophet misses a prophetic word or gets it wrong that that makes them a "false prophet". Unfortunately, that is NOT what a false prophet is in the New Testament.Beyond the New Testament, the earliest Christians had ways that they "tested" for false prophets - IF ONLY WE USED THEIR TESTS TODAY! In short, if $$$ was involved, the so-called 'prophet' was to be rejected! Supernatural ministry was not linked to finances in the early church. OH, THE WISDOM!!! And if any supernatural ministry today is charging money (requiring $$) for their supernatural ministry, then RUN from it!!! Should those in supernatural ministry (prophetic, healing, deliverance) be supported??? ABSOLUTELY. But not "for" their the use of their gifts!!! Charging $$$ for supernatural ministry was considered a serious sin in the early church. So we delve into all of these topics - the timing of Christ's 1st coming, false prophets vs. true prophets today and ultimately end by discussing the prophetic times in which we are currently living. What is God saying? 

There is arguably no greater story in Biblical and Church History that the collection, translations, canonization, and preservation (or as you shall see the attempts to corrupt the text) of the Old Testament Scriptures. Everyone is the product of a "Tradition" and we will look at some of them.The main question that is looked at is why there are differences between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Septuagint (LXX) of the Old Testament. The New Testament writers quote the LXX 80-90% of the time and most often their quotations do NOT match what we find in our Old Testaments. Why is that? How did the MT and the LXX become different?What about the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - which contained mostly Hebrew and some Aramaic Old Testament scrolls and fragments? They are more than 1000 years OLDER than the extant MT manuscripts we possess (from around 1000AD).What you will learn is that the rabbis "attempted" to corrupt/change/alter the Hebrew Bible by tampering with Messianic prophecies that clearly pointed to Jesus as their Messiah. The timing of His coming, the nature and scope of His Mission, and even His very identity.But thank to God's sovereignty and to the work of Textual Criticism, we can know what the Original Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures contained!God preserved His Word and often did so in an unusual manner. To think a translation into another language (i.e. the Greek Septuagint from nearly 300 years BEFORE Christ) reveals the original Hebrew better than the MT Hebrew text that was only canonized around AD100 (400 years later). To think that God would use the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (from 1947 to 2017) to in many cases confirm that it was the LXX that reflected the Hebrew original Tanakh better than the existing Hebrew Tanakh.This evidence flies in the face of what many of us were taught in our seminaries and Bible colleges. I for one was told that the Masoretic Text (MT) that my Old Testament was based upon (I was using the NASB) was meticulously preserved and copied. The memo I got was that I could "trust" my Old Testament and that because it was translated from the MT, it was as closer to the original Hebrew than any other textual tradition could provide. This is simply a MYTH. The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls end up "correcting" the MT text in many places where the actual text of the Hebrew was modified by Rabbi Akiba and others between AD90-AD110 - close to 100 years AFTER Christ. To think we would trust unbelieving rabbis who rejected Jesus as their Messiah who were doing all they could to stop the growing Christian movement! And in this podcast, I provide a number of actual examples of where they altered and changed their Hebrew Bible from its original.Thankfully, God has preserved for us the Old Testament. And for the first time in history, a critical text of the Hebrew Old Testament is being worked on. It is called The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Edition (HBCE) which so far only has the book of Proverbs completed. We have had a critical text of our Greek New Testament now for more than 150 years. By comparing ALL of the extant Greek manuscripts, it has been estimated that we can know we have the text of the original New Testament to an accuracy of 99.5%. A critical text of the Old Testament will accomplish the same thing. Thankfully today, we have many Old Testament translations - like the ESV and NET that incorporate the LXX and the DSS and when they "correct" the MT, they will render the English accordingly. 

A message from Natalie out of the Epistle of 2nd Peter which challenges ideas that many Christians have about "freedom". In the name of "being free", many are actually getting hardened, saying yes to sin, and actually getting deceived.Here is the key Scriptural passage - 2 Peter 1:1-151 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,To those who have received and possess [by God’s will] a precious faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. 8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you. 12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth which is held firmly in your grasp. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you, 14 knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that even after my departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.

Acts 11:27-30 – What? Prophets in the Church? No epistles by Agabus? / "Foretelling” / Prophets from JerusalemResponse: People believed and acted GIFT OF PROPHECY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - QUESTIONS1. Difference between OT Prophets and NT Prophets – Authority in OT vs. NT?2. Who can prophesy in the NT? Who can be prophets? 3. What do we do with prophetic revelation in the NT? 3. Prophetic Gifts vs. Prophet(s) - Office4. What are the prophetic gifts?5. Why would we still NEED prophetic gifts? We have the Scriptures.6. Types of Prophetic Revelation 7. How do you get prophetic gifts?8. How do you grow in prophetic gifting?9. Our role? God’s role? (sovereign)10. Current Misuse of the Prophetic Gifts11. What if a prophet makes a mistake? (Deuteronomy 13)12. Does making a mistake make one a “false prophet”?RELEVANT NT PASSAGES ABOUT THE GIFT OF PROPHECYActs 2:6-8, 42  - 42 ...devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching 1 Cor 12:1, 4-11, 27-311 Cor 14:1, 3-5, 22-25, 26-32, 37-40  1 Thes 5:19-21 Acts 13:1-2 Acts 21:8-14 - 8 Eph 3:3-5 - 3 Eph 4:11-13 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OT & NT PROPHETSOT & NT Prophets receive revelation NT Prophets do NOT have the same authority as OT Prophets!No OT command – “Test everything" or “Let the others judge”Old Testament Prophets established/defined doctrineThe Apostles (who all prophesied) established/defined doctrine in the NT – Today??NT Prophets were NOT establishing doctrine, defining doctrine!Discern times (spirits), edify/encourage/console, direction, warnDID THE GIFT OF PROPHECY CONTINUE AFTER THE APOSTLES??Didache & Shepherd of Hermas – $ = False ProphetJustin Martyr (AD 160) - The prophetic gifts remain with us, even to the present time….Now, it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God. Irenaeus (AD 180) - ...perform [works] in His name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come. They see visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and the sick are made whole. ...for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them. For, just as she has received without charge from God, so does she minister without charge. ... has worked miracles for the benefit of mankind, and not to lead them into error. The name of our Lord Jesus Christ even now confers benefits.... many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men.  

GENTILE REVIVAL BEGINS - AD 41 Acts 11:19-26 - 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen (AD 34-5) traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church (where?) and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. **God’s Intention of the New Covenant = Jews & Gentiles**THE NEW COVENANT'S INTENTION - ONE NEW HOUSE/MAN•AD 41 – Still “speaking the word to no one except Jews” (Acts 11:19) – 11 years AFTER Pentecost!!! •A new name emerges – “Christian” – a new era/day, the full intent of Messiah’s mission, in a new city (Antioch – center of “CHRISTIAN-ity”)•WHY PAUL? former Pharisee who had been “un-pharisee-ized”) – would have had his “leaven” removed. 3 years in “Damascus” (Essenes)Prophecy found amongst the Dead Sea ScrollTestament of Benjamin - “I will no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of your ravages, but a worker of the Lord, distributing food to them that work what is good. One will rise up from my seed in the latter times, beloved of the Lord, hearing His voice on the earth, enlightening with new knowledge all the Gentiles, bursting in on Israel for salvation with the light of knowledge, and tearing it away from them like a wolf, and giving it to the synagogue of the Gentiles. Until the consummation of the ages, he will be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all; and he will be inscribed in the holy books, both his work and his word, and he will be a chosen one of God forever; and because of him my father Jacob instructed me, saying, ‘He will fill up that which lacks from your tribe.’”  Paul learned of his “Prophetic destiny” - Life & Ministry, Writings = Scripture, Gentile MissionTribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5)/ “Apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11) - His Epistles – expound the new law, the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 – “…so fulfill the Law of Christ) = the Law of the New Covenant. Ephesians 2:12-21 - 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prop(continued)