Learn and Move Forward is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. At the end of the year, business owners are often busy taking inventory. To know if they have made a profit or not, they must face this painful but necessary reality. They analyze the data they gather and make changes for the following year. As Christians, we need to stop at the end of the year and measure our progress. Sometimes this is a very painful thing to do. But that is what we are going to talk about today. In our reading today, Paul is taking inventory of his life, and he gives us the 5 next steps of how we are to evaluate our lives while still moving forward. Read Philippians 3:12-16 PAUL’S EVALUATION OF HIS LIFE INVENTORY 1. His Dissatisfaction With Himself Obviously, Paul was satisfied with Jesus, but he was not satisfied with his Christian life. A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to our progress in the Christian race of life. Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their running with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress. Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit. Has this year produced in us a self-satisfied life where we are tempted to be proud? 2. His Devotion Paul said one thing I do, not many things I do. Many Christians focus on too many things, and Paul wants us to evaluate the one thing we do great. The true follower of Jesus must devote himself to running the Christian race. No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing. (James 1:8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways) Has our year been focusing on many things or the main one thing? 3. How He Viewed His Direction 13c Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. The unsaved person is controlled by the past, but the Christian running the race looks toward the future. Imagine what would happen on the racecourse if the runners started looking behind them. They could possibly have a collision or serious injury. Believers should be future-oriented. “To forget” means to no longer be influenced by or affected by. Not fail to remember Have we been breaking the power of our past by living for our future hope in Jesus? 4. His Own Determination I press, this same verb is translated “I follow after” and it carries the idea of intense endeavor. The Greeks used this word to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey. A follower of Jesus does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, aka sermons, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the games. He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win! Has our past year been an intense endeavor to win for Jesus 5. His Discipline It is not enough to run hard and win the race; the runner must also obey the rules. Paul is emphasizing the importance of the Christian to remember the spiritual rules laid before him in the word of God. If we are not in our word daily we will in essence break our training and be disqualified. We cannot compete at the highest level if we do not understand the rules. Bible history is filled with people who began the race with great success but failed in the end because they disregarded God’s rules. As we evaluate our year, have we been in God’s word daily so we can know the rules required for battle? Thanks for listening and don’t forget to: Subscribe to our Newsletter for your FREE T-shirt Today! Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram

Jesus, the humble King-Matthew 2:13-23 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. In our last two episodes, we uncovered two facts related to Jesus’s qualifications as a King. The first qualification we discussed was that Matthew was proving that Jesus’s genealogy from both Joseph and Mary gave Him the right to David’s throne. But He knew that would not be enough because there were other men who could claim that as well. We then discussed Jesus’ divine ancestry and how it alone distinguishes him from any other living human being. From there, we talked about the Magi paying Jesus homage and how that also proves His kingship. Today we want to read Matthew 2:13-18 and uncover the hostility that came against Jesus and then finish up with Matthew 2:19-23 and talk about the humility of a King. Read Matthew 2:13-18 Matthew knew that a person is identified not only by his friends but also by his enemies. Herod pretended to worship the newborn King when, in reality, he intended to destroy him. Herod’s anger was evidence of his pride; he could not permit anyone to get the best of him. This led Herod to kill the baby boys, who were two years of age and under, who were still in Bethlehem. What we see in these verses is that Matthew is introducing us to the theme of hostility, which he focused on throughout his book. Satan is a liar and a murderer, as was King Herod. The first mention of Bethlehem in Scripture is in connection with the death of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel (Gen 35:16–20). Rachel died giving birth to a son, whom she named Benoni (son of my sorrow). Jacob then renamed his son, Benjamin (son of my right hand). Both of these names relate to Jesus, for He was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” Isa 53:3, and He is now the son of God at God’s right hand, Acts 5:31. With all of this said, Jacob put up a pillar to mark Rachel’s grave near Bethlehem. Jacob saw Bethlehem as a place of death, but the birth of Jesus made it a place of life! Because of His coming, there would be spiritual deliverance for Israel, and in the future, the establishment of David’s throne and kingdom. Israel, the son of my sorrow, would one day become the son of my right hand. Very few people today think of Bethlehem as a burial place; they think of it as the birthplace of Jesus. Bethlehem is a much bigger story than most people realize. And because Jesus died for us and rose again, we have a bright future before us. Without the new life in Bethlehem, we cannot have our new life, which leads to eternal life. Let’s now read Luke 2:19–23 and talk about the humility of the King. Herod died in 4 BC, which means that Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 5 BC. It is impossible not to notice the parallel between Matthew 2:20 and Exodus 4:19, the call of Moses. The LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead” Archelaus, one of Herod’s sons, is mentioned in Verse 22; Herod had willed the title of king to him. However, the Jews discovered that, in spite of his promises of kindness, Archelaus was as wicked as his father. So, history shows that they sent a delegation to Rome to protest his kingship. Augustus Caesar agreed with the Jews and appointed Archelaus to govern half of his father’s kingdom. But even this fulfilled prophecy Once again, Matthew points out that every detail in the life of Jesus was foretold in the Scriptures. It is important to note that Matthew did not refer to only one prophet in Matthew 2:23 but instead says that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets (plural) We will not find any specific prophecy that calls Jesus a Nazarene. The term “Nazarene” was one of reproach. John 1:46 says, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” In many Old Testament prophecies,

Why a divine birth and homage to the King? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. In episode 109 titled “God’s family tree is messed up, find out why” Matthew 1:1-17 we unpacked Jesus’s human heredity. His family members in His family tree were far from perfect, but God still chose to use their lineage to the birth of Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World. In the show this week, we will discuss Jesus’s Divine Heredity and just how Matthew will make it clear that Jesus’s birth was way different from that of any other Jewish boy named in the genealogy of Christ. Read Matthew 1:18-25 As we mentioned in our previous episode, Matthew pointed out that Joseph did not beget Jesus in the genealogy. Rather, Joseph was the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need for an earthly Father. This is known as the doctrine of virgin birth. Miracles happen every day and, in this case, a miracle of the Holy Spirit happened. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, a virgin, by the Holy Spirit. Both Mary and Joseph belonged to the house of David. The OT prophesies indicated that the Messiah would be born of a woman Gen 3:15, of the seed of Abraham Gen 22:18, through the tribe of Judah Gen 49:10 and of the family of David 2 Sam 7:12-13. To the Jewish people at that day, betrothal (engagement) was equivalent to marriage, except that the man and woman did not live together. They were called husband and wife, and at the end of the engagement period, the marriage was consummated. But what if she became pregnant during that time, what would happen? Before we move on to chapter 2 let’s consider the three names assigned to God’s son. The name “Jesus” means Savior and comes from the Hebrew name Joshua (Jehovah is salvation). There were many Jewish boys with the name Joshua (or, in the Greek, Jesus), but Mary’s boy was called “Jesus the Christ” Let’s move on to chapter 2 and read vs 1-12. Remember, in episode 109 we talked about what people want to see if someone calls themselves a king. They want to see if they have the proper bloodline, which we have already shown. We also proved that Jesus’s birth is a fulfillment of prophecy and He has through divine heredity. There is another thing people want to see and it is to see who are those that pay homage to Him. If He truly is a king then the people will bring honor to him. Read Matthew 2:1-12 First and foremost, we must confess we know little about these men. The word translated as “wise men” (magi) refers to a group of scholars who studied the stars. Their title connects them with magic, but they were probably more like astrologers. With this said, their presence in the biblical record is not a divine endorsement of astrology, but a way that God used science to bring people to him. We do not know how many magi were there. From the three gifts listed, some people have naturally assumed that there were three kings from the Orient, though this is not certain, When their caravan arrived in Jerusalem, there were enough of them to trouble the whole city. In Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col 2:3. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily Col 2:9) It is no surprise that Herod tried to kill Jesus, for Herod alone wanted to bear the title, of King of the Jews. There was also another reason why, because Herod was not a full-blooded Jew, he was actually an Idumaean, a descendant of Esau. This is a picture of the old struggle between Esau and Jacob that began even before the boys were born. Gen 25:19-34. It is the “spiritual” versus the “carnal”,the “Godly” versus the “worldly”. The King and the Jewish priests in vs 4 were ignoring the King. These priests knew the scripture and pointed others to the Savior, but they personally would not go to worship Him the...

God’s family tree is messed up, find out why is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. In the next 3 weeks leading up to Christmas, we are going to unpack Matthew 1 and Matthew 2. We will focus on the birth of Jesus and His proclamation to be king. Imagine you were alive during that time, and a man suddenly appeared and claimed to be a king, which you, the public, would want proof of. You might ask yourself, “What is his background? Who pays homage to him? What credentials can he present to prove that he is a King? Anticipating these important questions, Matthew opened his book with a careful account of the birth of Jesus and the events that accompanied it. He presented 4 facts about the King and over the next three weeks, we will unpack all 4 of those facts. The first one we will cover today is in chapter 1 verses 1-25 – The Heredity of the King. Since royalty depends on heredity, it was important for Jesus to establish His rights to David’s throne. Matthew gave His human heredity in verses 1-17, as well as His divine heredity in verses 18-25. Let’s read Matthew 1-17 Genealogies were very important to the Jews, for, without them, they could not prove their tribal membership or their rights to their inheritances. Anyone claiming to be the son of David had to be able to prove it. Many bible readers usually skip over this section of reading, especially all the unpronounceable names. But this list of names is a VITAL PART of the gospel record. It shows that Jesus is a part of history and that all of the Jewish histories prepared the way for his birth. The genealogy also illustrates God’s wonderful grace. It is most unusual to find the names of women in Jewish genealogies since names and inheritances came through the fathers. But in this list, we find 4 women from the Old Testament history: Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, and Bathsheba. Without Jesus’ birth as a gentile, we have no right to heaven or eternal life. We are all flawed sinners, in desperate need of God’s grace. These four women were all involved in sexual scandals and far from perfect, but God still chose to include them in His family tree. Let’s break down who these four women were. Let’s start with Tamar. We find the story of Tamar in Gen 38. We learn that her first husband was so evil that God put him to death. She has left a widow and childless. Tamar followed her cultural practices and married her husband’s brother. But this brother didn’t want to share his inheritance with children born to her. So, God put him to death, so she was left widowed and childless again. Tamar then dressed as a temple prostitute and put herself in the path of her father-in-law, Judah. So, she seduced him to have sex with her and produce an heir. She needed evidence, so she asked him for a seal and his staff so that she wouldn’t be killed and have proof of what happened. Her plan worked and she gave birth to twins fathered by her father-in-law. And one of her twins’ names was Peres, and they became part of Jesus’ Family. Then there was Rahab, we find her story in Joshua 2 and 6. She ran a brothel in Jericho, and she heard about God’s army advancing toward her town. She knew that they would win and helped the Israelites spy on her people, and in so doing, she became a part of the Israelite family. She and her family were the only ones saved from the destruction of Jericho. This former madam became a mother and grandmother and still found a way into Jesus’ lineage. Next Ruth, we find her story in Ruth 1-4, she was a Moabite, which means she traced her ancestry, not to Abraham but to his nephew Lot. Lot was the guy that impregnated his daughters while drunk. The family itself was an incestuous family and the culture Ruth came from. Her husband died and left her childless so she moved to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Are you entitled and don’t know it is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Imagine if many of your friends were recently invited on an all-expenses-paid international trip. It is great for them — but you were left out. Of course, your first reaction might be not to rejoice for their good fortune, or delight that they got to enjoy an incredible experience. Initially, your heart might be jealous, hurt, and stinging under a sense of entitlement. You wonder why they were chosen and not you, it’s not like you don’t all know the same people. In fact, you reason in your mind that you do more than they do for God’s kingdom, and if anyone deserved to go it was you. Before you know it, you realize that you might have an attitude of entitlement. Many times, throughout our lifetime, we have moments when we think we deserve more than we actually do, and when we don’t get it, our entitlement siren starts blaring. Watch out because when it does, we often act irrationally — in a way that looks foolish and maybe even childish from the outside. Read James 4:1-12 On the show today, we want to talk about how to recognize our own sense of entitlement, and what steps we can take to surrender it to God. First, we need to understand what entitlement truly is. Entitlement is the belief that we inherently deserve privileges or special treatment, or that we have the right to something. Entitlement shows no partiality; it will reach for life’s greatest gifts and claim its smallest pleasures. When it comes to the big parts of life, we can find ourselves thinking along these lines: “I deserve to have children, so why am I struggling with infertility? After all, aren’t children a blessing from God?” “I’m tired of being single. I’ve remained pure and sought Christ, so why hasn’t he brought a spouse into my life?” “I’m such a hard worker. I don’t understand why I still can’t manage to find a high-paying job.” But entitlement can also touch smaller issues: “I’m a good homemaker and work hard to keep the house clean and tidy. I deserve to have a nicer, bigger home.” “I work so hard to provide for my family. I deserve to watch TV when I come home.” “I’ve been good with my finances. I deserve to buy what I want for a change.” Paul wrote, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11). “The ‘entitlement mentality is dangerous because it is a threat to contentment.” -Andy Sochor “As long as our hearts have the entitlement mentality, personal growth in our relationship with God and with others will cease.” -Ray Kim What Are We Entitled To? There is no question that a sense of entitlement dominates many cultures around the world. If you think about it, it has been that way from the beginning, right back to the Garden of Eden. The issue of Entitlement has been cited by many as one of the major problems in the world, especially in America. “The growing entitlement mentality in America is completely toxic, slowly eating away at our spirits like acid” (David Ramsey). To help us understand entitlement better, we must think of it as a foundation of our sinful nature. And, as you do, look at it in the context of personal relationships, particularly in marriage. If you are single, think about it from the perspective of expectations in a relationship, now and in the future. Russell B. Lemle, Ph.D., is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco. He gives five reasons why we fall into entitlement: You are owed because of your sacrifice or generosity in the relationship. “I gave up my career to raise our children. You can at least let me redecorate the living room.” You are owed because you are feeling so emotional—so stressed, etc.

Being thankful when life isn’t fair is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Thanksgiving Day marks an annual celebration of family, food, football, and fun. But for Christians, Thanksgiving has a much deeper meaning that goes to the core of their spiritual beliefs. The original Thanksgiving celebration was held by the Pilgrim settlers in Massachusetts during their second winter in America in December, 1621. The first winter killed 44 of the original 102 colonists. At one point, their daily food ration was down to five kernels of corn apiece, but then an unexpected trading vessel arrived, swapping beaver pelts for grain, providing for their severe need. The next summer’s crop brought hope, and Governor William Bradford decreed that December 13, 1621, be set aside as a day of feasting and prayer to show the gratitude of the colonists that they were still alive. These Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom and opportunity in America, gave thanks to God for His provision for them in helping them find 20 acres of cleared land, for the fact that there were no hostile Native Americans in that area, for their newfound religious freedom, and for God’s provision of an interpreter to the Native Americans in Squanto. Along with the feasting and games involving the colonists and more than 80 Native Americans (who added to the feast by bringing wild turkeys and venison), prayers, November sermons, and songs of praise were important in the celebration. Three days were spent in feasting and prayer. From that time forward, Thanksgiving has been celebrated as a day to give thanks to God for His gracious and sufficient provision. President Abraham Lincoln officially set aside the last Thursday of November, in 1863, “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father.” In 1941, Congress ruled that after 1941, the fourth Thursday of be observed as Thanksgiving Day and be a legal holiday. Scripturally, we find things related to the issue of Thanksgiving nearly from cover to cover. Individuals offered up sacrifices out of gratitude in the book of Genesis. The Israelites sang a song of thanksgiving as they were being delivered from Pharaoh’s army after the crossing of the Red Sea. Exodus 15:15 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; In the New Testament, there are repeated admonitions to give thanks to God. Thanksgiving should always be included in our prayers. Some of the most remembered passages on the giving of thanks are the following: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1). If the stresses of life are getting the best of you this Thanksgiving season, Maybe try some of these ideas that might help recenter your focus * Write a Thanksgiving Poem or Prayer * Share Thanksgiving Bible verses with friends and family * Remember things of the past that you were thankful for * Take communion and give thanks to Jesus for what He has done for you. * Be a blessing to others by donating your time or a gift so that they can receive your Thanksgiving blessing. We, like the Pilgrims, have a choice. In life, there will always be things that we can complain about (the Pilgrims had lost many loved ones), but there will also be so much to be thankful for.

Why is Christian Fellowship so important is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. God never intended for His people to be separate. In the very beginning, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” That has not changed. It is even more important for the followers of Jesus to come together. Terms such as “family,” “together,” and “fellowship” are all important concepts in the New Testament for us to gather together and encourage one another. Fellowship is the relationship that we have with one another as Christians. It is based on the relationship we have with Jesus Christ. When you and I became Christians, three relationships changed: Jesus became our Savior; God became our Father, and the church became our family. In other words, believers are now my brothers and sisters in Christ and accepted into the family of God. To help us set up why Christian fellowship is so important. Let’s read Acts 2: 41-47. Peter has just finished preaching and here is what happens: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” So today we want to help answer the question, “Why is Christian fellowship so important?” The 1st reason why it’s so important is that FELLOWSHIP GIVES US A PICTURE OF GOD Each of us coming together shows all of God’s graces to the world. No one is perfect. We all sin, but each one of us has a purpose here on Earth and that is to show aspects of God to those around us. Each of us has been given specific spiritual gifts. When we come together in fellowship, it’s like us, as a whole, demonstrating God. Think of it like a cake. You need flour, sugar, eggs, oil, and more to make a cake. The eggs will never be the flour. None of them make up the cake alone. Yet together, all those ingredients make a delicious cake. It’s like that with fellowship. All of us together show the glory of God. The 2nd reason is that FELLOWSHIP MAKES US STRONGER No matter where we are in our faith, the fellowship provides us with strength. Being around other believers gives us the chance to learn and grow in our faith. It demonstrates to us why we believe, and sometimes it is an excellent food for our souls. It’s great to be out in the world evangelizing others, but it can easily make us hard and eat away at our strength. When we deal with a hard-hearted world, it can become easy to fall into that hard-heartedness and question our beliefs. It’s always good to spend some time in fellowship so that we remember that God makes us strong. The 3rd reason is that FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES ENCOURAGEMENT We all have bad moments. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a failed exam, money problems, or even a crisis of faith, we can find ourselves down. If we go too low, it can lead to anger and a feeling of disillusionment with God. Yet these downtimes are why fellowship is essential. Spending time with other believers can often lift us up a little bit. They help us to keep our eyes on God. God also works through them to provide us with what we need in darker times. Coming together with others can aid in our healing process and give us the encouragement to move forward. The 4th reason is that FELLOWSHIP REMINDS US WE ARE NOT ALONE

Does God send people to hell? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. This week we are finishing up John Chapter 12, we have been in this chapter now for 3 shows. In Episode 101 we unpacked John 12:1-19, we called that show “Worship, Triumph, and Tears”. In verses, 1-8 we saw Jesus visiting with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, the highlight of those verses was when Mary anointed Jesus with costly perfume as an act of worship. Then in vs 12, we went to the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem where the people cried out Hosanna blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We cross-referenced a verse and learned in Luke, that Jesus was weeping for His people during this time. He loved them so much and yet, they were still going to reject Him. In episode 102 titled “The Greatest Life investment ever” we read John 12:20-36 in which Jesus was talking about His certain death to come. We uncovered nugget verses like vs 25, He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Those were two great shows and are definitely worth the listen if you haven’t already done so yet. This week we will finish up John chapter 12 in verses 37-50. The key word in this section of reading is “believe”. It is used 8 different times in these verses. First, John explained the unbelief of the people. Then in vs 37-38, he said they would “not believe” with a quotation from Isa 53:1; in vs 39, He said they “could not believe” and finally in vs 40-41 he said they “should not believe” with a quotation of Isa 6:9-10 Read John 12:37-49 In spite of all the clear evidence that was presented to the people, the Jews would not believe. The “arm of the Lord” had been revealed to them in great power, yet they closed their eyes to the truth. They had heard the message (report) and seen the miracles and yet still would not believe. Why? There were those who would not believe, and there were those who would not openly confess Christ, even though they had believed. They cared more about the praise of the people than they did with the praise of God. Why?! In John 12:44-50, we have Jesus’s last ever message before He hid himself from the people. A number of basic themes in John’s gospel are: God sent the Son; to see the Son means to see the Father; Jesus is the light of the World; His words are the very words of God; faith in Him brings salvation; to reject Him is to face eternal Judgement. In fact, the very word that He spoke will judge those who have rejected it and Him! Many people reject truth simply because of the fear of people as we discussed earlier. Among those who will be in hell, are the fearful (Rev 21:8) The word “judge” is repeated 4 times in the closing words of this message, and a solemn word it is. Jesus did not come to judge; He came to save! As we have studied these first 12 chapters of the gospel of John, we have seen Jesus in His life, His ministry, His miracles, His message, and His desire to save the lost sinners. John 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to: Subscribe to our Newsletter for your FREE T-shirt Today! Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our Youtube Channel The RIOT PODCAST is a listener-supported podcast: Donate Now

Are Current World Events signs of the End Times? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Our thought on this show is to talk about world events and give our opinions. The key to the show is to help Christians learn how to view all of this in light of Christ and the Bible. Give them hope and encourage them to be ready for Christ return at any moment. We spoke about some of the global events taking place right now. Some of these are: 1. China Threat to Taiwan 2. China joins forces with Iran and Russia 3. Iran close to having Nuclear bomb, BB Netanyahu says they cannot allow them to have bomb 4. Iranians Christian movement, how they are big in Afghanistan 5. What about USA send money to Ukraine, how does it make sense. With 30 trillion in debt, high inflation can we afford to be the worlds policeman? 6. Biden says were close to Armageddon and Nuclear War 7. Biden administration spends 300 million on radiation pills 8. America election what’s on the ballot 9. North Korea sending missiles over Japan 10. Drought in the west, lake mead, lake Powel at record lows 11. Conservative Leaders in Italy and Sweden is conservative better than liberal politics? The first signs (the beginning of the “birth pains”): 1. Many will come in Jesus’ name claiming to be the Messiah; they’ll deceive many. 2. There will be wars and threats of wars. 3. Famine, earthquakes, and plagues (widespread disease) in many parts of the world. 4. Terrible sights and great signs from heaven. The next stage: 1. Christians will be hated all over the world; they will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. 2. Many will turn away from Jesus; they will betray their own family and hate each other. 3. Many false prophets will appear; they will deceive many people. 4. Sin will be rampant, and people’s love will grow cold. 5. The Good News of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the entire world, so that all nations will hear it; then, the end will come. The final stage: 1. You will see the “abomination of desolation,” prophesied by Daniel, in the holy place. This refers to Daniel 11:31, which is some sort of unholy sacrifice in the temple. 2. Armies will surround Jerusalem. 3. A great tribulation – or persecution – like nothing ever seen in the world’s history, will happen. 4. False messiahs and false prophets will arise. They will perform miracles and even deceive Christians. The end: 1. Immediately after the tribulation, the sun and moon will be darkened, stars will fall from the sky, and heaven’s powers will be shaken. 2. The Son of Man (Jesus) will appear in the heavens. Everyone will see Him coming on the clouds with great power and glory. 3. Most people in the world will mourn when they see Jesus (probably suddenly realizing they were wrong about Him, or knowing they are in sin) (Revelation 14) 4. Jesus will send out His angels with the mighty trumpet blast. They will gather His chosen ones from everywhere. Matthew 24:14 (ESV) “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” 5. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) 6. Matthew 24:44 “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Thanks for listening and don’t forget to: Subscribe to our Newsletter for your FREE T-shirt Today!

Should Christians Participate in Halloween? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Should Christians participate in Halloween? We have found that this question can be a very controversial topic. Some Christians celebrate Halloween simply by dressing up in a costume and having fun, seeing it as innocent and harmless. Other Christians are equally convinced that Halloween is a satanic holiday established to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness. So, who is right? Is it possible for Christians to celebrate Halloween without compromising their faith? Halloween, no matter how commercialized, has almost completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly. Christians tend to have various ways to celebrate or not celebrate Halloween. For some, it means having an “alternative” Harvest Party. For others, it is staying away from ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., and wearing innocuous costumes, e.g., little princesses, clowns, cowboys, superheroes, etc. Some choose not to do anything, electing to lock themselves in their house with the lights off. With our freedom as Christians, we are at liberty to decide how to act. Scripture does not speak at all about Halloween, but it does give us some principles on which we can make a decision. In Old Testament Israel, witchcraft was a crime punishable by death Exodus 22:18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Leviticus 19:31 “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 20:6 “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. Acts 8:9-24, the story of Simon, shows that occultism and Christianity don’t mix. The account of Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-11 reveals that sorcery is violently opposed to Christianity. Paul called Elymas a child of the devil, an enemy of righteousness, and a perverter of the ways of God. In Acts 16, at Philippi, a fortune-telling girl lost her demon powers when the evil spirit was cast out by Paul. The interesting matter here is that Paul refused to allow even good statements to come from a demon-influenced person. Acts 19 shows new converts who have abruptly broken with their former occultism by confessing, showing their evil deeds, bringing their magic paraphernalia, and burning it before everyone (Acts 19:19). Should Christians watch Horror films? Movies are a powerful medium, and they have a profound impact on culture. And the sad truth is that many movies these days, including those outside the scary “horror” genre, are either completely antithetical to Christian values or at the very least are at odds with God’s divine standard of holiness. As for most horror movies, their “entertainment” value often lies in their ability to titillate our youthful desire to be scared witless. The gruesome means by which moviemakers attempt to shock our consciences usually involves an abundance of carnage and bloodshed. The problem is, however, that it takes more and more to shock seared consciences these days, which means the level of depravity is continually on the rise to accommodate our increasing desensitization to hard-core gore and evil. All things considered, true Christians would likely find it difficult to enjoy the majority of today’s horror movies. So, should a Christian celebrate Halloween? Is there anything evil about a Christian dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going around the block asking for candy? No, there is not. Are there things about Halloween that are anti-Christian and should be avoided? Absolutely! If parents are going to allow their children to participate in Halloween, they should make sure to keep them from getting involved in the darker aspects of the day.