Breaking Verses Down

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Do you ever glaze over the last chapters in many of the books of the Bible? This episode is proof that you shouldn't do that. Today we extract some amazing details about the people Paul mentions at the end of the book of Romans. This information may surprise you. It did me as I prepared it. Lets dig in to it! 

 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

3 Greet Priscilla[c] and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.

Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among[d] the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send greetings.

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24] [e]

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[f] faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

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The Seven Sons of Sceva is a very familiar story. It shows us that belief in God needs to be personal and genuine in order for power to be in it. Our faith is where God's power lies and in this episode we break the concept down to make its points perfectly clear. We promise the discussion will stick with you (bad wood pitch joke).

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[a] 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

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In this episode we learn two things from the Apostle Peter. First, we learn that struggles will come and are inevitable. Second, we learn that God will restore us from our troubles and that we must trust in him. These are two important facts that helps structure our faith walk. Hope it blesses you as you listen to this episode. 

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

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Discernment is topic that many Christians might feel confused on, but is hugely important. We need to know that we have God's wisdom ready for us to access. In this episode we talk about what discernment is, how we access it and why God wants us to use it. 

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This is an incredibly encouraging piece of scripture that centres on one main point. God is for you and He will strengthen you through whatever you are enduring. His love is all powerful and never ending. We break this revelation down in this episode. Hope it blesses you.

28 Do you not know?
     Have you not heard?
 The Lord is the everlasting God,
     the Creator of the ends of the earth.
 He will not grow tired or weary,
     and his understanding no one can fathom.
 29 He gives strength to the weary
     and increases the power of the weak.
 30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
     and young men stumble and fall;
 31 but those who hope in the Lord
     will renew their strength.
 They will soar on wings like eagles;
     they will run and not grow weary,
     they will walk and not be faint.

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After a 4 month break I (Jason McKenzie) am back on the microphone. I took time off after the passing on my Mother Betty McKenzie. Mom was an amazing human being who loved the Lord with all her heart. In this episode I share some of my thoughts about my Mom and some details about her last days on earth. I am happy to get this closure episode completed and to move back into teaching the word of God and breaking verses down.

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Job has just gone through some of the most horrible experiences that any man can bear. He wants answers like anyone would, as to why what has taken place did. If only he had someone who could advocate for him so that he can question the Father. Someone like Jesus Christ, who we have access to thanks to his sacrifice. This episode will make you thankful for what we have and what Job didn't have. 

32“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,
    that we might confront each other in court.

33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,

    someone to bring us together,

34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,

    so that his terror would frighten me no more.

35Then I would speak up without fear of him,

 but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

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Ohh Death where is thy sting? ohh Hades where is thy victory? In this episode the verses I break down become very real very quickly. And yet, this only emphasizes the truth of what the Apostle Paul was preaching. Let this be a Godly warning of just how important it is to have Jesus in your heart. I speak blessings over all my listeners. 

“O Death, where is your sting?
 O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

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This episode is about a hard hitting piece of scripture in which Jesus makes some bold statements. He leaves no question about who is to be the most important figure in our lives. Quite simply He is. Lets break down why He declares this and what His purpose was on the earth to begin with. 

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
     a daughter against her mother,
 a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
 36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

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Psalm 1 is a very short Psalm with a very clear message. Cling to what is right to God and avoid what is Evil. The way the Psalm elaborates on this message is powerful and in this episode with we will break it down piece by piece. 

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.