Playlist: Understanding, Spiritual (topic)

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Spiritual Blindness: Choosing a Curse

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

God proclaims a cause-effect relationship between sin and madness, blindness, and confusion of heart. Sin causes blindness, and blindness begets more sin.


God's Sovereignty, Ecclesiastes, and God's Will

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God knows the end from the beginning, but He does not give us all the details at once, except as they are necessary for us for His purpose to be worked out.


What Does God Really Want? (Part 6)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God provides the gift before it is actually needed so that when it is needed, everything is prepared for the person to do as he has been commissioned to do.


Wilderness Wanderings (Part Three) - Handpicked Children

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God has allowed carnal nature to remain in His people so He can determine whether they seriously want to defeat the downward pulls of the flesh.


The Wonderful, Powerful Gift of God's Holy Spirit

Sermon by John O. Reid

When we receive God's Spirit, we cannot escape the responsibility of using it, being a light to the world in the correct way of living. Hi Spirit is His power.


Our Divine Destiny

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's called-ones have been given the ability to decipher the scattered concepts, revealing the purpose of their destiny throughout the Scriptures.


The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The architects of the trinity doctrine admit that it is a 'somewhat unsteady silhouette', requiring assumptions and inferences, but unsupportable by Scripture.


Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Our exodus from the bondage of sin begins and ends with God. He commanded Israel to mark their escape with unleavened bread because of what He did.


We Are Unique!

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our responsibility is to freely choose to follow the revelation God has given us, overcoming the baggage and resistance we have absorbed from the world.


The Handwriting Is on the Wall (1996): Scattering

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God initiated the scattering of the church for our ultimate good. When the revelation of God was replaced with the wisdom of this world, God intervened.


Lessons From First-Century Christianity

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Even though the believers of the first century experienced extraordinary events, because of entropy, their zeal atrophied after the shockwaves dissipated.


How Does God Help Us? (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The trials we go through are part of His providence, putting us into humility and determining what really motivates us.


Our Awesome Destiny (2000)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Through a miraculous combination of knowledge plus the spirit of God, we realize that our destiny is to be a part of the divine Family.


Two Contrary Visions

Sermon by John O. Reid

God has a vision for us, a vision He has been planning from the foundation of creation, an awesome plan to bring us into His very family, giving us His mind.


Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Without a meaningful relationship with Christ, God's people cannot possibly bear fruit. Our responsibility is to yield to God's creative work in our lives.


God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

For His Own reasons, God has chosen not to reveal His plan to those the world considers wise, but, instead, to work with the weaker sort of mankind.


Leadership and Covenants (Part Sixteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The Abrahamic Covenant was made with one man, but it impacts all of mankind to the New Heaven and New Earth and beyond, involving billions of people.


Powerful Effects of the Holy Spirit

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We are intrigued by supernatural power, and many seek to display it. Yet the Scriptures show the activity of the Holy Spirit in ways that are commonly missed.


Four Views of Christ (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In the typology of the four living creatures (Revelation 4:6-8) lies the foundation for understanding the gospels as four representations of the same Life.


Is God's Inspiration of the Bible Imperfect?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

When properly evaluated, there are no discrepancies in scripture; God is not the author of confusion. God does not enlighten us until we are mature enough.


Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Eternal life is to live a quality life as God lives, having developed a close relationship with God, living by faith and accepting His sovereignty over all.


That No Flesh Should Glory

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Having God's spiritual gifts should not incline us to exercise any measure of pride because we have nothing that has not been given to us by God.


The Bible Does Not Have All the Answers!

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While the Bible does not contain all knowledge, it does contain foundational principles, enabling people to live in a godly, spiritual manner.


The Christian and the World (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Clear vision lights the way spiritually. If the eye of the heart is aimed at spiritual treasure and the glory of God, it will remain singly focused.


Wandering or Pilgrimage?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We are not aimlessly wandering, but are on a God-guided pilgrimage. The circuitous route ensures our safety, just as it did for the ancient Israelites.


Being Deceived

Sermon by Clyde Finklea

Christ warned that many would be deceived, though no one ever admits to being deceived. The Bible warns of deceptions from within and without the church.


Who Deserves Our Loyalties?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

When we are called, we are asked to count the cost and plan accordingly. We must totally give ourselves over to becoming fashioned into His image.


Ask, Seek, Knock

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In answer to the question, 'How can a mere human being fulfill the difficult expectations of God?', Jesus instructs us to 'Ask, seek, and knock.'


No One Else Matters (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Sin has tainted the most faithful leaders. Most (perhaps all) church leaders have skeletons in their closets, but we follow them as they follow Christ.


Deuteronomy: Hearing

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

By listening, taking heed, and drinking in of God's Word daily, we take on the wisdom of God, upending and making foolish the wisdom of man.


Psalms: Book Three (Part Four)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Historically and spiritually speaking, the beginning of things set the stage for what comes after.


Without a Parable

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Christ's judgments are made according to what each person has been given. We need to internalize this practice of evaluating, especially regarding a brother.


The Christian and the World (Part Ten)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Anxiety and fretting (symptoms of coveting and idolatry), in addition to cutting life short, erode faith, destroying serenity by borrowing tomorrow's troubles.


Maintaining Good Health (Part 8)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

A poor spiritual diet will bring about a weak spiritual condition. What the mind assimilates is exceedingly more important than what the stomach assimilates.


Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 1): The Mustard Seed

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Bible, in both parables and prophecies, interprets itself and remains consistent in its use of symbols. We cannot arbitrarily attach meaning to symbols.


Growing Into Liberty

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our emancipation from sin does not automatically remove our acquired spiritual shackles. We must grow out of the slave mentality into liberty and freedom.


Hebrews (Part Ten)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Everything about the Priesthood of Christ is superior to the Levitical system, which only served as a type of the access to God that Jesus would fulfill.


John (Part Twenty)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Just as a seed must die to itself in order to bear fruit, we also must sacrifice our lives, submitting unconditionally to God's to bear abundant fruit.


Letters to Seven Churches (Part Three): Smyrna

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christ prepared the members of Smyrna for martyrdom, promising them eternal glory for enduring a relatively short time, looking at things from a hopeful perspective.


John (Part Fifteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

As long as we are slaves of sin and following the dictates of our lusts, we have no free moral agency. God liberates us from sin so we are free to obey Him.


Jesus and the Feast (Part One): Alignment With God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Only in John 7 do we find some evidence of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day, providing a gold mine to discover what was on Jesus's mind during this time.


Stewards of the Mysteries of God

Sermon by Mark Schindler

The lowly, not impeded so much with pride or ego, make better stewards than those who may seem more presumptuous and self-centered.


Psalms: Book Five (Part Six): Psalm 119 (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The keeping of the law is a practical response to God, providing us with principles for our lives, establishing our character and implanting God's values.


Christianity Vs. Cultural Paganism

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Satan deceives by mixing truth with and falsehood, promoting cultural pagans or tares among the wheat or members of the church of God.


Developing Discernment

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Human discernment can be developed and exercised, triggering early warning systems with the reactions of revulsion and confusion when confronted by evil.


Amos 5 and the Feast of Tabernacles

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

If we go to the Feast with the goal of physically enjoying, we may lose out on both the spiritual and physical benefits. 'Going through the motions' defiles it.


Passover (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The annual reaffirmation of the covenant through the Passover is at the core of an on-going relationship with the Father and Son, beginning the perfecting process.


Matthew (Part Eight)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

We should not seek material rewards under the New Covenant, though God may sometimes bless us physically. Our focus should be on spiritual rewards.