Kingdom Talk with Pastor Carlos A. Morales

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)

"Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Devotional:

Good morning, beloved! Today, let's dive into the beautiful message found in Hebrews 13:15. This verse reminds us of the profound act of offering a sacrifice of praise to God. What does it mean to offer such a sacrifice, and why is it significant in our daily walk with the Lord?

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-3 (NKJV)

"I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable."

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

In the quiet hush of the morning, as the sun's first rays begin to paint the sky with their gentle warmth, let us turn our hearts and minds to the comforting words of Psalm 27:1. This verse is a powerful reminder of God's presence in our lives and the security we find in Him.

Scripture: Romans 8:31 (NKJV)

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

ARMED WITH THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-18 (NIV)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

Devotional:

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we begin our day, let us turn our hearts and minds to the powerful and timeless wisdom found in Ephesians 6:11-18. This passage reminds us of the spiritual battle we face daily and the importance of equipping ourselves with the armor of God.

The apostle Paul uses vivid imagery to describe this spiritual armor. Each piece represents a vital aspect of our faith and walk with Christ. As we reflect on these elements, may we be inspired to put on the full armor of God daily

Scripture: Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV)

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."

EMBRACING HUMILITY AND FAITH -

Romans 12:3 NKJV

Verse:

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." - Romans 12:3 (NKJV)

Scripture: Psalm 132:4-5 (NKJV)

"I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."

Scripture: Psalm 56:8 (NKJV)

"You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?"

Scripture: Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free."

Devotional:

Good morning, beloved! As we begin this new day, let's draw inspiration from Luke 4:18, where Jesus declares the purpose of His ministry. In this verse, Jesus reveals His divine mission, and His words are not limited to the time and place in which He spoke them; they have profound implications for us today.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Devotional:

Good morning, beloved! As we begin this new day, let's take a moment to reflect on the profound truth found in Hebrews 11:1. This verse beautifully encapsulates the essence of faith, offering us a powerful reminder of what it means to live a life of faith in God.

Verse: Psalm 59:16 (NKJV)

"But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble."

Devotional:

Good morning, beloved. As we start this new day, let us reflect on the words of Psalm 59:16 and draw inspiration from David's profound faith and trust in the Lord. In the midst of challenges and troubles, David found solace and strength in God's power and mercy, which carried him through each day.

Dear Beloved,

As we embark on a new day, let us draw inspiration and guidance from the timeless words of Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NKJV):

"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity."

Morning Devotional on Luke 8:23-25 (NKJV)

Luke 8:23-25 (NKJV)

"But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!' Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!'"

"Be still and know I am God" is a phrase that comes from the Bible, specifically from Psalm 46:10. It is often interpreted as an invitation to find peace and calmness in the presence of God. The full verse reads, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

The phrase encourages believers to stop worrying, cease striving, and find rest in the knowledge that God is in control. It reminds us that even in the midst of chaos, God is sovereign and powerful, and we can trust in him to provide for their needs and guide them through difficult times. 

The verse is often used as a source of comfort and strength in times of stress or uncertainty, encouraging us to take a moment to quiet our minds and focus on God's presence and power. It is also sometimes used as a reminder to be humble and acknowledge God's greatness and authority. 

vision of the sealing of the 144,000 and the great multitude that no one can number. In this study, we

will examine each of these chapters, seeking to understand their significance and application for our

lives today.

1. Revelation 4:1-11 - The Vision of the Throne Room of God

• What does John see in his vision of the throne room of God (vv. 2-6)?

• What is the significance of the creatures and elders worshiping around the throne (vv. 8-11)?

• How can we apply this vision of the throne room of God to our lives today?

2. Revelation 5:1-14 - The Vision of the Lamb Who Was Slain

• What is the significance of the scroll with seven seals (v. 1)?

• Who is worthy to open the scroll (v. 5)?

• What is the response of the creatures and elders to the Lamb who was slain (vv. 8-14)?

• How can we apply this vision of the Lamb who was slain to our lives today?

3. Revelation 6:1-17 - The Opening of the Seals

• What are the events that take place when the first four seals are opened (vv. 2-8)?

• What are the events that take place when the fifth seal is opened (vv. 9-11)?

• What are the events that take place when the sixth seal is opened (vv. 12-17)?

• How can we apply this vision of the opening of the seals to our lives today?

4. Revelation 7:1-8 - The Sealing of the 144,000

• Who are the 144,000 that are sealed (v. 4)?

• What is the significance of the sealing of the 144,000 (vv. 2-3, 9-10)?

• How can we apply this vision of the sealing of the 144,000 to our lives today?

5. Revelation 7:9-17 - The Great Multitude

• Who is the great multitude that John sees (vv. 9-10)?

• What is the significance of the great multitude (vv. 13-17)?

• How can we apply this vision of the great multitude to our lives today?

Conclusion:

The visions in Chapters 4-7 of Revelation provide a glimpse into the end times and the events that will

take place. They remind us of the majesty and power of God, the sacrificial work of the Lamb who was

slain, and the hope that we have in Him. As we seek to apply these visions to our lives today, may we be

encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty, to live in readiness for His return, and to share the good news

of salvation with others.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

I grew up hearing that old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”

What a lie! The kids in school always made fun of me because I was from the country. They made fun of me because I didn’t know how to speak English at the time. Sometimes, my nickname was “A racial slur.”

 Many times as Christians, we believe we should be “stronger than that.” Often from past teaching or from a lack of understanding, we are convinced that, as Christians, we should not come under the attack of depression or hopelessness. On the other hand, unbelievers sometimes feel as if they deserve to be in darkness because they don’t believe in a higher power or they are not “living right.” Sometimes we are embarrassed to talk about our feelings of sadness and despair and deep, deep depression. And to make matters worse, some of our Christian counterparts accuse us of not seeking God enough or of having sin in our life. 

I remember the night that I literally gave up. I had been doing much better with the depression and my wrecked life. I assumed I was okay, but I was not. That night, I lost the desire to fight. Curling down into a fetal position, I felt the darkness sinking in. Tears spilled over each eyelid and fiercely rolled down my cheeks and neck. I felt tight in my chest like something heavy was pressing against it. “It’s too much,” I thought to myself. “It’s too much.” It seemed as if I was no longer breathing, and why should I try? It was better this way. Someone would find me in the morning. I would die a natural death, depressed and alone.

Mental disorders are both common and disabling worldwide. They affect beliefs, emotions, identity, and relationships in such a way as to impact the very essence of the human experience. They are associated with stigma and prejudice, and they disproportionately affect those who are poor and those who belong to marginalized groups within society. Increasing attention has been given in recent years to the importance of spirituality for mental health, but in research, it is impossible to distinguish between spirituality and the psychological variables that it purports to influence. Those things that are identified as being the concerns of mental health professionals overlap significantly with the concerns of religion. This overlap is examined here in relationship to the Synoptic Gospel accounts of the mission, ministry, and teaching of Jesus. It is proposed that Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God was centrally concerned with things that we now consider to be the domain of mental health. For Christians, mental health may be understood as the ability to fulfill a vocation within the kingdom of God. A more critical theological understanding of mental health is needed to better inform the mission of the Church

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

LESSON OBJECTIVES

Goals

1. For students to comprehend the organization and content of the New Testament books, from 1 Thessalonians to Revelation.

2. For students to recite the assigned books in the order in which they appear in the Bible

3. For students to enjoy learning the Truth about the Bible.

Topics

Word of God

Scripture Memorization

The New Testament books from 1 Thessalonians through Revelation

LESSON OBJECTIVES

Goals

1. For students to comprehend the organization and content of the Old Testament Major and Minor Prophets

2. For students to be able to recite those books in the order in which they appear

3. For students to enjoy learning the Truth about the Bible

Topics

Word of God

Scripture Memorization

The books of the Old Testament in order from Isaiah through Malachi.

1. For students to understand the organization and content of the books of the Old Testament and its divisions of Law, History, and Poetry
2. To enable students to recite the books in order
3. For students to have fun learning the veracity of the Bible

Bible, Word Of God

The books of the Old Testament in order from Genesis to Song of Solomon

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

In this verse believers are commanded to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” This same command is echoed in other parts of Scripture as well. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 we find Paul exhorting the Christians to not “despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”

1. For students to learn the basic organization of the Bible
2. For students to love the way the Bible has been preserved for them
3. For students to commit to learning more basic facts about the Bible

Guidance, Prophecy, Truth, Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to

perfectly and completely understand it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being

to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not

expect to be able to fully understand Him. The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God,

and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also teaches that there is only one God. Though we can

understand some facts about the relationship of the different Persons of the Trinity to one another,

ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean the Trinity is not

true or that it is not based on the teachings of the Bible.

David and Samuel appointed 212 gatekeepers for “positions of trust” in guarding the temple of the Lord (1 Chronicles 9:22), and those so appointed rotated through week-long assignments (verse 25). Verses 26–29 speak of the four principal gatekeepers, “who . . . were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices.” Temple gatekeepers were in charge of who went in and who went out. They ensured order and reverence for God’s house.

The Bible: God’s Words

Turn in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 3:16. Who can read it for us?

• What do you think that means, God-breathed (NIV)?

(The Greek word used here only occurs this one time in the scriptures. It is a compound word, God and breath, that means inspired.)

It’s important that we remember when we’re discussing the Bible, that it is God’s Words, not the words of man. For example, consider the people who wrote the Gospels—Matthew did not just sit down and write an account of the life and teachings of Jesus on his own. God, through the Holy Spirit, guided the process. That is one of the reasons why, for instance, that even though he probably never even met Luke, their accounts are so similar.

The Bible: Man’s Influence

That’s not to say that God just put all the people who contributed to the Scriptures in a trance and made their hands move. One of the unique features of the Bible is that regular people authored it.

Unlike many Holy Books, such as the Muslim's Koran or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' Book of Mormon, multiple people wrote the Bible; in fact, approximately 40 different people wrote it