Inside Beauty Inspires
Inside Beauty Inspires takes on real life experiences and introduces the Word of God to help believers to navigate peaks and valleys fearlessly. Real, raw, & relevant, Inside Beauty Inspires seeks to unleash a fresh anointing in the atmosphere. Our goal is to connect our listeners to “the plug”, Christ Jesus, a savior who has paid the price for all of our sins and wants nothing more than to see His children win!
Inside Beauty Inspires
Embracing Spiritual Growth: Aligning with Divine Purpose, Claiming Inheritance, and Seeking God's Guidance
What if aligning your spiritual goals with divine purpose could transform your life in 2025? Join us as we explore this powerful possibility through biblical principles and personal reflections. We share insights from eight years of daily morning devotions with the inspiring ladies of Inside Beauty Inspires, unraveling the profound joy and fulfillment that comes from prioritizing a relationship with God. Drawing wisdom from biblical figures like Jeremiah, Daniel, and Hosea, we discuss how their teachings can guide us through today's challenges, offering a pathway to spiritual growth and prosperity.
Discover the promise of spiritual inheritance and how to claim it in your life, as revealed in scriptures like Psalm 16 and Psalm 23. We explore David's intimate relationship with God as a model for our own communication with the divine, emphasizing the necessity of relying on God over external sources. Through the lens of spiritual nourishment, we reflect on the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and his resilient faith, underscoring the importance of prioritizing spiritual sustenance over physical needs. This narrative serves as a reminder of the blessings and peace that come from a steadfast relationship with God.
We round off the episode with a heartfelt prayer for divine guidance as we embrace new beginnings. Reflecting on the promise from Jeremiah 33:3, we invite God's presence and intervention in our lives, anticipating an amazing year filled with new possibilities and profound spiritual growth. Guided by timeless scripture and the stories of Jesus' early ministry, we encourage listeners to seek guidance and wisdom, allowing God to lead them toward unseen opportunities. Join us on this transformative journey, where every moment is an opportunity to deepen your spiritual understanding and connection with God.
New, new, new, everything new, new, new, new, new, new, everything new. I'm ready to go. Hello, hello, it is Stephanie. You are now listening in to Inside Beauty Inspires, where we motivate, encourage and inspire through biblical principles. First, I want to let you guys know that I have missed you all so much. Still have been in my word, though, been in my word. Faithfully Shout out to the ladies of ISI.
Stephanie Fowler:We continue to get up each and every morning and see God's face at 6 am. I cannot do what I'm doing, what the inside beauty inspires, if iron sharpens iron was not to be. We're not meeting every morning, and this year, 2025, makes year eight. This makes year eight that we've been getting up at 6 am every single day seeking God's face. Let me tell you, it makes the difference. You know, a lot of times people make New Year's resolutions, and what I want you guys to do this year is to get closer to your father.
Stephanie Fowler:I have a devotional that I want to read to you guys on today. It says you're probably entering this new year with new goals in mind, whether they are physical, financial or relational. This year is a fresh start for you to pursue good things, while you may already have all your goals in mind, it would be good to put this one at the top of your list. Pursue Christ above all. Your relationship with him is the most important thing you can go after this year. The word tells us that when we take refuge in God, we rejoice. Those whose hearts are hidden in God are full of joyful praise. When we are loving the things of Christ, life is abundant and peace-filled. What could be better? It will likely require sacrifice of some things that we would normally otherwise pursue, and then also the denial of other desires. It will not be in vain. We should set our sights on the pursuit of God's goodness, and in this we will find our complete joy. This is what this this is going to be about today. You know we're going to talk about finding your complete joy, being filled with joy. We're going to talk about elevation. We're going to talk about some of the stories and the biblical insights and personal insights to aim to shift towards embracing God's calling for a higher and straighter path.
Stephanie Fowler:You know, a lot of times we go into this new year with New Year resolutions and again I really want to focus on the point that God wants to communicate with you. He really wants to talk with his children. He doesn't want your year to be like 2024. If you felt defeated in 2024, this is the year that you will come out undefeated. You know we have a God, we serve a God that's undefeated. He's won all the battles. The victory is truly his. But do you know who your father is? Do you know enough about him to sustain the word, to be grounded in the word, to move in intentions of adding God to your equation of life? It's a real thing.
Stephanie Fowler:So let's talk about some things. The last time that we were here, my question was have you ever wondered if your plans align with the greater divine purpose of our Father? And that's a question I want you to ask yourself, because in Jeremiah 29, 11, it says many plans are those, for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future. Shout out to Miss Brenda Peach. This is one of her favorite scriptures. But this lets us know that God has a plan for all of us. He truly does, and a lot of times we can get lost in the sauce. We can get lost in the minute things of life, the things that really don't make that big of a deal, because we lack the very thing that we should make a big deal of, and that's our Father. You know, last time we were here, we explored the Old Testament, the Old Testament prophetic people, the messages we talked about Jeremiah, daniel, hosea, their messages that resonate with today's challenges. You know, in today's society we deal with a lot, and what I'm finding to what I'm coming to understand and realize, is that if we just take the opportunity to get into our word and sharpen one another through this word, we would be in a better place, a better position in life. This is so true.
Stephanie Fowler:Now, I'm not speaking of what I think. I'm speaking of what I know. You know, being in that this is the new year. I want you guys to have everything that's rightfully yours. The Father tells us that we have an inheritance that's rightfully ours, but how do we get this inheritance? The Bible also tells us that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just, but how do we get to that place? Here's what I want to introduce to you. I want to introduce to you some scripture on exactly what we're talking about. Psalm 16, five and six says the Lord is my chosen portion and my cup. You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. Who don't want that to be their word for 2025? I do, and you should too.
Stephanie Fowler:Perhaps you woke up this morning considering all the things that are not right in your life your finances, your marriage, your job, your health. There are countless things in life that can put us in the category of grievance, but today is a day for recognizing God's goodness, regardless of your circumstances. Today, you have been chosen by God to be a part of his family and therefore you are blessed. You have a beautiful inheritance in Christ and while the culmination of God's blessings has not yet arrived, the realization of his goodness starts today. Will you, like the wandering Israelites, demand relief from pain and insecurity? Will you, like the wandering Israelites, demand relief from pain and insecurity, or will you choose Christ as your portion, the source of all your need, the source of everything you will ever need? Psalms 23 says the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want that means. God knows. God sees, but it's through who His son Jesus. God sees, but it's through who His son, jesus, jesus. It is foolish of me to complain when I consider the many ways you have blessed me and given me the hope of a beautiful inheritance, cause my heart to rest in the contentment today, in contentment today. So we're going to talk about Psalm 16 today.
Stephanie Fowler:One thing I love about the Psalms is that it gives us communication skills. It teaches us how, back in the day, with our Davids David, to be exact, is teaching us how to lean more towards getting to know our Father than leaning more on getting to know ourselves. We get to see an illustration of David and his relationship with the Father. And again, we can learn so many things from the Old Testament prophets. Let's start here at Psalm 16.
Stephanie Fowler:I said to the Lord you are my master. Every good thing I have comes from you. Let's start here at Psalm 16. Or even speak the names of their gods. Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance. I will bless the Lord who guides me Even at night. My heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice. My body rests in safety, for you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Who does not want that to be their inheritance? Who does not want that to be their inheritance? Now, this is something that David knew. We talked about David in some of the past shows, but today we're talking about the way that David praised the Lord.
Stephanie Fowler:In this passage, david used three different Hebrew names for God Elohim, yahweh and Adonai to appeal to God's sovereignty for protection, because he took refuge in him. I have nothing good besides you. Can you make the same declaration? Is God your ultimate joy and treasure? Can you make the same declaration? Is God your ultimate joy and treasure?
Stephanie Fowler:Believers need to understand that we only have one source God. Everything else is a resource. David understood this, especially during difficult times, especially during difficult times. Do we understand this? During difficult times, do we make God a priority? Do we start to? During difficult times, do we make God a priority? Do we start to seek his face? Do we add him to the equation? Do we talk to him In 2025, I want you guys to get real familiar with speaking to your father. Again, we can learn a lot from David. David's delight in God expands to delight in what God cares about his holy people. Those who are important to God were important to David. Those who take another God for themselves experience nothing but sorrows. Not only does adultery rob God of his glory, but it also brings inevitable grief to those who practice it.
Stephanie Fowler:An idol is any person, place, thing or thought that you look to as your source instead of God. An idol is any person, place, thing or thought that you look to as your source instead of God. Now, you do know. That's what the problem is. I'm here to clear up a couple of things, because a lot of times we feel like that when are you? God is right there. He said I'll never leave you nor forsake you. So what's the problem? The problem is my people perish for lack of knowledge. They're not in their word, they're not reading the word of God, they're not even talking to God and they won't say his name. Who's Jesus? You have so many different views, point of views in this world, but the Bible says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. Now it's important to know what an idol is, because when we don't look to God, who is our source, we look to other things, and that's where we get lost in the sauce. Whether we realize it or not, god wants our total dependency upon him, to be on him. Now let's keep going.
Stephanie Fowler:The Levites were the only Israelite tribe that received no portion in the promised land. Instead, because they received the privilege of serving God in the tabernacle temple, the Lord himself was to be their inheritance. Likewise, in spite of all that he had received from God, david sees the Lord himself as his portion. His boundary lines had fallen in pleasant places. In other words, he had great joy in knowing that God, not his possessions, was his true inheritance. Whatever material blessings the Lord grants are not your inheritance either. They are merely bonuses. That's right Bonuses, because to know your father is the best man. Listen, when you walk with him and you talk with him, everything is different. Everything is different. Now understand. David looked at God as his inheritance. Now people look for an inheritance, but God was David's inheritance.
Stephanie Fowler:David is grateful to take refuge in God's presence. Why was David so grateful to take refuge in God's presence? Because David talked to God. The Lord counsels, instructs and guides him because David was near to him. That's right. When you draw closer to God, he'll draw closer to you.
Stephanie Fowler:Similarly, christians are called to remain in Christ. By doing so, we experience stability in an uncertain life and bear fruit. The greater life's challenges, in fact, the more believers should strive to remain in God's presence. That means in 2025,. He does not want you to do life without him. Are you ready to plan with your father? Are you ready to do what thus says the Lord Now, david. I love David. When I think about David, I think about Talon, my son. He reminds me of a young David.
Stephanie Fowler:David is grateful to take refuge in God's presence. Are you grateful to take refuge in God's presence? You know, I have to say it that way because, look, the more that you get into this word, the more that you read the Bible, you see, you get to know who your father truly is. You see how he was with the children of Israel when Moses told Pharaoh to let his people go. You heard the complaining, the murmuring, but the father still made sure that they were good. They still had all that they need. Now here's the thing it took them longer to get to where they were going, based off of what they were paying attention to. Yes, I got to keep it a G, because a lot of times we start looking at things outside of our purpose, we start looking at other people, we start comparing ourselves, we start doing everything but what the word of God tells us to do, he wants us to seek him, he wants us to get to know him.
Stephanie Fowler:The one thing about David is what he spent time with his father, and because he found refuge in God, god was always near. God was always near. Now it says David is confident that the Lord would not abandon him to the grave or let him decay. If this was the case for King David, how much more is this true for the great son of David, jesus Christ? Both Peter and Paul applaud this passage to the Messiah, whom God raised from the dead. That's another thing that you will realize the more that you get into the word too, because the Old Testament is a testament of the New Testament. You know everything that's written in the Old Testament testifies to what is written in the New Testament. Now we know that Jesus' body did not decay. He woke up three days later with all power in his hands. He is the way, the truth and the life, and he is the son of David. He came from the line of David. Let's keep going.
Stephanie Fowler:In your presence is abundant joy. At your right hand are eternal pleasures. In your presence is abundant joy At your right hand are eternal pleasures. Both in history and in eternity, there is unfathomable joy in God's presence. No challenge can overshadow this truth.
Stephanie Fowler:Thus, believers must make living in God's presence and anticipating an eternal future with him a way of life. A way of life. Listen, when you make his priority your priority, he prioritizes everything in your life and you're not left in the dark. But when you try to do life outside of God, you're lost. You don't experience joy. You're trying to figure things out. You're trying to figure. You have anxiety, you get frustrated, you get confused because you're not plugging into the main source. Now we can use our cell phones as a perfect example. Anytime our cell phones start to go dead, we find the nearest plug and we put in the charger to charge our phone.
Stephanie Fowler:Why do we, as God's children, feel like we don't need his word? He's the plug. He's the plug to everything. Everything in life connects to our Father the good, the bad and the ugly. Why do I say that? Because he uses things. God always uses things and he uses people. He used David, he used Jesus. He's using me. He will use you. He wants to use you. How else is his word going to go forth? But in order for his word to go forth, he wants to spend time with his children. He wants to spend time with his children Now.
Stephanie Fowler:Matthew 6, 33,. It's one of my favorite scriptures. It says seek first the kingdom of God. Matter of fact, I'm going to pull it up here Matthew 633. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. That is what his word tells us. He will give us everything we need. When we get into this word, we find this to be true. See, the truth will set you free, and who the son sets free is free indeed. Now, does that mean there's no worries? No, but you're not worrying. That's not what you spend a lot of your time doing. You spend a lot of your time seeking instead of worrying. No-transcript.
Stephanie Fowler:In Matthew 6, verse 19,. It says desires of your heart will be also. Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is? We got to keep it. We got to keep it a hundred. We really do. There are a lot of people blind, leading the blind, because God didn't call them to that position. It's something they saw and something they want to do.
Stephanie Fowler:When God calls you, equips you, you have a yearning for his word. You seek after him so that he can give you instructions and directions. Verse 24 says no one can serve two masters, for you will hate one and love the other. You will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Now, this is one passage worth speaking about, since we talked about what the Father is requiring in 2025.
Stephanie Fowler:Let's go to the commentary here Now. In the commentary it says in these verses, jesus emphasizes the spiritual over the physical. Everyone collects treasures on earth, but they don't last. Heavenly treasures are far better investments. They're eternal and imperishable, for where your treasure is there, your heart will be also store your treasure where you want your heart to be. Your heart will follow your treasure.
Stephanie Fowler:In order to focus on heaven and store treasures there, you have to see clearly. You have to see clearly Now. The eye is the lamp of the body. Either you let light in through your eyes or you remain in darkness. It's that simple, and unless your spiritual perspective is directed by God, you're wandering the dark Few things that can distract our spiritual focus and fill us with darkness as effectively as becoming a slave to money. Note that having money is not the problem, though. The danger is when money has you. That's when the physical becomes more important to you than the spiritual. You can't serve two masters. God must have your devotion if you are to receive his kingdom direction and his kingdom inheritance. He has to have your focus. He has to have your devotion. He has to have your time.
Stephanie Fowler:Now some people may be like you know, step, I don't have time. I just don't. I don't know where to make the time in to get to know my father. Well, may I suggest that you have an app on your phone and you can download the Bible app and you can push play. You can listen to it throughout the day. You can listen to it throughout your your. You can listen to it throughout your. You know, on your way to work, on your break, when you're washing dishes, when you're cooking, when you're waiting, when you're scrolling, you can be reading, you can be listening.
Stephanie Fowler:It's imperative that we get this word inside of our hearts. Yes, inside of our hearts. Why am I speaking about hearts? Because, number one, that's where the issues flow from Now. We talked about heart postures. We've talked about heart postures, you know, since we've started this show, because I want people to understand that a lot of times, these are heart issues and the only person that can help you with those things that are unseen is your father, who sees and knows everything. Now, listen, let's keep going.
Stephanie Fowler:It says for many of us, to admonish not to worry about your life sounds just as impossible as to obey, as to obey as don't breathe. So, in other words, this, this um, tony Evans is saying this is sounds crazy to say don't worry about your life. It sounds just as crazy as saying don't breathe. Worry and anxiety over life are complacent, they're complacent and they're commonplace. But to this Jesus said, in effect when was the last time you saw a bird with an ulcer. Birds don't worry about where they're going to get their next meal, and yet the heavenly father feeds them Flowers. Don't agonize over looking pretty, but not Solomon. Not even Solomon in all of his splendor could match the beauty in the fields of God's creation. If God gives this kind of attention to birds and flowers, won't he do much more for you? That's why you say don't worry. Don't worry Now. Again, you might say step, that's just sounds impossible.
Stephanie Fowler:What God is saying is don't worry about life's needs. After all, adulterers seek out the things and become anxious. They plead with their false gods for help. But you have a heavenly father, the true and living God, who knows what you need. It's not wrong to plan and work hard. We should do these things. Our error is when we remove God from the equation or fail to give him priority, when we fail to give him priority.
Stephanie Fowler:Now I have to brag on my son for a moment. Tylan, I got to brag on you for a minute because since he's been on break from college, I've watched him spend time with the father in his Bible, taking notes, reading his word. And it's not like I'm saying Tylan, you need to go in there and get in your word, tylan. You need to go in there and read. But see, the father is drawing him and see that's what the word of God does Hallelujah, thank you, jesus. The word of God draws you closer and closer. The more you release what you're holding, the more you're open to receive what he has for you. But see, when you're closed off, you can't receive what's rightfully yours. It's your inheritance. You're a child of God. How do you know? How do you get close? Get in your word, pray, get around, godly counsel, okay, those that you trust. And let me just say ask the father, what do I mean? Ask the father, ask God to direct your steps, because look, listen, listen, listen, linda, listen.
Stephanie Fowler:In 2025, god said it's time out for playing church. Yeah, it is, it's time out for playing church. He wants to bless you, indeed in larger territory. But will you let him in? Sometimes people don't let him in because of the messenger that he sends. God sends his messengers out. That's what the disciples were. He made more disciples. They don't talk about, they just talk about the 12. In Luke 10, we see that there were other disciples, 72 to be exact.
Stephanie Fowler:Now I'm going to read a little bit of Luke 10 to you, because of some things that I had taken away from in the Word. See, we're in the book of Luke, the prayer call, and we've been talking about Jesus' story, we've been talking about those who accompanied him. We've been talking about John the Baptist, ze, zachariah, elizabeth, mary Joseph. We've been talking about Jesus' life, and what's so amazing is that, you know, at the age of 12, jesus got lost. It was a story we had recently went over, but this is all in the book of Luke. I'm just going to give you a little summary.
Stephanie Fowler:Jesus got lost at the age of 12 and his mom and his dad were looking for Joseph and they went back. You know, they thought he was with relatives, but he wasn't. They went back and when they found him, he said you know, did you not know that I would be in my father's house? But they didn't understand what it was saying. And another thing that I caught was that, mary, she caught a lot of things and she heard a lot of things and she knew a lot of things, but she kept them to herself. I often thought why did Mary keep things to herself? And you know, I can completely understand why Mary kept things to herself. You see, first of all, she wasn't married when she conceived and it was an angel that came to her and told her that she would have a baby.
Stephanie Fowler:Now the story is in Luke 2. I'll read a little bit of it. I'll read a little bit of it because I want to get to what I was talking about when Jesus was 12. You know just a synopsis. He took, you know they went let me just back up.
Stephanie Fowler:It says here Luke 2, verse 4, because Joseph was a descendant of King David. He had to go to Bethlehem, in Judah David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him, snuggled in stripes of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. There was no lodging, there were no lodging, they didn't have any room, they didn't have a place. So he was laid in a manger. Shout out to John Gray, because you know he spoke about this on Christmas. You know, christmas holiday, over the holiday, spoke about the manger. The manger, but let's keep going.
Stephanie Fowler:That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby guarding their flocks with sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. Don't be afraid, I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David, and you will recognize him by this sign. You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth lying in a manger. This is how they would recognize him, by his sign.
Stephanie Fowler:When Jesus got older, he told the disciples y'all can tell when it's going to rain, y'all can decipher when a storm is coming, but you can't tell when the end time's near. It's in Matthew 24. It says suddenly, the angels was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven, praising God and saying Glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to those whom God has pleased. When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other let's go to Bethlehem, let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Now stop reading right there. Because who told them the Lord sent an angel to tell them? The Lord sent an angel to tell them? The Lord sent an angel to tell a lot of people some things. In the Old Testament too, he did Just as well as the new. But see, he sent Jesus. He sent Jesus, he sent John the Baptist to make the way for Jesus.
Stephanie Fowler:In Luke 3, you know, we learn more and more about John the Baptist. Well, we talked about that too. Talked about the fact that an angel came to Zachariah, told him you're going to have a son. It's in Luke 1. But guess what? Zechariah kind of doubted what the angel said. So there was a consequence because he doubted what the angel said, he didn't think it was real, he didn't think it was true. He wanted to know how. And is that not a question that we all ask God? How, how? But see, according to this passage, when an angel of the Lord appears to you, why are you asking me how? How is that even possible for an angel of the Lord to appear? How is it possible for the host and the angels and all the heavens army to join in with them and sing and rejoice because of Jesus, the son is here. That was the sign. Now you're talking about John.
Stephanie Fowler:John was living in the wilderness, don't miss that part. And then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah has spoken of John when he said he is a. So we're talking about Jesus. So Jesus is on the scene doing exactly what the father has sent him to do. John is also on the scene doing exactly what the father has instructed him. As a matter of fact, john was born that way. Yeah, john was born with it. Who else was born with it? Jesus was born with it.
Stephanie Fowler:Now listen to what John the Baptist said to the people of that day when they came. You brought us snakes who warned you to flee from the common wrath. Prove, by the way you live, that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other we're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham. That means nothing, for I tell you, god can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now, the acts of God's judgment is poised ready to sever the roots of the trees, yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Stephanie Fowler:The people of that day said what should we do? I guess you're asking the same question. Listen at John's reply. If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry. Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked he replied. John replied Collect no more taxes than the government requires. What should we do, asked some soldiers. John replied don't extort money or make false accusations and be content with your pay.
Stephanie Fowler:Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. Why? Because John is the one that's making the way for the Messiah. Listen at what John tells the people. I baptize you with water, but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the scraps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the shaft from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the shaft with never ending fire.
Stephanie Fowler:John used many such warnings as he announced the good news to the people. Let's talk about this good news. Let's talk about this good news. What is the good news? That Jesus is risen. Jesus is risen. That's the good news. Now, don't think that Jesus wasn't tempted before he truly started his ministry. Okay, because I did. I kind of skipped over when he was 12, but he but he did. He told them where they where he was at. So let's let's talk about this a little bit more.
Stephanie Fowler:After John the Baptist baptized Jesus, a dove ascended upon him and the father spoke in Luke three, verse 21. One day, when the crowds were being baptized, jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit in bodily form descended on him like a dove and a voice from heaven said you are my dearly loved son and you bring me great joy. Now, the only way that John the Baptist was able to know who Jesus was was because of this act right here. Understand, people were coming to be baptized by him because he was the one to make the way before the Messiah. But let's talk about what happened as soon as he came up out of the water, because a lot of times people don't talk about this. We're going to talk about it today.
Stephanie Fowler:Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days. Jesus ate nothing at all that time and became very hungry. Jesus ate nothing at all that time and became very hungry, angry hungry. Then the devil said to him if you are the son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread. But Jesus told him no, the scriptures say people do not live by bread alone. Let's talk about not living on bread alone, because a lot of people that are listening to me, you're living on bread alone, not on the word of God, but on the food that you eat physically. Jesus told him people do not live by bread alone.
Stephanie Fowler:Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world. In a moment of time I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them. The devil said because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it to you if you will worship me. Jesus said you must worship the Lord, your God, and serve only him. Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the temple, and said if you are the son of God, jump off, for scriptures say he will order his angels to protect and guard you and they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone, Jesus said. The scripture also say you must not test the Lord, your God. Now, when the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. So again, we know we've been in the book of Matthew, we've been in the book of Mark and now we're in the book of Luke, and these stories are very similar in those books a little bit more detail. They're very similar. But I want you to look at what happens after. God has said tag, you're it, he's ready for Jesus to start his ministry. He goes back home. Right, let's talk about it.
Stephanie Fowler:Then Jesus returned to Galilee filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in the synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the scripture, the scroll of Isaiah the prophet had handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written the spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see and that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come. He rolled up the scroll and handed it back to the attendant and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. The scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day. The scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day.
Stephanie Fowler:Now, is Jesus not operating in the spirit of the Lord? Is God in him and leading him and showing him and telling him what to say and what to do? Now listen to what everyone said him and telling him what to say and what to do Now. Listen at what everyone said. Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. They were astonished. How can this be? Isn't this Joseph's boy? Isn't this Joseph's son? Listen at what Jesus said. You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb physician, heal yourself meaning do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum. But I tell you the truth no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. No prophet is accepted in his own hometown, in his own hometown.
Stephanie Fowler:Certainly, there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner, a widow, a Zarephath in the land of Sinai. And many in Israel had leprosy in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman. Why, god? Why did Jesus make this point? Why did Jesus make this point? Because, no matter what they were seeing, no matter what he was doing, they still were not going to get the miracle because of their unbelief. During those times, the heavens were closed for three and a half years and a severe famine devastated the land. Why wasn't Elijah sent to them? Was it because of their unbelief? Yeah, I got to keep it a G y'all, because I'm sick and tired of people struggling, not knowing which way is up or which way is down, and they won't get into their word. But wait, there's more. The story about Naaman is even more crazy because Naaman felt like I know you didn't even come to the door. See, elisha didn't even come to the door when Naaman needed healing. He sent a word.
Stephanie Fowler:These were very powerful prophets. They had the spirit of God on them. Why did not God send them to these towns? I'll tell you why they weren't sent. Because of the unbelief. Because I want to read what verse 28 says. When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious, jumping up. They mobbed him, forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
Stephanie Fowler:So first he was in the synagogue teaching and preaching. The father said I need you to read this scripture because today you are fulfilling it. He did. He said the spirit of the Lord is upon me. He gave his spiel. Then he went even further to make a point where he goes back to the Old Testament. Grab some situations and circumstances back there to show the people of that day that God was available. In a sense, because Elijah had the power, elisha got a double portion of the power, but neither one of those guys were sent to the people who were going through Wonder. Why Now? Why did the people get upset? Because Jesus is the cornerstone, he's the stone that caused people to stumble. Okay, he does. He came on the scene teaching completely different from the teaching that they had already observed and had had. He didn't change the words that were written. He was the fulfillment of the words that were written. The next thing that Jesus does is he heals. He heals. This is another point that I want to make.
Stephanie Fowler:Once, when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon and evil cried out shouting go away. Why are you interfering with us, jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God. What does this indicate? That people know who you are. They do, regardless of whether they want to act it, see it or not. They know that there is something different about you. Could it be the light? Could it be the son of man? His name is Jesus. When you walk with him, people can tell. Look at what this demon said when Jesus walked up to him why is you here and what do you want with us. Jesus said be quiet and come out of the man. And at that the demon threw the man on the floor. Crowd watched and it came out of Amazed. The people exclaimed what authority and power does this man's words possess? Even evil spirits obey him and they flee at his command.
Stephanie Fowler:The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region. So we see, if we keep going, we see that Jesus then went on healing everybody Verse 40,. As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick people, sick family members, to Jesus, no matter what their diseases were. The touch of his hand healed everyone. Many were possessed by demons, and demons came out at his command, shouting you are the son of God. But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them, refused to let them speak because it wasn't time. It wasn't time. God's timing is everything. But wait, there's more. I want us to. I want us to get this right here. Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowd searched everywhere for him. When they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them, but he replied. I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God in other towns too, because that is why I was sent, because that is why I was sent.
Stephanie Fowler:Luke 5,. He starts choosing his disciples and he speaks to Simon, changes Simon's name to Peter, but he says tell some, go out where it's deep and let your nets to catch some fish. Because Simon is a fisherman, he's a professional fisherman, and I understand that he had been fishing all night, hadn't caught anything. Listen to that verse five, master. We worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. Don't miss us. But if you say so, but if you say so, but if you say so, I'll let the nets down again. And this time their nets were full of fish. They began to tear A shout for help, brought their partners in the other boat and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
Stephanie Fowler:When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said O Lord, please leave me. I'm such a sinful man. A sinful man, for he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. Jesus said this one thing to Peter Now, don't miss this word, because some of you guys listening to me today may be like but look, steph, you don't know my story. I am a sinful woman, I am a sinful man. But when God say, tag, you're it, he takes all of that in consideration. Yes, he does See.
Stephanie Fowler:When people want to throw that grace card and say, oh, you can't use grace, I say I beg to differ because he told Paul my grace is sufficient for the call. Okay, he said don't be afraid, from now on you'll be fishing for people. And as soon as they landed they left everything and followed Jesus. This is what I want to ask of you today. Will you lie down, or lay down every burden, every thought, everything that you thought, and start pursuing your father? Start pursuing your father, start pursuing his word, start doing life with him. Now I talked about this inheritance, but the way to the inheritance is through his son. That's why the Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And here's the kicker Light gives light to others.
Stephanie Fowler:So what we're speaking about is the light of the world, the light in John 1. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made. Without him, nothing was made. That has been made In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
Stephanie Fowler:There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came to testify concerning that light so that through him, all might believe. He himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and through the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son who came from the father, full of grace and truth. I'm going to stop right there. Choose God, allow God to teach you, show you who you really are. When you do life with your father, it hits differently. It truly does hit different.
Stephanie Fowler:I hope you guys have enjoyed this word today. Whenever you're listening to it, I pray that it's piercing to your heart. I want to leave with giving us a prayer. Bow your heads, heavenly Father. First and foremost, dad, I want to say thank you for this day, thank you for life, health and strength, and thank you for all that you do. Thank you for life, health and strength and thank you for all that you do, thank you for all that you're doing and thank you for the things that you're going to do, lord, as we enter into 2025, we don't want to enter into 2025 on our own thoughts, on our own ways.
Stephanie Fowler:Your word tells us lean not to our own, but acknowledge you, and you will direct our path. Lord, we know that this is true. We want to see something that we've never seen before, and the only way that we're going to see is to allow you to lead. So, father God, I'm asking you and, for those that are listening to this broadcast, I'm asking that you touch them in a mighty, mighty way, allow them to feel your presence and allow them to know that you are only one call away.
Stephanie Fowler:Jeremiah 33, verse 3, says call to me and I will tell you things that you do not know. And so, dad, on today I'm calling out to you on behalf of my listeners, on behalf of myself, on behalf of this world, and I'm asking that you touch us in a mighty, mighty way, allow us the opportunity and the privilege to know you in a different way. I ask all of these things in Jesus' mighty and matchless name, amen. Amen. In Jesus' name, amen, I pray you guys have an amazing year. I can't wait to talk to you guys on next week. Peace.