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Seventh Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 1David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart 4with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. 5David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 12 So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; 13and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. 18When David had finished offering the burnt-offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, 19and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. Psalm: Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, *        the world and all who dwell therein. 2 For it is he who founded it upon the seas *        and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep. 3 “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? ” *        and who can stand in his holy place?” 4 “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *        who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,        nor sworn by what is a fraud. 5 They shall receive a blessing from the Lord *        and a just reward from the God of their salvation.” 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, *        of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, O gates;    lift them high, O everlasting doors; *        and the King of glory shall come in. 8 “Who is this King of glory?” *       “The Lord, strong and mighty,        the Lord, mighty in battle.” 9 Lift up your heads, O gates;    lift them high, O everlasting doors; *        and the King of glory shall come in. 10 “Who is he, this King of glory?”       “The Lord of hosts,        he is the King of glory.” Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. Gospel: Mark 6:14-29 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.' 15But others said, ‘It is Elijah.' And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.' 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.' 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.' 23And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.' 24She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?' She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.' 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.' 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Psalm 73 has the same theme as 37 and 49 and the Book of Job. - Why do the ungodly “get on”, while the godly “struggle on”? - How can God be good and sovereign while this seems to occur? 1 SOUND DOCTRINE # First conclusion is orthodox [v1] “Truly God is good to Israel” 3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. [Psalm 24:3-5] 2 BITTER EXPERIENCE The Psalmist was. .... i. Envious of the wicked [v3] free from disease and disaster [v4-5] arrogant on earth and towards heaven [v6-9] popular in the world [v10-11] ii. Bitter against God [v20-21] “My soul was embittered” [v21] He was reduced to instinct and appetite, and filled with self pity. Emotion overruled reason. iii. Tempted to give up [v16] The thought “was too painful for me”. # Second conclusion - “Truly, in vain have I kept my heart clean” [v13] “No future in frustration” [Alf Stanway] 3 RENEWED VISION Step back. See things in perspective “I went into the sanctuary [presence] of God, then I discerned their end” [v17] “When men doubt the righteousness of God, their own integrity begins to waver” [ Spurgeon] i. “Truly you have set them in slippery places” [v18] # The Psalmist's third conclusion When ungodly people fall, they can never rise again. Destruction is the end for those who scoff at God and put their trust in possessions. [v19-20, 27] ii. “I am continually with you” [v23] Emphasis moves from what the Psalmist reasons, based on envy [v3] and doubt [v15], to what God promises and does. “Afterward [ after this earthly experience] you will receive me” v24] “Whom have I in heaven but you?” [v25] “But for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge” [v28]

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5,10-16 [1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 4And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armoured with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.' 10And the Philistine said, ‘Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.' 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20David rose early in the morning, left someone in charge of the sheep, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. 23As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.] 32David said to Saul, ‘Let no one's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' 33Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.' 34But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.' 37David said, ‘The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.' So Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you!' 38 Saul clothed David with his armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39David strapped Saul's sword over the armour, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.' So David removed them. 40Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.' 45But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hand.' 48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. or 57On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58Saul said to him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?' And David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.' 18When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; 11and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. 14David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them. Psalm: Psalm 9:9-20 or Psalm 133 9 The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, *        a refuge in time of trouble. 10 Those who know your Name will put their trust in you, *        for you never forsake those who seek you, O Lord. 11 Sing praise to the Lord who dwells in Zion; *        proclaim to the peoples the things he has done. 12 The Avenger of blood will remember them; *        he will not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Have pity on me, O Lord; *        see the misery I suffer from those who hate me,        O you who lift me up from the gate of death; 14 So that I may tell of all your praises    and rejoice in your salvation *        in the gates of the city of Zion. 15 The ungodly have fallen into the pit they dug, *        and in the snare they set is their own foot caught. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; *        the wicked are trapped in the works of their own hands. 17 The wicked shall be given over to the grave, *        and also all the peoples that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, *        and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Rise up, O Lord, let not the ungodly have the upper hand; *        let them be judged before you. 20 Put fear upon them, O Lord; *        let the ungodly know they are but mortal. or 1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *        when brethren live together in unity! 2 It is like fine oil upon the head *        that runs down upon the beard, 3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *        and runs down upon the collar of his robe. 4 It is like the dew of Hermon *        that falls upon the hills of Zion. 5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: *        life for evermore. Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 6As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,    and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also. Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.' 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'

View the Bulletin for Sunday July 4, 2021Service Times: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.In-person Bible Study: 9:15 a.m.All are welcome.UPDATED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS - Starting June 20, 2021Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.Old Testament Reading – Ezekiel 2:1–5He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.' And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.”Second Reading – 2 Corinthians 12:1–10I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixth chapter.[Jesus] went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.And he went about among the villages teaching.And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Matthew 6:9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven,God Is My FatherJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him  Jesus and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Our Experiences Shape Our PerceptionMy Dad Is Better Than Your Dad Matthew 7:9 What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!#1 Approach God Like A Child Approaches A Good Father Matthew 18:2-3 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 1 John 4:4 Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. #2 Approach Fatherhood With God As Your Example You're either building a bridge or you're building a barrier.He is loving - John 3:16 He is caring - I Peter 5:7 He is committed - Hebrews 14:5He is focused - Romans 8:35 “He is engaged - Hebrews 12:5–6 He is Gracious - Psalm 86:5He is good - Jeremiah 29:11 He is a disciplinarian - Hebrews 12:6 He is generous - Psalm 84:11 He is approachable – Psalm 138:3 

Listen to Rev Bryony's Easter Message based on this reading: John 20.1–18 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.' 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' 14When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' 16Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!' She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!' (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ' 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord'; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

The Road to the Resurrection Pt 2 Dealing with the Truth By Louie Marsh, 3-14-2021   Intro – Last slide “So painful for the ego…”   Why did the Apostles approach the first Easter negatively when we always approach it positively. It’s joy, pure joy for us, but not for them? Why and could we be missing?   1) The truth is HARD.   “21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16:21, ESV)   “13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13, ESV)   Some hard Biblical truths:   Feelings DON’T determine truth.   “12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12, ESV)   Fitting into your culture isn’t   “44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:44–47, ESV)   Following Jesus comes before EVERYTHING   “22And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”” (Matthew 8:22, ESV)   2) The greatest rejector of hard truth is human LOVE.   22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22 ESV)   “46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV)   Human love vs. Christian (tough) love.   “14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Romans 12:14, ESV)   Human love – SHORT TERM - God’s love – LONG TERM.   “24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” (Hebrews 11:24–25, ESV)   3) REFUSING the truth puts me on Satan’s side!    23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”” (Matthew 16:23, ESV)   “4And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”” (Matthew 17:4, ESV)   “5He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”    6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”” (Matthew 17:5–7, ESV)   “14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”” (Galatians 2:14, ESV)        

Revelation 3:1-6 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive,but you are dead. 2 WAKE UP, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have NOT found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and REPENT. Therefore if you do not WAKE UP, I will COME LIKE A THIEF, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will NOT erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Here, we read that Jesus quickly and clearly condemns the lifeless state of the Sardian church: He says; “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3). This church may have had a good reputation, but they were spiritually lifeless. In other words, the church was filled with unsaved people going through the motions of religion. There were many tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30).

THE NEW ‘RESET’ What it means for you and the body of Christ OSTRACIZING 150 MILLION OR MORE & OSTRACIZING GOD TUESDAY 2/2/2021 WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TO KNOW Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any there of the Way, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5He said, “Who are You, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9 PREEMPTOR NEWS Intro1. WHOSE CHURCH IT IS • I will build My Church. • The corruption PDF LIVE NOTES FOR THE RAGGED EDGE RADIO BROADCAST .COM By Russ Dizdar © 6 • The correction • The on-fire church 2. WHOSE MISSION IT IS • Matthew 28 • And the power Luke 24 • And the presence Mark 16:20 • In the middle • In the end 3. WHO IS THE ENEMY? • You enemy… 1 Peter 5 • Global presence / the mystery of iniquity / the collective • The enemy embedded 1. Lives 2. Counterfeits 3. Ideologies 4. Places 4. THE PLEDGE OF GOD • Matthew 28 • Romans 8… NOTHING IN ALL CREATION • Philippians 1:6 I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. PDF LIVE NOTES FOR THE RAGGED EDGE RADIO BROADCAST .COM By Russ Dizdar © 7 5. THE HISTORY OF TRIUMPH • Book of Acts. • Book of Revelation. • Prophecy Now thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ and through us reveals the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2 “To him who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations— Revelation 2 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Worship+Songs+of+Hope&&view=detail&mid=BC237CED69AE3FA6012BBC237CED69AE3FA6012B&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DWorship%2BSongs%2Bof%2BHope%26FORM%3DVDMHRS

We invite you to join us in sharing in the true celebration of Christmas, Jesus’ birth. #JesusIsTheReasonForTheSeason Listen in as we read from the book of Luke. From our home to yours, Merry Christmas. We pray you have a wonderfully blessed Christmas!! Luke 1:26-38 - The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.” 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 2 - The Birth of Jesus 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. ****** To learn more about our ministry visit www.fearlessfeatures.org

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/493572620YouTube Link for video with in the message: https://youtu.be/bZFPtpZcs0QLuke 1:39-45 (Mary went to visit Elizabeth) 39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! John, even as a baby…not a fetus…a baby…knew who to get excited about Rosie (rescued, separation anxiety from her rescuers and pure joy in being reunited) John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a]it. John 1:14 14 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. 1. The Creator of the World humbled Himself and became a man, just to live for us, die for us (by our own hands) and raise from the dead…all for our forgiveness and redemption. Best summed up by: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.There are over 400 prophesies about the Messiah in the Old Testament – Jesus fulfilled them all. The odds of Jesus fulfilling just 8 of those prophesies is 1 in 1 quintillion (18 zeroes) Lee Strobel figured out a visual for that: tiles 1 1/2” square, one with red on the bottom – covering the every bit of dry land on the earth - 1 person walking the earth for a lifetime can only pick up 1. Genesis 49:10 (about 1500 years before Christ) The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,[a] until he to whom it belongs[b]shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Isaiah 7:14 (about 700 years before Jesus was born) The Messiah would be born of a virgin 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel. Fulfilled: (Luke 1:26-33) 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Jeremiah 23:5 (about 646 years before Jesus) “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.Back to Luke: Luke 2:1-7 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register. Micah 5:2 (400 years before the birth of Christ) The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, from the tribe of Judah “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (In the beginning was the word) Luke 2 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 0. Jesus is born when Israel is under Roman Rule. 1. There is an invisible power behind and OVER the human rulers. They didn't know it at the time, but God used Caesar and Quirinius to fulfill what He had promised long before that. 2. If you're tempted to worry or celebrate over who is in charge of this great nation, your town or you HOA, DON'T. The same God is behind and over all OUR rulers too. 3. The birth of Christ…God became a Man. 4. Nothing about this particular scene says “GLORY”, but everything about this scene INSTRUCTS us about Glory. 5. In the Kingdom of God, HUMILITY always precedes GLORY - The first will be last, and the last will be first (Mark 10:31) - God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) …also 1 Peter -Humble yourself before the Lord, and in good time, He will exalt you (James 4:10) + We see this modeled right from the beginning of Jesus' life + True greatness is not always visible greatnessOne of our favorite Christmas songs is “Christmas Snow” by Audrey Assad (on Chris Tomlin's Christmas) Could've come like a mighty storm With all the strength of a hurricane You could've come like a forest fire With the power of Heaven in Your flame (But) You came like a winter snow Quiet and soft and slow Falling from the sky in the night To the earth below 6. Truth is, most of us have glory-craving hearts, and the incarnation of the Son of God in an animals feeding trough should put our hearts in check. In fact, Jesus spent a lifetime showing us how to live like Him. Philippians 2:3-11 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Luke 2:8-20 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 1. The angels appeared to shepherds keeping watch over their flock. - Not glorious work / bad reputation / they were considered unreliable and despised. - God chose THEM to get the good new first…the first to hear of the great joy for all people - These despised individuals were the first to hear that God became a man… - These guys were the first to hear all of the titles of Jesus brought together – Savior, Messiah, Lord WHY? The Bible doesn't necessarily say why them…but It appears that God chose the humbled of society to reveal the humble beginnings of the life of His glorious Son. Jesus was consistent throughout His ministry in is love for the humble Jesus' very beginning didn't demonstrate the riches of His existence, but Jesus Himself was born into poverty. SIDE NOTE – What do you think that implies? 1. Poverty is not a sin. 2. Poverty is not God's disapproval 3. Poverty does not prevent a person from worshipping God 4. Poverty does not necessarily doom a person to poverty forever 5. Poverty does not excuse unrighteousness 6. Poverty is not shameful in and of itself 7. Poverty is a cross that God entrusts to some people for a time If some prosperity gospel preacher tries to tell you that poverty is a sin, of that it is God condemning you, and that you just have to give a certain amount of money to be released, they are lying to you.Some poverty is our own responsibility. Point to Jesus. 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 1. That does not mean…”huh?”. - An angel had visited her (and her fiancée), she became pregnant as a virgin and just gave birth to the Savior of the world in barn. A bunch of stinky shepherds came to visit her baby, the Good Shephard telling them of heavenly hosts of angels…she didn't go “huh”…”what do ya know…” 2. She treasured the moment as a mother and pondered the events leading up to it in her heart. 3. People who ponder the fact that God Became a Man, don't just go “huh”. God became a man – THAT is what we're excited about And if you really want to get excited, knowing that Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophesies about the Messiah, give this a pondering: He's Coming Back as a conquering King 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, 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. Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” The one who fulfilled all of the prophesies about the Messiah, Jesus himself, said He is coming back… We better believe it We better be ready

BUY THE GO CREATOR GO BOOK & JOURNAL:www.antoinebeane.comhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GV2DK1Vhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GVJ6MP5FOLLOW GO CREATOR GO & TRIUMPH MEDIAWORKS:Facebook & IG: @gogreatorgo & @triumphmediaworksTwitter: @gcreatorgwww.triumphmediaworks.com___________________________________SCRIPTURES CONCERNING IDENTIGenesis 1:27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.Jeremiah 1:5Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.1 Corinthians 1:30And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.1 Corinthians 6:17But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.1 John 3:1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.1 Samuel 12:22For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.Colossians 2:10And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.Colossians 3:12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 1:11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.Ephesians 1:13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.Ephesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.Ephesians 1:4Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love.Ephesians 1:5He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.Ephesians 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.Ephesians 2:19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.Ephesians 2:6And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.Ephesians 4:24And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.Ephesians 5:8For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.Genesis 2:7Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.Isaiah 43:1But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”Isaiah 49:16Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.Isaiah 64:8But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.John 1:12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.John 15:15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.John 15:16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.John 15:5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.Matthew 5:48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Matthew 6:26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,Philippians 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Psalm 100:3Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Psalm 139:14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.Romans 6:6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”Romans 8:17And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Disciple Up #180 Shepherding: Feeding & Defending the Flock By Louie Marsh, 10-7-2020   Intro. An e-mail poured in! Disagreement on what I said about Witness Lee and the Local Church. Episode 73-74.   So what is the duty of teachers and shepherds when it comes to dealing with doctrinal error and, sometimes, out right heresy? Let's take a look!   Everyone – Leaders Included – Must Watch Their Mouth!   Yes, I am very well aware that we'll be judged for every careless word we speak. I'll go even further we are also commanded not to lie and not to condemn our brothers when we disagree with them   “34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:34–37, ESV)   “4Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4, ESV)   “6The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” (Romans 14:6–8, ESV)   “1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1–5, ESV)   TEACHERS AND SHEPHERDS HAVE DUTIES FROM GOD   FEED AND LEAD:   When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. (Jn 21:15–17).   However, pastors and teachers aren't just commanded to teach and lead the flock. We are also called upon to defend it when necessary. James says teachers are under a stricter judgement and this tension between not being judgmental but being discerning and defending your flock from harm, is part of the weight of that judgement.   Ezekiel tells us that if the watchman doesn't warn those under his care he will be condemned. So yes, I am very aware of this and living with the weight of this greater judgement is something I agreed to take on when I became a teacher and pastor.   WATCHMEN – PROTECTING THE FLOCK   “1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.” (Ezekiel 33:1–6, ESV)   “3Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3–4, ESV)   “5And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”” (Mark 7:5–8, ESV)   Should We Name Names?   “11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.” (Galatians 2:11–12, ESV)   “19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:19–20, ESV)   “16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:16–18, ESV)   If the people involved are public figures – like I am – the answer is yes!   THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP:   “1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” (James 3:1–2, ESV)   God's judgement is based on what you know.   “20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, ESV)   That's the only way His judgements can be just. He can't condemn or justify you if you didn't something was right or wrong.   “47And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:47–48, ESV)   “12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:12–15, ESV)  

WHOSE LIFE MATTERS SERIES PART 34 SPECIAL MESSAGE TO MARXISTS, SATANISTS, O9A, ANTIFA, MUSHROOM-POT HEADS AND CRIMINALS Intro- Who was Judas? ….what a person hates tells you so much! What does your tombstone say? There was a man running and fighting for all he was worth….but there was no one there to notice and when he was asked why he was fighting so hard… what are you fighting for and what will happen when you win… he answered I don’t know. It would be so useless to live a life passionately for the wrong side, to look over your shoulder and only see the devil laughing. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Jesus Matthew 16 WWW. THE RAGGED EDGE RADIO. COM LIVE NOTES By Russ Dizdar 16 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. Matthew 2 1. WHY ALL THE CONFUSION DIVISION AND FIGHTING? • James 4 • Is God the author of confusion? • Demonic... frenzy, what is it? 2. DEEP INSIDE • It is in you • It has you … unless you have been freed 3. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN WRONG? • Who is the liar? Confession tell you much Being a vessel of ……dishonor (being used and using) 4. REAPING WHAT WE SOW • Do you feel the pain • See it? • Or so hard, so blind you can’t? 5. GOD DOES SAY • When your lost your lost • And satan does own you WWW. THE RAGGED EDGE RADIO. COM LIVE NOTES By Russ Dizdar 17 Breaking free 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. 1 John 1 Was blind, but now I see. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch hawretch like me! Was blind, but now I see. The hour I first believed! And grace will lead me home. Than when we’d first begun. Avalon – Amazing Grace Lyrics | AZLyrics.com www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/17valon/amazinggrace.html Fighting for these lives matter.. here file:///C:/Users/shatt/Pictures/RADIO/Abortion%20Was%20the%20Leading%20Cause%20of%20Death%20Worldw ide%20in%202019,%20Killing%2042%20Million%20People%20_%20LifeNews.com.html 23 “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. Luke 14 Has the believer in Christ read.. get a used copy https://www.amazon.com/Take-him-streets-Jonathan-Gainsbrugh/dp/0910311269 The Street Agent: He took on the mob, the Klan and the terrorists-The true story Paperback – Unabridged, August 1, 2017 by Wayne Manis 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, “Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more death.’[b] Neither WWW. THE RAGGED EDGE RADIO. COM LIVE NOTES By Russ Dizdar 18 shall there be any more sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5He who was seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making all things new.” Then He said to me, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” https://us15.campaign-archive.com/?u=012a44d6e7986cf7f82de120f&id=d1d452cae6 6He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the spring of the water of life to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.[c] 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars shall have their portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death.” Revelation 21 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=seeking+peace+christian+song&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dseeking%2bpeace%2bchristian%2bsong%26FORM%3dHDRSC3&view=detail&mid=7228AE39BE004B692C607228AE39BE004B692C60&&FORM=VDRVRV

1 Samuel 17 David and Goliath 1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7His spear shaft was like a weavers rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us. 10Then the Philistine said, This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other. 11On hearing the Philistines words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. 12Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Sauls time he was very old. 13Jesses three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his fathers sheep at Bethlehem. 16For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. 17Now Jesse said to his son David, Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. 19They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines. 20Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. 25Now the Israelites had been saying, Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel. 26David asked the men standing near him, What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, This is what will be done for the man who kills him. 28When Eliab, Davids oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle. 29Now what have I done? said David. Cant I even speak? 30He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. 32David said to Saul, Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him. 33Saul replied, You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth. 34But David said to Saul, Your servant has been keeping his fathers sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you. 38Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. I cannot go in these, he said to Saul, because I am not used to them. So he took them off. 40Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherds bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 41Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43He said to David, Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44Come here, he said, and Ill give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals! 45David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and Ill strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lords, and he will give all of you into our hands. 48As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistines sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. 54David took the Philistines head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistines weapons in his own tent. 55As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, Abner, whose son is that young man? Abner replied, As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I dont know. 56The king said, Find out whose son this young man is. 57As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistines head. 58Whose son are you, young man? Saul asked him. David said, I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.

Acts 27:1-28:10 Paul Sails for Rome And when it was decidedthatwe should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the AugustanCohort named Julius.2And embarking ina ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied byAristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.3The next day we put in at Sidon. AndJuliustreated Paul kindly andgave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.4And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.5And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.6There the centurion founda ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.7We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.8Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. 9Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because eventhe Fastwas already over, Paul advised them,10saying, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be withinjury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.11But the centurion paid more attention tothe pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.12And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. The Storm at Sea 13Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that theyhad obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.14But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster,struck down from the land.15And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.16Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,we managed with difficulty to secure the ships boat.17Afterhoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they wouldrun aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,and thus they were driven along.18Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next dayto jettison the cargo.19And on the third day they threw the ships tackle overboard with their own hands.20When neither sun nor stars appeared for manydays, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, Men,you shouldhave listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred thisinjury and loss.22Yet now I urge you totake heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.23For this very nighttherestood before mean angel of the God to whom I belong andwhom I worship,24and he said, Do not be afraid, Paul;you must stand before Caesar. And behold,God has granted you all those who sail with you.25So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.26Butwe mustrun aground on some island. 27When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.28So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms.A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.29And fearing that we mightrun on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.30And asthe sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had loweredthe ships boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ships boat and let it go. 33As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.34Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,fornot ahair is to perish from the head of any of you.35And when he had said these things, he took bread, andgiving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.36Then they allwere encouraged and ate some food themselves.37(We were in all 276persons in the ship.)38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. The Shipwreck 39Now when it was day,they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore.40So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.41But striking a reef,they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.42The soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.43But the centurion,wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,44and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship.And so it was thatall were brought safely to land. Paul on Malta 28After we were brought safely through,we then learned thatthe island was called Malta.2The native peopleshowed us unusualkindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.4Whenthe native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea,Justicehas not allowed him to live.5He,however,shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him,they changed their minds andsaid that he was a god. 7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.8It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him andprayed, andputting his hands on him, healed him.9And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.10They also honored us greatly,and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

Ephesians 1 3Let us bless God, the father of our Lord Jesus, the king! He has blessed us in the king with every spirit-inspired blessing in the heavenly realm. The choice and the plan 4He chose us in him before the world was made, so as to be holy and irreproachable before him in love. 5He foreordained us for himself, to be adopted as sons and daughters through Jesus the king. That's how he wanted it, and that's what gave him delight, 6so that the glory of his grace, the grace he poured on us in his beloved one, might receive its due praise. 7In the king, and through his blood, we have deliverance – that is, our sins have been forgiven – through the wealth of his grace 8which he lavished on us. Yes, with all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the secret of his purpose, just as he wanted it to be and set it forward in him 10as a blueprint for when the time was ripe. His plan was to sum up the whole The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition. Open my eyes to your presence Open my ears to your call Open my heart to you love May I open my arms to others May I open my heart to strangers May I open my door to callers That I may be open you you Lord Open this day and for evermore

Hope For Life with Bob Lenz - an inspiring message for your busy day. This week's devotional theme is Value. Today's episode will be from Titus 3:5.Titus 3:5He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.To discover more, visit lifepromotions.org.

Sunday Evening Service - 1/5/2020 The King of Glory A Psalm of David. 1The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,a the world and those who dwell therein, 2for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 3Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.b Selah 7Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! 9Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

Focus on 3 great truths a. God is God and ……. b. God has you c. God is going to bring you home They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more death.’[b] Neither shall there be any more sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5He who was seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making all things new.” Then He said to me, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the spring of the water of life to him who thirsts. 7He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Rev21 They shall see His face Revelation 22

“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to falsehood, who does not swear deceitfully. 5He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation.…”  (Psalm 24:4 NIV) First, notice the wide gap between your Hands and your Heart.  Not the distance between them but rather the huge gap between what they […]

Easter changes everything and this year everything has changed.Beyond the shroud, beyond the blood and bandages, beyond the spices and the close, dank air, HE STOOD! Alive once more, He stood—in six full weeks of sunlight. Then on to heaven He went, sending His spirit into our hearts, making us alive forever. Now the living Christ rules where the best flags wave, in the interior castles of our hearts, but... He IS Here!EASTER! - Hell shuddered and the world trembled - the day the living Savior stood the dumbfounded world on its ear! EASTER! - The day Christ moved out of His very temporary residence into the best and worst of palaces - the human heart. LIFE! - Christ’s Life, this marvelous gift is Ours! We don’t create it! We can’t sustain it. This life of His learned obedience on the cross and proved its power by leaving the cold stone slab of a cave grave. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NLT) “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”

Proverbs 10:4–5 (ESV) 4A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. Website-Theproverbiallife.com Ways to Support the Ministry Merch- https://teespring.com/stores/the-prov... Patreon.com/ProverbialLife PayPal-Teameramirez@gmail.com CashApp-$teameramirez Venmo-Edwin-Ramirez-75 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-proverbial-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-proverbial-life/support

Matthew 17:1–9 1After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.     9And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Do you struggle with doing things in your business because you put them off? Maybe you leave things until the last minute to get them done? Maybe you find your time is the hardest thing to manage?We are moving into September and the topic for September is Time Management and the questions we’re asking at our Business Socials this month is – How do you beat procrastination?For the types that are productive mavins, you’ll struggle to understand what it’s like not to be productive. But for the personalities out there that do, this episode is for you! We’re going to talk through 3 ways to beat procrastination.1. From the wisest person before Jesus King Solomon give us a great tip in Ecclesiastes 11Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.where he shares about investing. First, I love that this verse shows that Solomon through God’s wisdom did invest and knew the importance of it. Even though wealth, riches and success aren’t the things that are going to bring us fulfilment in this life, investing and being wise with what we do have is still important.Another great point from King Solomon in Proverbs 10:4-5He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.This shows again that the wisdom of God is telling us that to be diligent with our hands and work.Proverbs 14:2323 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.So we know that from God’s wisdom that it’s good to work, and not just talk about ideas dreams and visions but to actually, plan, take action and get to work with our businesses.I think the biggest thing is trying to workout what it is that’ stopping us from doing the thing we want to do. Is it simply that we don’t like doing the task? If that’s the case then delegate it out. Do you have fear? If it’s fear then where is that fear coming from and surrender it to God?So point number 1 is to ask yourself what’s stopping you from doing the thing you’re procrastinating with.2. Surrender it to God, ask Him for help to face the fear, wisdom on how to deal with the situation.3. Make sure the thing you want to do the least is going to make a difference to your business. If it isn’t doing anything to build the business or brings no value to your customers then get rid of it. If it is going to bring value or is vital to your business, make it the first thing you do on your list so it’s over and done with, or as I mentioned before, delegate it out. Think of an out of the box way of how you can get someone to help you do the task.Business socials are happening this week, if you’d like to join us you will need to be a Sisterhood or Enriched Member pop your applications in and we can process those for you. Otherwise, if you’d like to support CWIB and our mission to help Encourage, Strengthen, and Unite Christian Women in Business then I’d love to invite you to become a member anyway.Are you ready to join a community like no other?We’ve created a sisterhood of Christian women in business who are completely in love with God and encourage each other on a daily basis with their businesses. If you’re after some Godly support as you grow your business…We invite you to become a part of this amazing, heart felt community by clicking the button below

What are you doing with your sword?   While I understand that Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; it is more than exquisite beauty, extravagant design or even the intricate craftsmanship that made the Napoleon Bonaparte sword the 2nd most expensive sword in the world. The supporting story that the golden studded handle was held in the hand of the French emperor and used on the battlefield was a major factor that brought the $6.5 million selling price.   The Bible gives us a list of notable swords, the primary tool of defense; swords that brought freedom and deliverance; swords held in the hands of triumphant warriors-  the sword of: Gideon Goliath Saul Jehu    No Swords? As valuable as the sword was, we see a time in Israel's history where the people didn't have swords or spears.   1 Samuel 13:16-19 NIV 16Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness.   19Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles f sharpened. 21The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.   22So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.   How do you win wars with an army that has no weapons? Well God did it by raising up a man, one man, with one of only two swords in the whole land. A man of courage, and faith...a man that would seek God's will, a man named Jonathan-King Saul's son. You should read this amazing story of Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14.   Stop believing the lie that because you are just one person that there's nothing you can do. Too often we do nothing because we feel that our little doesn't make a difference anyway. That is simply not true.   Sword of Goliath Probably the most famous of the above mentioned swords is Goliath's sword.   It is fascinating that this sword is famous for what Goliath didn't do, instead of what he did do with it.   4Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.   David answered Goliath's accusation 1 Samuel 17: 45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”   Continuing in 1 Samuel 17 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.   Did you see that?  Goliath wasn't even holding his sword; it was still in its sheath. David pulled it out and cut off the giant's head. Saul's scared, chicken hearted army were rallied when they saw the head of their defeated enemy in David's hand.   Fuel your courage with someone else's victory. What if that army had whined, "Why doesn't anything like that happen to me?" No! Instead, they understood they were part of one army! David's victory was their victory. It catapulted the whole army from chicken hearted, knee knocking fear that caused them to cower and hide into a courageous pursuit of their enemy.     Saul appointed David as commander over his army. David was a very successful leader and loved by the people. I believe it was in this role that David learned to use a sword quite skillfully.    A parade! After a successful battle David and his army were welcomed home with something like a ticker tape parade where the women sung a triumphant song as the soldier paraded past. "Saul had slain his thousands. David has slain his ten thousands." Their sweet tribute was bitter in Saul's ears. King Saul's jealousy festered into a ravenous plot to murder David.   Saul was jealous. After yet another jealous rage where King Saul threw his spear at David, David escaped. He ran to the High Priest Ahimelech. And this is why I believe David was skillful with a sword, He asked Ahimelech for a sword or a spear.   1 Samuel 21:9 “I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.”   Wrapped in a cloth in a safe place...that's what you do with something valuable; you tuck it in a safe place so nothing happens to it.   But look at what David says.  “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!”   Ahimelech retrieves the sword from it's hiding place and hands it, still wrapped, to David. David unwraps the sword crafted for a giant as he remembers the moment he held this very same sword in his hand for the very first time. He remembers the exhilaration that flooded him; the fight-God's fight. The victory-God's victory. The defeat- the enemy's defeat. He had never gone back home; his life would never be the same; but He served a God that would never change--   Would He...Could He?  Could God be faithful  again...now in this situation- in this difficult situation as he ran to save his life. His actions seem to prove that He believed God would be faithful even in the darkest situation; because he ran to the high priest.   I saved the best sword for last. The sword of Bonaparte may be the 2nd most expensive sword, but I want to be sure you know the most valuable sword is the "Sword of the Spirit." Paul reminds us that God has not left believers defenseless.   We've been given both defensive and offensive weaponry so we can stand against the devil's strategy.   Ephesians 6:17 NIV Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   The sword of the Spirit.  It is the Sword of Spirit that fought through Jonathan. It was the Sword of the Spirit that defeated Goliath. And it is the Sword of the Spirit that God has provided for you to win the battle that you are facing right now.   You know that?  Of course you do!  There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of books, maybe thousands of sermons that have been preached on the subject...yet the landscape is strewn with defeated believers!   Is it God's plan for believer's to be defeated by addictive habits and enslaved by sin? Have God's weapons failed us?   You know the answer to that question; you know with your heart that God has a different plan than that for His church!   God's Words says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 "King James Bible (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)   If our weapons are so strong, then why are we so weak?   I see 3 reasons in the stories I've listed above.   1. No blacksmith. 2. Fear stopped them. 3. A stored sword.   1. No blacksmith. A blacksmith forges a blade.  When you read the Scriptures causally, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit you'll never forge it into promises that you can grip with your heart and speak with your mouth. When you look at 2 Corinthians 10:4 the word used "word" is rhema. It means the spoken word of God.   Become a student of God's Word. Take Scripture personally. Let it become a whisper, a promise, a strategy for your life. But, not a student that collects, like world famous sword collectors, instead use it skillfully by declaring and speaking God's Word into your situation.   2. Saul's army was afraid. So they cowered, shook, dreaded, stared, grumbled, but never raised their weapon against the enemy until David came on the scene.   Again and again we see God works through partnerships! God wants you to step out and use your sword. Whatever lie has you cowering in a foxhole, get up, use your sword and declare God's Word.   3. A stored sword. No one can win your battle for you! You may have the greatest sword, a Goliath sword...none like it...tucked into a safe place...even in a holy place, completely useless. When David came on the scene and defeated the giant, the army rallied from their fear and used their swords.    I want to remind you that a Savior from the lineage of David has come on the scene- Jesus. He defeated the enemy...death, hell and the grave on the cross. And, because He defeated the enemy, you can too! But you can't do it hiding. You have to use your sword...speak God's Word...specifically designed by God into your situation. Pray it. Declare it. Sing it. There is power in God's Word. Inside your Bible it is living seed, but dormant. When you take that seed and believe it and declare it, persistently and diligently, listening for God's strategy. God brings the victory.   So you know exactly what I've been patiently waiting to ask you...   What are you doing with your sword?  

John 13:36-14:141. A promise, v. 36-38-Psalm 103:9-14He promises that He is with us in our darkest times. Psalm 23:4He promises to give us wisdom if we ask. James 1:5He promises that in all things He is at work. Romans 8:28He promises to provide a way out of temptation. I Corinthians 10:13 He promises that as Christians we are forgiven forever. Hebrews 10:8-14He promises that our salvation is secure, no matter what. John 10:28-29He promises that He is not put off by our weaknesses. 2 Cor. 12:8-10He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5He promises that this was His idea. Philippians 1:6He promises to come back. John 14:3Important to remember this…God makes two types of promises: 1) unconditional promises – this is a promise void of conditions. Nothing has to happen for this to be true, it depends on nothing but the nature of the person making the promise. 2) conditional promises –this promise is subject to certain qualifications or requirements. 2. A peace, v. 1This peace is the by-product of believing in two people who are one...believe in God- this is a statement about Godbelieve also in me- this is a statement about you. Four things we are saying about ourselves when we say we believe in Jesus…1) I am sinful and separated from God- Jesus is necessary2) I am incapable of making myself right with God- Jesus is needed3) I am in need of Someone to solve this problem- Jesus is sufficient4) I am loved by God- Jesus is the demonstration of the Father’s love3. A place, v. 2-3Steps in a Jewish Wedding1) Marriage covenant- the Father pays for the bride and establishes the marriage covenant2) Bridal chamber prepared- the son returns to his father’s house and prepares the bridal chamber3) Bride is fetched- at a time determined by the father, the groom fetches the bride to bring her to his father’s house. Although the bride is expecting the groom to come to her, she does not know the time of his arrival. Because of this his arrival is preceded by a shout, which warns the bride to be prepared for his coming. 4) Bride is cleansed- the bride undergoes ritual cleansing prior to the wedding ceremony.5) Wedding ceremony- private wedding ceremony6) Consummation- in the privacy of the bridal chamber the bride and groom consummate the marriage7) Marriage Feast- celebratory marriage feast to which many are invited. 4. A person, v. 4-11a) the way- b) the truth- “…assuming that yo have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus…” - Ephesians 4:21c) the life--John 1:1-5The word “zoe" refers to life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.5. A possibility, v. 12-14Questions for reflection…Which one of these fuels the way you relate to God? The promises you make or the promises He has made? Today we heard how God deals compassionately with us because “He knows our frame.” Do you “know the frame” of those you have authority over and how does this affect the way you deal with them?Do you believe there is a place for you in heaven?Should the reality of heaven influ

The Names and Titles of Jesus – The King of Kings Episode 103 This series of the names and titles of Jesus will give us a more in-depth understanding of Jesus Christ our Lord. This is eleventh in the series. Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth Abraham blessed by Melchizedek 7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people— that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor Judah Genesis 49:10 “Judah, your brothers will praise you;… The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Israel Rejects God 1 Samuel 8 (NIV)6But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 1 Samuel 12:12(NIV)… you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king. The Anointing of King David (1 Sam. 16) David was not “the” king of promise “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah ... For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 33:14-26). “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom ... Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure before me forever” (II Samuel 7:11-16). David was not “the” king of promise Isaiah speaks of the coming son who will shoulder the government “upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom ... from this time forth and for evermore” (9:6-9) Ezekiel says that the Lord “will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David” (34:23). “My servant David shall be king over them ... forever” (Ezekiel 37:24-25). Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows. Once again their King would be God. God The Son Matthew 1:1-17(NIV) This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham--Jesse the father of King David David --Josiah the father of Jeconiah[and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12After the exile to Babylon---16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. 18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”). Luke 1 New International Version (NIV) God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Matthew 2 New International Version (NIV) 2 After Jesus from as born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ Matthew 3 The Baptism of Jesus In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.” Jesus reveals himself as the king of the Jews “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” John1:49 Teaching Parable, Parable, Parable, Parable about the kingdom of God Demonstrating His Power as King over—Satan—nature—sickness—time and space—death. Fulfilling Prophecy—Prophecy—Prophecy--Prophecy The Coming of Zion’s King Zechariah 9 9.Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth Hey Vav Hey Yod YHVH . Hebrew language reads right to left. – – Sound, pictographs meaning, and numerical value. Yod = Means extended arm and hand. Hey = Means the breath of God, behold or reveal, Abraham – 5 for Grace, Vav = Means spike or nail. It is also the number 6 in the Hebrew alphabet meaning man and is the exact center of the Torah. Hey = Means the breath of God, behold or reveal, Abraham –or  5 for Grace, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Hebrews 1 8But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 1 Timothy 6 (NIV) Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. Revelation 3:21 King James Version (KJV) 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 19 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Psalm 21 Why do the nations conspire[a]and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, 3“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” 4The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Takeaways From Psalm 2 Vs. 4-9 We have a King. Greater than all Kings, God says, My King Vs. 1-3 Tells us we, as human beings hate that King. Vs. 11-12 Declares though we who have hated Him we need the King. We will never have blessedness until we serve the King and kiss The King. He is the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). He is the King of Israel (John 1:49). He is the King of the nations (Rev. 15:3–4). He is the King of Heaven (Dan. 4:34, 37). He is the King of righteousness (Heb. 7:1–3). He is the King of peace (Heb. 7:1–3). He is the King of glory (Ps. 24:7–8). He is the King of the ages (1 Tim. 1:17). He is the King of all kings (Rev. 10:12, 16). Worship Jesus the King. Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}{YouTube}{Spotify}{CastBox}

Find us online at: AdventNYC.orgEmail us at: Podcast@AdventNYC.orgTalk with us at: Advent Sermons & Conversations on FacebookCome to a service and hear the sermons live and in person Sunday morning 9am and 11am in English and 12:30pm in Spanish at 93rd and Broadway.Readings for this WeekFirst ReadingAmos 7:7-157This is what [the Lord God] showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,  “See, I am setting a plumb line  in the midst of my people Israel;  I will never again pass them by; 9the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,  and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,  and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”  10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos has said,  ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,  and Israel must go into exile  away from his land.’ ”12And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; 13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”  14Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ”PsalmPsalm 85:8-138I will listen to what the Lord| God is saying;  for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their | hearts to you. 9Truly, your salvation is very near to | those who fear you,  that your glory may dwell | in our land. R 10Steadfast love and faithfulness have | met together;  righteousness and peace have | kissed each other. 11Faithfulness shall spring up | from the earth,  and righteousness shall look | down from heaven. 12The Lord will indeed | grant prosperity,  and our land will | yield its increase. 13Righteousness shall go be- | fore the Lord  and shall prepare for | God a pathway. RSecond ReadingEphesians 1:3-143Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.GospelMark 6:14-2914King Herod heard of [the disciples’ preaching,] for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 15But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”  17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” 23And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Worship audio from Dec 24, 2017 - Christmas Eve Candlelight service.Bulletin here, text at the bottom.Green Pastures with Jesus is the daily podcast from Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church of Fairmont, MN. Here you’ll find a variety of segments to lead you to the green pastures of the Word of God, where our Good Shepherd feeds our faith.  Find us online: www.shepherdofthelakes.net or http://facebook.com/shepherdofthelakes Worship is Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM.Bible class & Sunday School follow at 10:40 AM.323 E. 1st St – Fairmont, MNpastorhagen@icloud.com or (507) 236-9572 iTunes & iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/green-pastures-jesus-shepherd/id1183522558?mt=2 Stitcher link: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=127180&refid=stprOr simply search for “Green Pastures with Jesus” in your podcast app. Intro & Outro courtesy of Koine - The Church Band. Check them out at www.koinemusic.com, or find them on iTunes & Amazon: Search for Koine. Bible text from Biblegateway.com - EHV.                 elcome to Shepherd of the Lakes! We’re here to shepherd Christ’s flock and seek the lost sheep by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all. Come, let us worship!For your convenience, in the back corner of the sanctuary there is a room for any parents with children in need of a quiet place. The restrooms are located on the lower level. Please ask if you have any further questions or concerns. Lord Jesus, bless our Christmas celebrations. You know me far better than I know myself; you came to this world as a baby in order to create peace between me and you. Grant me a quiet heart to hear your Word, and remind me again with the joy of your birth; AMEN.The Gift of Christmas:“In the obedience of this person Jesus . . . Christ has covered all our disobedience, which dwells in our nature and its thoughts, words, and works. Our disobedience is not charged against us for condemnation; it is pardoned and forgiven out of pure grace alone, for Christ’s sake.”Formula of Concord, Article 3 (Concordia p. 545)Our worship this evening is an adaptation of the Lessons and Carols service traditionally held at King's College, Cambridge, England, on December 24th every year. Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve, 1918. It was planned by Eric Milner-White, who at the age of thirty-four had just been appointed Dean of King’s College after experience as an army chaplain. The lessons for tonight have been used for almost 100 years to recall God’s promise to send a Savior, as well as that promise’s fulfillment.   EXHORTATION & PRAYERPlease rise.Dear people of God, in this Christmas season, it is our duty and delight to hear again the message of the angels and, in heart and mind, to go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us — the Christ Child lying in a manger, born to save us.Let us read and learn in Holy Scripture the story of the loving purposes of God from the first days after our fall into sin to the glorious redemption brought to us by this holy child.But first, let us pray for people all over the world who would delight with us to know the good news of Jesus Christ and who would join with us in singing his praises. Let us pray for the people of our community and our church.And, because this would please the Lord, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those who are sad, the lonely and the unloved, and the elderly and the little children. We especially remember all those who do not know the Lord Jesus, those who do not love him, and those who by unrepentant sin have grieved his heart of love.Finally, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us in heaven, who live in greater light than we, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, who died in faith, and who live before the throne of God and praise him each day in his temple. We confess that we are united with them as we are united with one another.To sum up all these petitions, let us pray as Christ himself taught us:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever; Amen.OPENING HYMN: 55 – Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15God promises that a descendant of Eve, as the champion and substitute of all mankind, would win a victory over Satan and rob him of his power.8They heard the voice of the LORD God, who was walking around in the garden during the cooler part of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9The LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13The LORD God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14The LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the livestock, and more than every wild animal. You shall crawl on your belly,and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel. SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18God repeats his promise: All nations will be blessed through Abraham’s descendent. 15The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said, “I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your descendants greatly, like the stars of the sky and like the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the city gates of their enemies. 18In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”   CONFESSION OF FAITHFrom the Augsburg Confession, Article 3:M: Our churches teach that the Word, that is, the Son of God, assumed the human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary. C: So there are two natures — the divine and the human — inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He did this to reconcile the Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original sin and guilt, but also for every sin of all humanity. He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. There he forever reigns and has dominion over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts to rule, comfort, and make them alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin.The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, according to the Apostles’ Creed.THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7The Promised One will rule on David’s throne forever.2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.On those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. ... 6For to us a child is born. To us a son is given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders. His name will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7There will be no limit to his authority and no end to his peace. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from now on and forever.The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this. HYMN: 42 – Come, Your Hearts and Voices RaisingFOURTH LESSON: Micah 5:2-4God points to the place where the Messiah will be born.2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come the one to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from ancient times, from eternity.” 3Therefore he will surrender them until the time she who is in labor gives birth to a child. Then the remainder of his brothers will return to the children of Israel. 4He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth. FIFTH LESSON: Matthew 1:18-25The angel’s announcement to Joseph.18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her privately. 20 But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”22 All this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”24 When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, 25 but he was not intimate with her until she gave birth to her firstborn son.[f] And he named him Jesus.CONFESSION OF FAITHAdapted from Dr. Martin Luther’s seventh sermon on John 1, from 1537/8. (LW 22:102f)M: John’s Gospel says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Earlier, John called the Word ‘God,’ then a Light which came into the world and created the world - and yet, was not accepted by the world. C: With this word ‘flesh,’ we see how God has assumed our human flesh and blood. Human reason cannot comprehend the mercy of our God, choosing to share our humanity. M: We Christians learn to prize and esteem these words, for herein we see the gospel. The Son of God did not take on himself the nature of angels, but humbled himself and took on the seed of Abraham. C: Jesus Christ, who is of my flesh, blood, and soul, is seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. The humanity of Christ is enduring proof of God’s mercy toward me, on account of Jesus. M: These words are not given for you to misuse or merely take up on occasion; these words are given for you to believe. C: Therefore, we should constantly have such words in our heart and on our lips. Let us learn not to argue with the devil when he tempts us; rather, let us put him to flight with the heartfelt words: “The Word became flesh for me!”M: The eternal Son of God ‘committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;’C: And though he was not guilty of death, he became man for our comfort and salvation. Yes, he became a curse and sin for us, in order to deliver us from the eternal curse, and to justify us. M: We believe the Scriptures and confess with the holy Christian church, which existed at all times and will endure until the end of the world: This article of our Christian faith, together with all the others, is firmly and solidly established by the apostles & prophets, the spokesmen of the Holy Spirit:All: That Christ, our Lord and God, assumed true human nature; and that he became a natural man like any other man. He dwelt among us, with a human body as you & I have; he was nourished and grew as every other human, except without sin. SIXTH LESSON: Luke 2:1-7The birth of our Lord.In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3And everyone went to register, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. ( . . . continued . . . )6And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. HYMN: 61 – Hark! The Herald Angels SingSEVENTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-20The angel’s announcement to the shepherds.8There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they told others the message they had been told about this child. 18And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. HYMN: 263 – All Glory Be to God on HighSermon based on Luke 2: A Song about PeaceOFFERINGAfter the offering, an usher will come to your pew and light the candle nearest the center aisle. Please then light the candle next to you until all the candles are lit in the pew. When all the candles are lit, the lights will be dimmed. Remember to tip the unlit candle and leave the lit candle vertical.PRAYERO God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your only Son, Jesus Christ; grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, so may we also behold him with sure confidence when he shall come to be our judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever;Amen.BLESSINGMay he who by his incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into one, fill us with such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - be upon you and remain with you always;Amen!CLOSING HYMNPlease be seated for our closing hymn:Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar; Heav'nly hosts sing, Alleluia; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, Love's pure lightRadiant beams from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.December 31 worship at 9:30 AM & 7 PM. All are welcome to the parsonage (517 Tilden St) for fellowship after New Year’s Eve worship. Adult confirmation for Ingrid Chrisman, Josh Chrisman,Travis & Ventura Ulrich will be next Sunday.                                                           THIS WEEKToday Joshua 12 9:30 AM - Advent 4 Worship with Holy Communion 6:30 PM - Christmas Eve Candlelight WorshipMonday Joshua 13Tuesday Joshua 14Wednesday Joshua 15Thursday Joshua 16Saturday Joshua 17 9:15 AM - Bible Basics: Fellowship & EvangelismSunday Joshua 18 9:30 AM - Christmas 1 Worship with Holy Communion 7 PM - New Year’s Eve Worship with Holy Communion  Looking Ahead to Next Sunday:Theme Christmas 1Color WhiteLiturgy CW p. 15 with Holy CommunionHymns 78, 77, 5, 76Readings from Isaiah 45, Colossians 3, Luke 2; Psalm 111Verse of the Day Colossians 3:15   

By Pastor Missy Jenson Acts 9:1-19a Pew Bible The Conversion of Saul 9Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 5He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ 7The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ 11The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision* a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ 13But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ 15But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul* and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

A Kingdom Torn In Two by Jason Adams I Kings 12:1-11 The Northern Tribes Secede 12Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from* Egypt.3And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,4‘Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.’5He said to them, ‘Go away for three days, then come again to me.’ So the people went away. 6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, ‘How do you advise me to answer this people?’7They answered him, ‘If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants for ever.’ 8But he disregarded the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him. 9He said to them, ‘What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, “Lighten the yoke that your father put on us”?’10The young men who had grown up with him said to him, ‘Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, “Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us”; thus you should say to them, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” ’